Master the Three Earlies and Three Skills for Spring Potato Planting to Achieve High Returns

Three Earlies:

Choose early-maturing varieties. Practice has proven that selecting high-yielding, high-quality, virus-free potato varieties with a growth period within 70 days (from emergence to harvest) is the key to achieving high, stable yields and quality in spring-planted potatoes. Currently ideal varieties include Holland No. 7, Holland No. 15, Zhengshu No. 6, etc.

Start sprouting early. Using a sunny cold frame before planting to pre-sprout can make potatoes emerge early and uniformly, with complete and strong seedlings, promoting early plant development and early tuber formation - this is an important yield-increasing measure. The key points of sprouting technique are: 25-30 days before planting, take out the seed potatoes, cut each kilogram of seed potatoes into 40-50 pieces, each cut piece must carry 1-2 middle-to-upper buds; after cutting, dress the cut pieces with plant ash so the cut surfaces heal. Then spread the seed pieces flat in a sunny cold frame, with a stacking thickness of 2-3 layers, cover with 3-4 cm of clean wet sand, then cover with film to raise temperature, and add straw mats at night for insulation. When sprouts reach 2-3 cm, spread them under scattered light to air and select sprouts for 3-5 days, so they turn green and become strong, ready for planting.

Early short-term planting. After the soil thaws, water, fertilize and prepare the land early to get ready for timely early planting. In early March, when the temperature steadily passes 7°C, planting can begin. It is advisable to adopt the method of ridging and mulching after planting, with one film covering two rows, with a large row spacing of 70-80 cm, a small row spacing of 70-80 cm, a small row spacing of 30-40 cm, and a plant spacing of 23-27 cm. After planting, form ridges 5-8 cm high, spray herbicide, and then cover with plastic film.

Three Skills:

Skillful fertilization. Early-maturing potatoes have a relatively short growth period; fertilization can be based on soil fertility and yield requirements by applying sufficient base fertilizer and seed fertilizer before planting, with no need for topdressing. Generally, apply 1-2 tons of decomposed chicken manure per mu, 30-40 kg of potassium sulfate, 15 kg of urea, and 25-30 kg of diammonium phosphate. Spread the organic fertilizer and 2/3 of the chemical fertilizer before plowing, and apply the rest concentrated in the planting furrow (note to mix the fertilizer and soil evenly).

Skillful watering. Potatoes are a crop with high water demand; ensuring sufficient water supply is an important condition for obtaining high yields. Generally, no watering is needed before emergence; after full emergence, the first watering can be given according to soil moisture. After the plants bud, the underground stolons begin to expand, entering the peak water demand period, and watering should be done every 7-10 days to promote rapid tuber expansion.

Skillful management. 15-20 days after planting, promptly break the film to release seedlings. From full emergence to the budding stage, combine aphid control with spraying foliar fertilizer to strengthen seedlings and protect plants. At the budding stage, spray with 15% paclobutrazol at 750 times dilution to control excessive growth and promote tuber expansion. The main pests of early-maturing potatoes include aphids, red spiders, and 28-spotted ladybugs, which can be controlled with high-efficiency, low-toxicity pesticides such as 10% imidacloprid at 1000 times dilution and 20% Hongermite at 1500 times dilution. Combined with pest control, foliar fertilizers such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate and Fuer can be mixed in to promote high yield and quality.