When is the best time to plant Hubei potatoes?

Hubei is an important agricultural product production base in the country, and Enshi and other places are one of the most traditional potato- growing areas in China, with a history of potato cultivation of more than 200 years. So when is the best time to plant Hubei potatoes? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best time to plant Hubei potatoes?

According to the climate characteristics of Hubei, the best time to plant potatoes is in spring and autumn. In spring, the best time to sow is between late March and late April; in autumn, the best time to sow is between mid-October and mid-November.

How to grow Hubei potatoes?

1. Land preparation and fertilization

The best place to plant potatoes is high terrain, loose soil, deep soil layer, and slightly acidic sandy loam. After selecting a good site, apply base fertilizer again. If conditions permit, apply 5,000 kilograms of organic decomposed fertilizer, mixed with 100 kilograms of phosphate fertilizer, and 300 kilograms of wood ash per mu. Apply it by turning the fertilizer into the cultivated land , or dig trenches and apply it in concentrated trenches.

2. Variety selection

Choose potato varieties suitable for planting in Hubei Province, such as E Potato No. 7, Huashu No. 16, etc.

3. Germination of Seed Potatoes

Germination should be carried out on the seed potatoes 20 days before sowing, and a sunny day with high temperature should be selected to dry the seed potatoes from 10 am to 3 pm. After drying, pick out the diseased and rotten seed potatoes and place them in a room with a temperature of 15-20℃ for germination. After the buds grow flat eyes, they can be cut into pieces for sowing. The seed pieces are required to be more than 40 grams.

4. Sowing method

Ridge cultivation is implemented, with a ridge spacing of 90 cm, a ridge height of about 30 cm, double rows per ridge, a plant spacing of 28-30 cm, and a planting density of 4000-4800 plants per mu. When sowing, dig furrows 3-4 cm deep on the ridges, and cover the ridges with soil after sowing. And after the seedlings emerge, the soil should be cultivated in time, the ridge surface should be leveled and covered with plastic film.

5. Planting matters

When planting, pay attention to the eyes of the potatoes facing upwards, and the pit should not be dug too deep. All you need is a thin layer of soil to keep moisture and heat in place. It can also allow potato sprouts to break through the soil. In addition, the density of planting should be reasonable according to the requirements of the land and variety. Generally, early-maturing varieties should be planted densely, while late-maturing varieties should be planted sparsely.

6. Harvest at the right time

60-65 days after sowing, when the leaves turn yellow, harvest on a day when the soil is not wet and the weather is sunny. The harvested potatoes should be dried for 20 minutes and bagged. During bagging and storage, they should be placed in a cool and ventilated place to avoid sunlight.

In general, Hubei's climate and soil conditions are very suitable for potato cultivation, and the best time to plant potatoes is in spring. Only by choosing the right variety for planting in the right season can we ensure the yield and quality of potatoes.