Potatoes are cultivated as tuberous vegetables. India ranks third in the world in terms of potato production. Moreover, Potatoes are a very much liked veggie in India. It is one such vegetable, which can made with any vegetable. Potatoes cultivated everywhere in India except in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Potatoes benefit the body, but excessive consumption can cause problems like increasing body fat. Many nutrients found in potatoes, vitamin C, B, manganese, calcium, phosphorus and iron. Along with this, the amount of water in it is also the highest.

Besides vegetables, many food items made using potatoes, including Vadapav, Potato Stuffed Shortbread, Chips, Tikki and Chokha, French Fries, Samosa, Papad, and Chaat, due to which the demand for potatoes in the market is also there. Potato tubers are found inside the soil, due to which the land for its cultivation should rich in organic matter and with proper drainage. Potato cultivation in India done along with the Rabi crop. Therefore, farmer brothers can earn well by cultivating potatoes. If you are also planning to grow potatoes, then in this article, you will learn how to cultivate potatoes and earn from potato cultivation. 

Here are some tips to consider while planting and growing potatoes with the best farm vehicle, machinery, and crop protection equipment.

Suitable Soil, Climate And Temperature

Potato cultivation requires fertile soil rich in organic matter. Its cultivation requires sandy loam soil with proper drainage. It can easily cultivated in a general pH-valued land. The temperate and tropical climate considered suitable for potato cultivation. In India, it is produced in the winter, but the frost falling in winter damages its plants.

Its fruits get spoiled even in a hot climate, because of which its plants need light rain. For good production of Potato, the average temperature required; high and low temperature harms the plants. Its plants can tolerate a maximum temperature of 25 degrees and a minimum of 15 degrees. Higher than this temperature is harmful to the plants.

Field Preparation And Fertilizer

Potatoes are cultivated in friable soil. For this, first of all, deep ploughing done in the field with soil-turning ploughs. After ploughing, the field left open for a few days. After this, 15 carts of old cow dung manure or vermicompost put in the field as natural manure and ploughed again. Due to this, cow dung mixed well in the soil of the area. Later, the field pulverised by applying water. After ploughing, when the soil starts appearing dry from above, DAP used as chemical fertilizer. Finally, ploughing done by putting two sacks on the field.

Then, the field's soil made friable by the latest farming equipment. After the ground becomes friable, the area levelled using a pat. After this, the pits prepared for planting the plants in the field. Apart from this, 25 kg urea must given along with irrigation at the plant growth time. Within two months of planting potatoes, the crop requires plenty of nitrogen to sustain. It would be ideal to use a fertiliser with an NPK of 34-0-0. However, a fertiliser with NPK of 12-12-17 or 14-7-21 in the last couple of days when potatoes are due to harvest would be best.

Potato Seeds Sowing And Method

Potato seeds planted in the form of potatoes. For this, tiny potato buds grown in the field. Before transplanting the tubers, they mixed with water by adding an appropriate amount of Indofil, after which the tubers kept in this solution for 15 minutes. After this, these tubers transplanted. About 15 to 30 quintals of tubers required in one hectare of field.

For planting tubers, weeds prepared to keep a distance of one foot on the flat land, and the width of each weed kept up to one foot. After this, these tubers planted at a depth of 5 to 7 cm, keeping a distance of 20 to 25 cm. Since potato cultivation also done along with the Rabi crop, its plants planted in the winter season. Therefore, it considered appropriate to transplant its tubers between October and November.

Irrigation

Potato tubers planted in moist soil and require first irrigation 5 days after transplanting. After this, water must given for 10 to 15 days for the plants to grow. For good growth of buds in potato fields, moisture maintained in the area.

Weed Control

Both chemical and natural methods used to control weeds in potato fields. To get control of weeds by chemical method, an appropriate amount of Pendimethalin sprayed after planting the seeds. Due to this, weeds are born in less quantity in the field. To get control of weeds naturally, weeding is done. Its first weeding done about 20 to 25 days after sowing the seed. Potato plants require only two to three hoeings. After the first weeding, the rest of the hoeing must done after 15 to 20 days.

Harvesting

It takes 80 to 90 days for the production of improved varieties of Potato. Its tubers dug out before the temperature rises. At present, digging of tubers also done by machine. After digging, they cleaned by washing them with water. This clears the soil of potatoes. After this, the tubers separated according to their size. A yield of 250 quintals is obtained in one hectare of field. The market price of Potato is 600 to 1200 rupees per quintal, due to which farmers can easily earn 1.5 to two lakh rupees from a one-time crop of Potato.

Conclusion

These were the top tips for growing healthy and nutritious potatoes. Growing potatoes is quite profitable as these crops are easy to grow, maintain, and earn good yields from. Considering good temperature, balanced fertiliser ratio, irrigation methods, and other farming methods is important to grow best value potatoes.

 Frequently Asked Questions

Que. Does potato farming have good profits?

Ans. In tropical countries, potatoes are quite profitable since they are highly nutritious than white rice and have higher yields.

Que. How much is the cost of cultivating potatoes?

Ans. The cost of cultivating potatoes on one-hectare land can range from Rs 1.25 Lakh to Rs 1.5 Lakh.

Que. Per acre, how much potato can cultivated?

Ans. Per acre, early mature varieties can be 20 metric tons per hectare, and late varieties can be 30 metric tons per hectare.

Que. How many times a year potatoes harvested?

Ans. Potatoes are harvested once a year.

Que. Which month is best for planting potatoes?

Ans. The ideal time for planting potatoes is between the months of March, April or May when there are either hard freezes or extremely hot temperatures.

Que. How much time do potatoes take to grow?

Ans. Small potatoes are ready within a maximum of ten weeks, while large-sized potatoes take almost 80-100 days to reach maturity.

Que. What could be planted after potatoes?

Ans. Once you have harvested potatoes, you can use the soil to grow leafy vegetables such as spinach, peas, lettuce, radish, etc.