Cleaning of potatoes – fertile stage in the course of cultivation of this root crop. This difficult and labor-consuming action which it is necessary to approach responsibly. The quality and lezhkost of tubers depends on cleaning.
We define optimum time for excavation of potatoes
Terms of cleaning of this root crop in many respects depend on weather patterns therefore exact start date of "sacrament" is absent. Time to dig potatoes has come or not, experienced gardeners determine by exterior of plants. At the end of season the tops of vegetable begins to dry up and die off slowly. At this time it rather actively gives nutrients to tubers.
Potatoes are ready to cleaning when all bush grows brown. Before it is not necessary to start excavation – tubers will be worse stored.
When to remove early grades of potatoes
With early potatoes the situation is different. In this case it is not necessary to wait for full yellowing of bushes. Outplanting of the early potatoes landed by germinated tubers is begun after its blossoming. It is important to do not pass the moment when only the lower leaves get brown color.
The delay of cleaning of early potatoes leads to loss of its tastes. Tubers become sluggish, and at excess of moisture, for example, in case of rainy summer, rot at all. Early potatoes contain less starch and solid matter in comparison with normal, but it is very tasty and is popular with gardeners. It is eaten in the summer and in the fall, early ripening varieties are not suitable for winter storage.
Important rules of cleaning of potatoes
For decrease in damageability of tubers and good lezhkost it is necessary to follow to number of the rules which are neglected by the beginning gardeners. It is not necessary to remove potato right after frost, otherwise tubers will crack. It is important to make harvesting before steady subzero temperatures. Already at - 4 wasps not only the tops of vegetable, but also potatoes tubers is damaged. The frozen harvest will lose tastes and will quickly decay.
It is desirable to dig out potato in dry weather. If during cleaning it started to rain, it is necessary to dry root crops under canopy, and then completely to clean from soil with hands in gloves.
It is impossible to leave small, cut and the more so sick tubers on the site. Be not too lazy to collect potato "not standard" and to utilize.
It is not recommended to make excavation cold morning hours when air is many times colder than the soil. Also inadmissibly, that tubers long time lay at subzero temperature. It promotes blackening of pulp of tubers.
To harmfully dug out potatoes and long acceptance of solar bathtubs from which it can become green because of accumulation poisonous corned beef. However drying of tubers in the sun is admissible, but no more than five hours. It is impossible to cover harvest with tops of vegetable at the same time.
The last watering of potatoes needs to be carried out in 2-3 weeks prior to expected cleaning. At sample of the soil the tubers should be put accurately, but not to throw to minimize damages.
Do not forget to disinfect storage for harvest before placement in it the dug-out potatoes. It is possible to make it by means of 2% solution of copper vitriol or sulfuric checker. It is important to hold disinfecting events in 3-4 weeks prior to harvesting, but not a day before it. The room has to disappear, otherwise potatoes will absorb in itself foreign smells.