How to process potatoes before planting
Miscellaneous / / April 25, 2023
You can protect tubers not only with special preparations, but also with natural means.
Why Treat Potatoes Before Planting
From the moment of planting and for some time after the emergence of seedlings, the tuber remains the main source of nutrition for the plant. It depends on its quality and health how harmoniously the root system, stems and leaves will develop.
Processing tubers before planting helps protect plants from underground pests - wireworm, bears and others, as well as from the Colorado potato beetle and aphids, whose larvae overwinter in the soil and attack all parts of the potato.
In addition, tubers can be infected with various diseases, such as scab, fusarium and rot. Such planting material nullifies all chances of obtaining a crop. Also, diseased tubers are more likely to infect the soil and other plants. Even if outwardly the potato looks healthy, it is still worth carrying out preventive treatment, because pathogens may not be visible at first.
Things to remember when processing potatoes before planting
The most convenient way is to use special complex preparations that will protect the crop from both insects and diseases. But if you do not want to resort to chemicals, you can use more environmentally friendly methods. First, treat the potatoes for infections, let the remedy work for a certain time. After that, dip the tubers in one of the pest repellents described below, just before landing.
How to treat potatoes before planting from diseases with environmentally friendly means
Potassium permanganate
The pink solution will disinfect the tubers and destroy fungi that cause various diseases.
Dilute 5 g of potassium permanganate in 10 liters of cold water. Immerse the tubers in the solution for 15-20 minutes. Then take it out, lay them out in one layer on a film or newspaper and let dry.
Phytosporin
This remedy can be found in stores and garden centers. This biofungicide effectively fights various fungal and bacterial plant infections.
Dilute 200 g of phytosporin powder in 10 liters of cold water. Submerge the potatoes in the solution for 15 minutes. After that, take it out, lay it out in one layer on a newspaper or film and let it dry. The bacteria contained in phytosporin die in bright light, therefore processing and dry potatoes in the shade.
How to treat potatoes before planting from pests with environmentally friendly means
wood ash
This is a simple and budgetary way to protect potatoes from colorado potato beetle, which is also suitable for lovers of organic farming.
Thoroughly dissolve 1 kg of wood ash in 10 liters of cold water. Dip the tuber in the resulting mixture, and then immediately plant it in the ground. For greater efficiency, you can also pour a handful of dry wood ash into the bottom of the planting hole, and then put the potatoes soaked in the solution there.
birch tar
The specific smell of birch tar repels not only Colorado potato beetles, but also other dangerous pests - wireworms and a bear. This remedy can be found in garden centers, pharmacies and veterinary stores.
Pour 2 liters of warm water (temperature 35–40 degrees) into a large bucket and add 30 ml of birch tar. Stir the mixture intensively for 2-3 minutes, and then pour another 8 liters of warm water. Stir all components until a viscous oily dark liquid is obtained.
Immediately before planting, dip the potatoes in the solution for 5-10 seconds, and then immediately place them in the planting hole. The tar mixture should be used within 1.5–2 hours. After that, the liquid will stratify and become unsuitable for processing tubers.
Soap and turpentine
This tool helps fight the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm, bear and aphids.
In 10 liters of cold water, thoroughly dissolve 150 g of soap, ground on a coarse grater, and 1 liter of gum turpentine. Dip the tuber in the resulting mixture and lower it into the planting hole.
How to treat potatoes from diseases and pests with chemicals
As a rule, chemicals help protect the tubers from the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm and aphids. Popular remedies include Aktara (thiamethoxam), Taboo, and Klubnerost (both based on imidacloprid). To combat diseases, the most commonly used drugs are Maxim, Maxim Dachnik, Sinclair and Quadris.
Often both types of funds can be mixed. But it is better to clarify compatibility information in advance. However, this can also be verified experimentally. Prepare working solutions of each drug according to the instructions, and then mix them in a small amount. If flakes begin to form in the liquid and a precipitate forms, then the products are incompatible.
There are also complex preparations that simultaneously fight both pests and pests. pathogens diseases, such as Taboo TRIO and Prestige. Carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations to properly prepare the solution. It also indicates how long you need to keep the tubers in the mixture.
On average, the duration of special drugs is 60 days. Therefore, you should not use them for processing early potatoes. His tubers ripen quickly (no later than 65 days after sowing), and the chemicals may not have time to be completely removed from them. But mid-ripening and late potatoes can be processed with such means without fear.
The principle of using any of the drugs or their mixture is the same. Wear a mask and gloves to protect your health while working. Prepare the solution according to the instructions (or mix two solutions) and pour it into the sprayer. Arrange the tubers in one layer on a durable film. Spray them generously with the mixture. In the process, you can turn the potatoes over with your hands several times so that the liquid gets on all its parts.
Leave the preparation to act in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. This usually takes no more than two hours. After that, immediately start planting potatoes. It is not necessary to wash off the solution from the tubers after treatment.
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