In what ways and how potatoes multiply

The cultivated potato plant has many ways of reproduction. Each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The choice of agrotechnical techniques depends on the conditions cultivation, quality and quantity of seed.

Alternative methods are used if there are additional tasks, for example, to increase yields or saving seed.

How potatoes multiply

Increasingly, domestic experimenters use new technologies, agricultural techniques and non-standard methods in potato cultivation.

These include the cultivation of crops in such ways as:

• division of tubers (the technique has been known for a long time, but was massively used only in lean years);
• reproduction by potato sprouts;
• cuttings with green shoots;
• sowing with seeds for seedlings or in open ground;
• getting seedlings from "eyes";
• germination of the peel;
• rooting of cuttings;
• dividing the bush;
• combined methods.

All these methods are quite a worthy alternative to traditional technology.

What is the name of reproduction using tubers

The usual way to propagate potatoes is by planting tubers. This method belongs to vegetative and is considered the most reliable and does not require a lot of time and labor. The only significant drawback of the traditional approach is inefficiency.

The use of alternative methods guarantees not only good yields, but also significant savings on planting material.

Breeding methods, advantages and disadvantages of each of them

Potatoes are such a viable crop that almost all parts of it are suitable for reproduction and harvest. The main thing is to provide the conditions necessary for each method.

Dividing tubers

Farmers use this method in case of a shortage of planting material or, if necessary, quickly multiply the desired variety.

Important. For division, only large tubers that have passed vernalization are used - germination for 2-3 weeks at a temperature of 18-25 ° C and diffused daylight. On such material, awakened kidneys - "eyes" are clearly visible. And the sprouts that appeared in the process of vernalization are strong and do not stretch.

1 way (simple):

1. Selected tubers are divided into several parts. Each fragment must have at least one "eye".
2. Sections are powdered with wood ash.
3. The prepared fragments are planted in the soil in the same way as whole tubers.
4. They are looked after as for traditional tuberous plantings.

Method 2 (difficult):

1. Selected tubers (not yet vernalized) are laid out on a damp cloth or in boxes with moistened sawdust, covered with a layer of 3-6 cm.
2. Maintain in room conditions at a temperature not less than 18 ° C.
3. Maintain bedding and material moisture by spraying with warm water twice daily.
4. It is recommended to provide diffused lighting during the day.
5. Under such conditions, the tubers are kept until the emerging sprouts reach 5 cm (about 2-3 weeks). Longer shoots can be easily damaged later.
6. Prepared tubers are divided into small pieces. Each should have a "eye" with a well-developed sprout.
7. Sections are treated with wood ash.
8. The prepared parts are planted in the traditional way for tuber planting.
9. Care as for normal planting with whole tubers.

Due to the small size of the planting material, the condition of the soil is of particular importance. It should not dry out or crust over. Severe waterlogging is also contraindicated.

Advantages: saving planting material and obtaining a good harvest (when using the second method, the yield can be significantly higher).

disadvantages: labor costs are higher than with traditional tuber planting.

Reproduction by sprouts

Using this method, gardeners get high quality sprouts. The time taken is approximately two months.

Technology:

1. Determine the start time of germination of the material. For this, 60 days are counted back from the usual dates for the appearance of potato shoots. You can focus on the timing of planting, but in this case it is required to completely eliminate the risks of late frosts.
2. Provide a suitable temperature between 12 and 15 ° C. With this mode, powerful shoots are obtained, which can later form a full-fledged seedling bush.
3. Forcing allows for two lighting modes: in the dark and in the light. In the dark, the sprouts stretch faster, but they turn out to be thin and colorless. In light, the germination process takes place more slowly, but the germinal material forms strong and "stocky". In both cases, the pot life is high.
4. Provide the necessary moisture to avoid drying out of growth points. The best way is to place the tubers on a damp "pillow" of thick cloth or sawdust. Periodic spraying is required.
5. While the potatoes are sprouting, a soil mixture is prepared for the sprouts. It should be fertile and loose.
6. Potato sprout buds awaken unevenly. The first to wake up are the "eyes" on the tip of the tuber. The following signs indicate the readiness of the sprout: its size corresponds to a matchbox; from below, in the place of growth from the uterine tuber, tubercles can stand out - future roots.
7. Ready sprouts are carefully separated from the tuber, slightly turning them along the axis.
8. Before planting, it is recommended to dip the lower part of the material in wood ash, providing micronutrient feeding and disinfection.
9. It is allowed to plant seedlings in boxes in indoor conditions, in warm greenhouses, and in mild climates - directly into the ground, protected by a film cover.
10. Seedlings are placed in a square-nesting way at a distance of 6-7 cm from each other. The depth depends on the length of the planting material: the longer it is, the more it is buried. There should be about two-thirds of the sprout in the ground.
11. Watering provides the necessary soil moisture and its adherence to the sprouts.
12. Landings must be shaded.
13. It will take about a week for engraftment. Then the seedlings will begin to grow, greens will appear on it. Planting is taught to the open sun, first removing shading for a short time. After three days, the seedlings can be opened completely. Now she is actively growing green mass and roots.
14. After three weeks, the robust seedlings are ready for open field placement. It is planted in a permanent place according to a scheme suitable for a particular variety.

Advantages: significant savings in planting material, high yield.

Reference. The used tubers can be used for a second sprouting.

Disadvantages:

• large expenditures of time and labor;
• violation of technology will entail not just a decrease in yield, but a complete loss of planting material.

Green cuttings

Reproduction of potatoes by cuttings is rarely used.

Technology:

1. Sprouted potatoes are planted according to the traditional scheme or slightly less often. The timing for planting mother tubers is two weeks earlier than the standard for the region.
2. As soon as the seedlings appear, they are fed with a solution of mineral fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Fertilizers are added to the water at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. each for 10 liters of water.200 ml of solution is added under the bush.
3. With a seedling height of about 7-10 cm, the planting is spud.
4. Two weeks after the first, a similar re-feeding is required.
5. The grown plants are spud up a second time.
6. They regularly loosen and weed the soil. If necessary, water and regulate the temperature using film shelters.
7. When the height of the bushes is 15-20 cm, the tops are pinched, which stimulates the distillation of future cuttings from the axillary buds.
8. Cuttings are cut during the mass flowering of potatoes. During this period, the survival rate is higher. For cuttings, the axillary shoots are cut with a blade and divided into segments. Each segment should have a whole internode and a leaf.
9. It is recommended to keep the stalk in any biostimulant for the period indicated on the package of a particular drug. This technique will shorten the period of root formation.
10. The resulting material is planted according to the traditional scheme, watered and shaded for the first days.
11. Care is normal.

Advantages:

• significant savings in planting material;
• the ability to quickly obtain seed material for propagation of a rare or favorite variety.

Attention. The size of the harvest will depend on the rooting time and growing conditions.

Disadvantages:

• significant labor costs;
• obtaining in the first year only small (seed) potatoes.

Seeds

This technique is used by both professional breeders and amateurs to experiment in their garden.

The material is the seeds ripening in green berries on the bushes after the potato blooms.

Technology:

1. At the beginning of March (dates are indicated for the middle band), the seeds are placed on a damp napkin in a transparent plastic container with a lid. The temperature is maintained in the range of 20-25 ° C.
2. Open daily for 1–2 minutes for airing. If necessary, moisten from a spray bottle.
3. After two weeks, the germinated seeds are planted in a container with nutrient soil. They are laid out on the surface of slightly compacted and moistened soil and sprinkled with earth. Moisten with a spray bottle and place in a well-lit, warm place.
4. After 3-4 weeks, the plants must be planted. Water as the soil dries up. Occasionally the soil is loosened to aerate the roots. They are fed with complex fertilizer 1-2 times a month.
5. Fortified seedlings are hardened by taking them out to a closed balcony or greenhouse during the day.
6. Landing in open ground is carried out only when the threat of return frost has passed. The procedure is best done in cloudy weather.
7. They are planted in a place new for potatoes to protect the seedlings from diseases accumulated in the ground.
8. Plants are placed according to a 20x60 cm scheme. They are buried, leaving only the upper leaves on the surface. Long stems can be placed horizontally or at an angle in the planting pit.
9. The plantings are well moisturized and shaded with a covering material. It is removed when the plants take root.
10. Care consists in timely weeding, hilling, fertilizing and watering if necessary.

Direct sowing in open ground is possible in May. In this case, seed potatoes are obtained (small tubers suitable for planting next year).

Advantages:

• growing of clean planting material, free from viruses and diseases;
• the likelihood of obtaining a hybrid with good qualities.

Disadvantages:

• large expenditures of time and labor;
• lack of varietal purity due to genetic splitting of traits;
• unpredictability of the final result.

"Eyes"

To grow a new plant, even one "eye" with a small piece of adjacent tissue is enough. The result is a double economy: the product is used for food, and the waste is used for reproduction.

Technology:

1. A week or two before the standard planting dates for the region, they begin to prepare the material.
2. Disinfect a narrow blade knife.
3. Cut out the "eye", capturing the adjacent tissue. The depth of the excavation is no more than 1 cm.
4. The cut kidneys are laid out on a paper towel and kept for a week. Temperature range - within 18-22 ° С. Regularly moisturize the material in moderation. During this period, the cut surface should become rough in the process of corking. Roots begin to grow and seedlings appear.
5. The material is heated at 40 ° C every day for 2 hours. This technique will destroy any infection and fungus.
6. Prepared "eyes" are planted at the usual time, having waited out the threat of late frosts.
7. The planting depth is determined by the small size of the material and is approximately 4 cm. The scheme is standard when growing a culture.
8. Features of care at this stage are in compliance with the water regime. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, since the roots are still very small.
9. After the bushes get stronger, you can use any growing technology.

Advantages: lowest material costs.

Reference. With good care, the yield from one plant resulting from the germination of the "eye" can be about 2 kg.

Disadvantages: special attention is required in the first time after planting in open ground.

Skinned

Like the previous one, this method does not require the consumption of tubers. Seedlings are grown from harvested and sprouted peels.

Technology:

1. In the spring, about 1-2 months before the standard time for the emergence of potato seedlings, they begin to collect and prepare planting material. The seedling peel must have intact eyes. Store cleaning in a cool, bright room. Place the peel in rows, spreading it as it accumulates on wet sawdust, peat or soil, poured into boxes.
2. The decomposed cleanings are covered with a layer of sawdust or other substrate 2-3 cm thick.
3. The substrate is kept moderately moist.
4. The sprouts will hatch in three weeks.
5. At a height of 6 cm, the sprouts already have sufficiently developed roots.
6. Seedlings are planted in open ground according to any scheme you like.
7. Planting care is as usual, as for traditional tuberous.

Advantages: low material costs.

Disadvantages: it is necessary to organize a place for placing landings.

Combined breeding methods and their features

The methods and techniques of culture propagation are successfully combined:

1. The tubers used for forcing sprouts can be further used for planting in whole tubers or in fragments - this is a significant material saving.
2. Having planted tubers at home in winter and grown full-fledged seedlings by spring, you can use the tops of plants for green cuttings (getting an early harvest).
3. Dig up the early small tubers obtained by the above method, divide into fragments and plant for growing independent plants.
4. Use mother plants intended for cuttings, at the same time for propagation by layering: cut some of the shoots into cuttings, some - root without cutting from the bush.

The viability of all parts of the potato, their flexibility and survival rate provide ample opportunities for various experiments.

How to quickly propagate potatoes on the site

The use of not one, but several methods, their skillful combination will increase the likelihood of getting an excellent harvest.

The following combination will become aerobatics of the farmer:

• forcing the shoots, then breaking them off and planting them for further cultivation;
• the used tuber is divided into fragments in accordance with the number of "eyes" and planted in the ground;
• at a bush height of about 20 cm, it is divided;
• during the flowering period or immediately after it, cuttings are cut and rooted.

This accelerated reproduction makes it possible to increase yields even with a small amount of planting material.

It is interesting:

What to do to prevent potatoes from sprouting during storage.

Features of storing potatoes: at what temperature it freezes.

What is the yield of potatoes per hectare and how to increase it.

Conclusion

The ability of potatoes to reproduce with the help of various parts of the plant allows you to get a rich harvest at low cost, quickly multiply your favorite variety, and make up for the lack of seed.

A variety of agricultural techniques and their unexpected combinations make the process lively and exciting, and the result is significant.