Detailed Explanation of Potato Planting Methods and Key Technical Points
The scientific name of the potato is Solanum tuberosum L. "Potato" is the common name; in some regions it is called yangyu, and in English it is potato (the plural of potato being potatoes). In France, the potato is called the "underground apple."
Planting Methods
Preparation Work
1. Choose a plot with plenty of sunlight and good drainage and apply a base fertilizer, usually a potassium fertilizer; wood ash, for example, is quite good, or well-fermented chicken manure. It is best not to choose a plot where potatoes have already been grown for two years, because then the potatoes are prone to disease and do not grow well.
In addition, choose slightly acidic soil; the potatoes are then less prone to scabbing, and the thin skin rubs off easily, =. =, speaking of which, when I was little I loved rubbing off potato skin, one rub lifted off a big sheet; back then I could even make a small opening in the potato skin and rub it off in one whole piece.2
2. Potatoes can be pre-sprouted and planted in December, or in January or February. If you don't have any, go to the market in February and buy sprouted potatoes.
3. Prepare the soil. Remove large stones and weeds; it is best to use previously cultivated land and apply a base fertilizer, mainly organic fertilizer and potassium fertilizer; wood ash from burning brush is good.
Cutting the Potatoes
At the end of December or in January, you can place the potatoes that are going to be sprouted in a warm, bright place to force sprouting, so that they can be planted in February. Tiny tender sprouts will emerge from the potatoes' eyes; protect them well, for they are all future little potatoes.
Cut the sprouted potatoes into pieces; a large potato can be cut into several pieces, and each piece must have two to three eyes on it.
Planting Potatoes
Coat the cut surfaces of the potato pieces with wood ash, though it is fine not to. Then put them into the soil, spaced about 15cm apart from each other
After planting the potatoes there is no need to water, because this is when spring rainwater is most abundant; as the potatoes grow they can do without fertilizer, and if you do want to fertilize, you can appropriately scatter some potassium fertilizer. It is not suitable to use fermented human or livestock manure or urea; this kind of fertilizer will make the potatoes taste bad. Potatoes will bloom too!