Residents of the Tomsk region are already preparing to start digging potatoes. In this regard, Tomsk agronomist Mikhail Shlyk told the AiF-Tomsk publication how to properly collect and store the long-awaited harvest.
“Too late harvesting of potatoes can provoke the occurrence of diseases and damage to tubers by pests. The average growing season of potatoes is 90 – 120 days. So potatoes planted in early June should already have ripened and it’s time to start harvesting them. In a warm autumn with rains, potatoes not harvested on time may begin secondary growth. Frosts for more than a week negatively affect the safety of the crop, “advises Mikhail Shlyk.
The agronomist notes that the main sign that indicates that potatoes can be dug up is the drying and lodging of potato tops.
In order to start digging potatoes, Tomsk residents are advised to wait for warm and dry weather. After harvesting, you need to dry the potatoes well in the sun for no more than 2 hours and sort them. Summer residents need to throw away all the sick – rotten, cut with a shovel or pierced with a pitchfork – root crops, healthy tubers should be put aside for storage. You also need to separate those potatoes that will go to the seeds.
“After harvesting, the potatoes are dried in a cool, dry room or outdoors, in the fresh air in dry weather, at a temperature of 15-17 ° C. Within a week, the ground will dry out and crumble on the potatoes, and damage from disease, wireworm or cuts from a shovel will become noticeable. In no case do not dry potatoes in the sun or in heat – the tubers are ready for new growth as soon as they are dug up, they turn green in the heat and sprouts appear, ”said Mikhail Shlyk.
The specialist also adds that it is not necessary to wash the potatoes after harvesting, since washing can transmit pathogens and diseases that are on the tubers and infect the entire crop.
