Newshub18:Method of growing potatoes on terrace or terrace.
The potato was first found in America. Potatoes also came to this subcontinent by the hands of the colonists. The first potato cultivation started on this Bengal root. Potatoes slowly spread from Kolkata to the entire Indian subcontinent. Many people think that potatoes should only be cultivated in large fields. But in the current era of modern agriculture, potato cultivation has taken place on the roof of the building, in the tub or in the balcony of the house. In that case, the yield may not be much, but it will be as little as possible. Potato is considered as a substitute for rice to meet nutritional deficiencies. Nutritionally, potatoes are comparable to rice and wheat. So if you can cultivate your own crops on the roof or balcony in urban life, even if it is a little, it will definitely give you a lot of satisfaction.
Choose a place
The first thing you need to do for growing potatoes is to select a location. In choosing the place you need to choose a place where light and air can circulate at all times. A place with at least morning sun is suitable for potato cultivation. Be careful not to grow potatoes in areas that get sun only in the afternoon, except in the morning and afternoon. You can choose three places to grow potatoes. For example, the roof of the house, the balcony, the courtyard of the house.
After choosing a place to grow potatoes, you need to choose whether you will grow them in tubs or medium drums. Apart from tubs and drums, you can also use plastic containers or plastic buckets.
-The height of the container should be 2-3 feet and the capacity should be 40-50 liters.
-Leave 3/4 inch in the bottom of each container to drain excess water.
-Choose a medium sized tub. 10 seedlings can be planted in it.
Soil preparation methods
Soil plays a very important role for potato cultivation. Loam and sandy-loam soils are most suitable for potatoes Potato cultivation requires a lot of organic fertilizers in the soil. So before filling the tub with soil, you must collect sand soil. When the soil is collected, one part of organic manure should be mixed with that soil and mixed well with the soil. If the compost is mixed with the soil, the soil should be moistened with a little water. Compost should not be applied to the soil. It increases the incidence of diseases. Instead, it is better to decompose dung and mix it well in the soil.
Potato seeds
Potato seeds can be collected in two ways. From seed and from potato cuttings. When collecting potato seeds, you must pay attention to which variety of seeds you will plant. Hybrid breed or indigenous breed. Harvest the potato seeds according to your choice and cut them. Currently there are various cutting seed companies available in the market. If you want to do cuttings yourself, buy seeds and cut each shoot 1-2 inches thick and keep it in a shaded place for a while.
Planting potato seeds
Take two-thirds of the soil-fertilizer mixture in the tub or container. Flatten the upper part. Now plant the potato seeds 5 or 7 inches apart in the soil. When potato seeds are planted, cover the seeds with soil mixture to a depth of 4-5 inches.
Care and Fertilization
After planting the potato seeds in the tub, care should be taken not to over-irrigate. But regular moderate water is very important for potato cultivation. Water in the morning and afternoon. But if the amount of water in the tub is high, the potato roots will rot, so small holes should be drilled in the tub so that the water does not get stuck in the tub. Due to the pre-application of organic fertilizers to the soil of the tub, there is no need to apply additional fertilizers, but if necessary, additional fertilizers can be applied. Potato plants should be removed if weeds grow at the base. Care should be taken that the small children in the house do not spoil the tub. For growing potatoes in tubs or containers, the ratio of Gypsum, TSP, MOP, Urea is recommended to be 1:2:3:3. Besides, a small quantity of sulphate and boron fertilizers should be mixed. Since you will be doing it on your roof or balcony, it is best to use organic pesticides.
Irrigation and drainage
– After planting, if the plant head is clear, apply fertilizer and give light irrigation. Basically should be given within 7 days of planting.
– Irrigation should be given 3-5 times as needed depending on the presence of soil sap.
– Irrigation must be done after 40 days when tuber formation starts.
– This is the most efficient method for growing in tubs/containers. Because potatoes can be cultivated again in this soil.
picking potatoes
It usually takes 70 to 90 days for potatoes to mature depending on the potato variety. When the potato plant turns yellow, you will know that the potato is ripe. When the potatoes are ripe, if you pull on the plant, the potatoes will come out, so there is no need to break the tub. Containers have a door so that mature potatoes can be collected before harvest. Potatoes should be kept in a dry and moist place. If there are any cut or rotten potatoes, they should be separated from the good potatoes