In spite of the fact that cultivation of potatoes - process quite labor-consuming, however this fact does not frighten gardeners and practically every second of them has the extensive beds intended for this culture on the garden site. Yes, care for vegetables really not from simple, and how many forces leaves on alone earthing up. However if all works are performed in time and correctly, then efforts pay off with interest.
To be defined when and how many times it is necessary to hill potatoes, it is necessary to understand for what in general this procedure is necessary. First of all at earthing up all weeds from the surface of soil are removed that, naturally, favorably affects germination of tubers. Also during earthing up the top dense crust of soil (it is formed after rains or watering) is loosened, access of oxygen to planting stock is normalized that positively influences the growth rate of saplings.
In general, it is accepted to make earthing up of potatoes two times during the season. As for the period of works, there are no exact dates, here it is necessary to rely only on height of saplings. Gardeners have by practical consideration come to conclusion that the first earthing up needs to be made since that moment as height of descents will reach 10-15 cm. Crest height at the first earthing up should not be higher than 5-7 centimeters, that is after work bush height over surface of crest has to be not less than 5-8 centimeters.
As for the second earthing up, it is carried out two-three weeks later after the first, but it is obligatory before blossoming of culture. During the second earthing up width and height of crests become greatest possible. It is worth remembering what will depend on parameters of crests quantities and qualities of harvest (wide and high crests promote formation of bigger quantity of tubers).
Have dealt with terms of earthing up of potatoes, now it is worth sorting some nuances of the procedure:
- it is the best of all to hill potatoes after small rain. If time of earthing up has come, but there is no rain, then in this case it is desirable to water before the procedure bed small amount of water that during earthing up to the lower part of stalks the damp soil privalivatsya.
- if there is sunny and hot weather, earthing up should be made or early in the morning, or in the evening if to scorn this opinion, then after the procedure the saplings can the county. On restoration of plants a lot of time will leave.
- that potatoes have easier transferred earthing up, before the procedure he needs to be fed up. As fertilizer it is the best of all to use organic infusion of weeds, namely - nettles.