Potatoes are best cultivated in highland areas with an altitude above 1000 meters above sea level, temperatures between 15°C and 20°C, humidity levels of 80-90%, and annual rainfall of 1,500-5,000 mm. The soil should be medium-textured, loose, fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic with a pH of 5-6.5.
Growing potatoes requires regular maintenance as the plants are prone to pests and diseases. By following this guide, you can achieve a yield of 25-30 tons of potatoes per hectare in a single harvest.
1. Prepare the Soil for Healthy Potato Plants
Potatoes thrive in loose, moist, slightly acidic soil. Begin by clearing the area of weeds and other unwanted plants, then loosen the soil to a depth of 20-30 cm and let it dry for 15 days. Create furrows with a depth of 7-10 cm, spaced 70-80 cm apart.
2. Plant Potatoes Properly
Potatoes are planted directly in the prepared furrows. Use a planting tool such as a marked bamboo stick or a wheeled marker to ensure a spacing of 30-40 cm between plants. For one hectare, you will need about 1,200 kg of seed potatoes (each weighing approximately 30 grams).
Potatoes can be planted using two systems:
- Monoculture: Potatoes are planted without intercropping with other plants.
- Intercropping: Potatoes are grown alongside other crops such as celery and scallions.
Base fertilizers are applied by placing organic fertilizers in the furrows alongside the seed potatoes, followed by chemical fertilizers. The seeds and fertilizers are then covered with soil, forming mounds approximately 10 cm high.
Fertilization recommendations:
- Organic fertilizer: Bokashi (7-10 tons/ha), chicken manure (15-20 tons/ha), or cow manure (20-30 tons/ha).
- Chemical fertilizer: Urea (217-326 kg/ha) or ZA (476-714 kg/ha), SP-36 (416-555 kg/ha), and KCl (166-250 kg/ha).
3. Care for Potatoes with Dedication
To ensure robust growth and large tubers, potatoes require proper care, including watering, hilling, and weeding.
- Watering: Use a pump to channel water through hoses for flood irrigation or sprinkle irrigation.
- Hilling: Hoe the soil between the mounds (furrows) and pile it back onto the mounds while applying additional fertilizer. Repeat hilling at 35-40 days after planting.
- Weeding: Remove weeds, diseased plants, and unwanted vegetation around the crop at 20-30 days after planting.
4. Harvest Potatoes with Care
For consumption purposes, harvesting can be determined visually by observing the plant’s physical changes. When 75% or more of the leaves and stems turn yellow and dry, it is time to harvest. Trim the leaves and allow the plants to rest for at least seven days before carefully digging up the tubers to prevent skin damage.
Based on plant age, harvesting for consumption typically occurs after 100-110 days, depending on the variety, weather, and maintenance. Harvesting should be done in dry weather, avoiding rainy conditions.
Use a hoe to gently dig up the mounds around the tubers, then lift them out and place them on the soil to dry in the sun. Allow the tubers to air-dry for 1-2 hours so that the soil clinging to them dries and falls off easily.
For cleaning, rinse the tubers in a water container or spray them with water. After cleaning, let the potatoes air-dry on prepared tarps or baskets (avoiding direct sunlight).
Grading of potatoes by size:
- XL (> 200 grams per tuber)
- A (120-200 grams per tuber)
- Standard (80-120 grams per tuber)
- Mini (50-80 grams per tuber, depending on variety)
- Baby (25-40 grams per tuber)
- Small, healthy tubers can be used as seed potatoes.
Store harvested potatoes in a well-ventilated warehouse with adequate airflow and humidity of 65-70%. Ensure the storage area receives sufficient sunlight and is clean. Use wooden boxes, crates, baskets, or netting for storage. Arrange the storage containers neatly to maintain order and accessibility.
