What to Do If Potatoes Only Grow Stems Without Forming Tubers? Prevention and Remedial Measures

Potatoes are one of the most common vegetables in our daily lives, and for growers, the worst thing is when potatoes only grow stems without forming tubers, especially when planted in spring, when this phenomenon occurs even more often. Once it happens, it has a huge impact on potato yield, so preventive measures and remedial measures need to be taken well. Let's take a look together below.

1. Causes

There are many causes of potatoes only growing stems without forming tubers. For example, when sowing is too late, when the variety introduced is unsuitable, when the variety is not suitable for the local environment, when hilling is too shallow, or when the soil is too dry, all of these can cause potatoes to only grow stems without forming tubers.

2. Preventive Measures

To obtain high yield, when selecting varieties, it is advisable to choose excellent varieties that are virus-free and very early-maturing or early-maturing. When sowing, measures such as sprouting, sunning the sprouts, and timely early sowing should be used to promote early growth and rapid development, so that the tuber formation and enlargement period is under relatively suitable environmental conditions, thereby obtaining a higher yield. When hilling, note that the thickness must not be less than 12 cm. If the covering soil is not thick enough, after emergence, hilling should be carried out as the seedlings grow, 1-2 chi. Too thin covering soil will cause drastic changes in ground temperature, while thicker soil can keep the tuber formation site under relatively balanced, cool ground temperature. Nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial to plant growth, but if it is applied too late, it can easily cause excessive growth of stems and leaves, which is not conducive to tuber formation and tuber enlargement. Therefore, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied reasonably at the right time and not too late.

3. Remedial Measures

After discovery, find out the cause in time and remedy it promptly. Water frequently but lightly to keep the soil moist, which is beneficial to the potato's absorption of fertilizer and water, and can also lower the ground temperature in the later part of spring, promoting tuber enlargement. However, be careful not to apply excessive fertilizer or water. According to the soil conditions, for those that have not yet closed the rows and have not been hilled in later management, hilling can be done appropriately as the situation requires to thicken the soil layer, which can reduce the effect of external high temperatures on potato enlargement. From the late growth stage to the tuber formation stage of potatoes, growth should be controlled in time. Multi-effect triazole can be sprayed to control excessive plant growth, increase the proportion of large and medium tubers, and increase yield.

The above is an introduction to the prevention and remedial measures for potatoes that only grow stems without forming tubers. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.