Potato Nutrient Pot Seedling Cultivation and Early Spring Greenhouse Cultivation Techniques

Potato under the long-term traditional cultivation model has a prominent phenomenon of high yield but low efficiency. Therefore, in recent years a new method of nutrient pot seedling cultivation and planting through plastic greenhouses has emerged, and good economic benefits have been achieved.

1. Cultivated varieties should be selected from early-maturing, low-temperature-tolerant, relatively high-yielding varieties, such as Dongnong 303 potato, which has stable quality and a growth period of about 90 days.

2. Land preparation and fertilization: in the autumn of the year before cultivating early spring potatoes, apply 6000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 20 kg of potassium sulfate per mu in the greenhouse. Form ridges 50 cm wide. One month before planting, cover the greenhouse with film to warm the soil. Inside the greenhouse, use double-layer coverage of plastic film plus small arched frames.

3. Sprouting and planting: after removing rotten and diseased seed potatoes, put the selected seed potatoes in baskets and place them on a farmhouse heated brick bed or in a 25°C environment to sprout. When the sprouts of the seed potatoes grow to about 1 cm, place them in a 12-15°C environment with light to continue sprouting. After the seed potato sprouts turn purple, cut the sprouts and plant them in 10 cm x 10 cm nutrient pots. The nutrient soil in the pots is mixed evenly with 3 parts garden soil plus 1 part decomposed farmyard manure (sifted). After planting, water lightly and cover with plastic film, keeping the soil temperature at 16-22°C. When the seedlings grow to 2 leaves and 1 heart, they can be planted. One week before planting, lower the temperature to harden the seedlings; the lowest temperature can briefly drop to 2°C. If there is leggy growth during the seedling stage, spray 0.1% chlormequat chloride. Plant when the 10 cm soil temperature in the greenhouse is stable above 2°C. After planting, control the temperature in the small arched frames within the range of 5-25°C, and ventilate promptly when it reaches 28°C.

4. Later management: during the potato growing period, basically do not water unless there is drought. Generally, water once at planting, water once at the rosette stage and apply 15 kg of urea per mu in holes with the water, and at the budding stage apply 15 kg each of urea and potassium sulfate per mu. If group leggy growth occurs during the growing period, spray 10-15 g of 90% paclobutrazol per mu mixed with 20-30 kg of water on the leaves. Stop using insecticides one month before harvest.