Growing potatoes in crates

Potatoes are a vegetable crop grown in all regions of the country. The purpose of planting potatoes is to get a large and high-quality harvest. To do this, you need to choose the best variety for planting, find a place, fertilize the soil, and carry out agrotechnical measures for caring for bushes. Growing potatoes in boxes is an experimental way of planting a vegetable for a good harvest.

Growing principle in boxes

Potato growing is of great importance in Russian agricultural production.

The yield depends on several factors:

• Potato variety;
• Soil condition;
• Agrotechnical measures for the care of the crop.

The number of potatoes on a bush depends on the length of the underground part of the stem: the larger it is, the better the yield. Hilling potatoes increases the underground stem area.

Method of growing potatoes in boxes

The effectiveness of growing potatoes in boxes is that the stems of the bush grow in length. The boxes are gradually "built up" in height, stacking or nailing additional boards. It is necessary to add soil as the potatoes grow - this stimulates the growth of new stolon shoots. The process is repeated until the bush is fully grown.

The method of planting vegetables in boxes is productive. If you follow all the recommendations for planting potatoes and the rules for caring for the plant, you can get a big harvest. Up to 5 kg of vegetables can be grown from one potato.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

The method of planting potatoes in an unusual way has its pros and cons.

Gardeners note the benefits of growing vegetables in boxes:

• A large harvest from each bush, it is easy to grow a vegetable;
• The method does not take time and effort for hilling, weeding. Straw serves as an excellent layer of mulch;
• No planting bed required;
• Allows you to more efficiently use the area of ​​the garden plot, which was previously occupied by a potato field, potatoes are placed in boxes in the beds;
• You can start planting in early spring, the box is easily covered to protect against frost;
• Thanks to the cultivation of potatoes in boxes, the soil is not depleted;
• The method is suitable for arid regions;
• The bushes are not attacked by the Colorado potato beetle;
• Harvesting is easy and convenient. You don't have to dig up the site, for this you only need to disassemble the box on the day of collection and collect clean and large potatoes in a bucket.

Easy harvesting

The disadvantages are:

• Preparing boxes for planting. They are either made on their own or bought in stores. Wooden pallets can be used;
• The soil for planting potatoes in boxes will have to be formed by mixing peat and sand. Plain ground won't do;
• Slugs can lodge in boxes;
• Constant control of soil moisture is necessary; it is important to water the potato tuber constantly during the dry period.

The new cultivation of potatoes in boxes raises doubts among gardeners, but knowing the basic rules of the method, even beginners can do the method. The disadvantages of the new method of planting potatoes are few. If you know how to do everything correctly, then by the fall the gardener will reap a decent harvest.

Conditions for landing

Choosing the right potato variety is the key to successful work.

For planting in a box, varieties are suitable:

• Nevsky;
• Youth;
• American;
• Reliable;
• Shante;
• Belarossa.

It is recommended to select the planting material well. The potato for planting should weigh between 50 g and 80 g.

On a note. If you plant low-quality, small potatoes, then the harvest will be small. Strongly large tubers contribute to the active development of the aerial part. Green tops will take up the main food, and the yield will grow medium

For cultivation of a vegetable, you can leave the variety you like, which was used earlier.

It is recommended to germinate the tubers before planting. To do this, they are laid out in a bright place until small seedlings appear.

What is required for disembarkation

You must either buy or make wooden boxes yourself. It is important to install pallets or boxes without a bottom. Pegs are driven into the ground, boards are attached to them or pallets are placed on them. The box can be built with planks and pine blocks.

The site for planting should be chosen sunny, on an elevated flat surface.

In the place where the boards are attached, small holes are drilled for screws. Such boards can be used for several years.

Planting soil

To grow potatoes in boxes, the gardener should prepare a special soil. The basis of the soil is a peat mixture. It has a loose structure, absorbs well and retains moisture. In the sun, peat is able to fully warm up. Plants growing in a peat mixture are less susceptible to attacks by pests and diseases.

Planting soil

You can enrich the peat mixture by adding a layer of sand. It should make up ¼ of the soil. Limestone or chalk is mixed into peat, at the rate of taking 70-75 g per 10 kg of soil.

On a note. If there is no peat mixture, then you can replace it with soil from the site, which must first be mixed with compost and ash.

Ash is used in any method of planting potatoes to prevent diseases and protect tubers from pests. It is undesirable to use manure as fertilizer before planting potatoes in boxes. In it, insect larvae multiply, which can harm the plant.

You cannot reuse the soil in which the potatoes grew. Tuber pathogens often remain in the ground. This soil can be used to grow other horticultural crops, and new soil is prepared for the potatoes.

It is not recommended to expose boxes for growing potatoes on the shady side of the site - the bushes are affected by late blight.

Step-by-step actions for growing crops in boxes

Growing potatoes in boxes is an unusual way, so there are special care features.

Technology how to grow potatoes in boxes:

• The bottomless box should be on the bricks. This contributes to normal aeration of the soil, since it will not be possible to loosen the soil;
• Lay paper on the bricks under the bottom and sprinkle it with a layer of expanded clay screenings with humus, you can lay out a layer of straw;
• Prepare sprouted tubers, lay on the bottom of the structure, sprinkle with peat mixture;
• If disembarkation is carried out in early spring, then the box is covered with agrofibre or film;
• After the appearance of the first shoots, the structure is increased, the second floor is completed. Sprinkle the sprouts on top with a prepared mixture of peat and sand. The procedure is repeated until the buds are formed, until about July;
• To prevent early budding, the soil is watered with compost and protected from excessive exposure to direct sunlight;
• Caring for bushes consists in regular watering, feeding, protection from possible pests;
• The end of September is harvest time. 7-10 days before harvesting potatoes, you can cut off all the tops, this will allow the skin to become denser.

Harvest potatoes from the box

You can plant potatoes in a wooden box if the area is small, or the usual method does not bring the expected harvest.

Basic rules of care

The cultivation of a vegetable crop is reduced to performing the following manipulations:

• Watering;
• Fertilize;
• Carry out preventive measures.

Watering growing potatoes in crates is inconvenient due to the confined space.Before completing the second floor, you need to dig in 4 metal pipes with through holes at different heights for water supply.

Feed the potatoes in the same way as for a normal planting. Spraying the bushes from pests is carried out as needed. In boxes, bushes are less likely to be attacked by the Colorado potato beetle and other diseases.

Planting potatoes in boxes will allow you to grow a good potato crop. By following the planting instructions and care rules, the gardener will appreciate the simplicity and effectiveness of this method.