Potato seedling-raising techniques

Potatoes prefer a cool climate. In production, seed potatoes are usually used as the planting material, but seed can also be used for sowing and production. When raising potato seedlings from seed, the suitable germination temperature is 21-23°C, and germination begins in about 4-5 days; at lower temperatures, the germination time is extended to about 10-20 days. The sowing rate is 5-10 grams per mu, and the seedling age is about 60 days. Management is basically the same as for solanaceous vegetables. The seedling-raising methods for seed potatoes (tubers) mainly include whole-tuber propagation, cut-piece propagation, and sprout-separation propagation. Potato seed potatoes can root when the soil temperature is 4-5°C, and can begin to sprout at 5-7°C, but growth is slow; above 10-12°C the young sprouts grow rapidly and vigorously, and 18°C is the optimum temperature for young sprout growth. From sowing to emergence, potatoes mainly rely on the moisture stored in the tuber and have a certain drought resistance, so during seedling raising the soil moisture requirements are not strict. The suitable soil pH is 4.8-7.1. The seed potatoes used for raising seedlings are best at 50 grams each; each cut piece should weigh no less than 20 grams and have 1-2 eyes, and the knife must be strictly disinfected when cutting. Sprout-separation propagation is the propagation of the sprouts germinated from the seed potato after they are broken off, which can increase the propagation coefficient and save the amount of seed potatoes used, but seedlings need to be raised earlier. The potato sowing period is spring in the north, and spring and autumn in the south. Spring sowing is carried out when the 10 cm soil temperature reaches 6-8°C, and autumn sowing is carried out in August-September, but attention must be paid to preventing high temperatures and rain. For seed potato treatment before sowing, soak the seed potatoes in a 200-250 times formalin solution for 20-30 minutes, then keep them covered for 6-8 hours. Potatoes have a dormancy phenomenon; soaking seed potatoes in 0.5-1.0 ppm gibberellin for 10-15 minutes can break dormancy and promote germination. 15-20 days before sowing, place the treated seed potatoes under conditions of 15-18°C and 70% relative air humidity for sprouting. After 7-10 days, when the sprouts are 1-3 cm long, let them receive light so the sprouts turn green and become thick and strong, and plant them out at the proper time.