Potato - Revision history

179.49.41.127: Added 3 categories.

2025-05-14T18:37:47Z

Added 3 categories.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:37, 14 May 2025
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	== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==		== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==
	Potatoes must be cooked or boiled soft before eaten. Only the potatoes are edible, not the leaves or the stamm. To enhance the flavour cook them in salt water and peel them.		Potatoes must be cooked or boiled soft before eaten. Only the potatoes are edible, not the leaves or the stamm. To enhance the flavour cook them in salt water and peel them.
			[[Category:Food and Health]]
			[[Category:Food]]
			[[Category:Crops]]

CarsonBoardman: CarsonBoardman moved page Growing potatoes to Potato: Changed to fit convention

2025-05-10T01:59:30Z

CarsonBoardman moved page Growing potatoes to Potato: Changed to fit convention

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:59, 10 May 2025
(No difference)

Mikaele1100: Added link

2025-05-08T13:14:54Z

Added link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:14, 8 May 2025
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	The potato is a crop which can be grown on fields.The potato is rich in nutrients like carbohydrates and could be an essential part of a energy-rich diet.		The potato is a [[Crops\|crop]] which can be grown on fields.The potato is rich in nutrients like carbohydrates and could be an essential part of a energy-rich diet.
	[[File:Solanales - Solanum tuberosum - 3.jpg\|thumb]]		[[File:Solanales - Solanum tuberosum - 3.jpg\|thumb]]

Mosta5: /* 3.1. Right soil */

2025-05-07T19:40:17Z

3.1. Right soil

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:40, 7 May 2025
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	# Ideal Soil for Potatoes Loamy, loose soil: Well-aerated soil allows tubers to expand freely. Avoid compacted or rocky soil.		# Ideal Soil for Potatoes Loamy, loose soil: Well-aerated soil allows tubers to expand freely. Avoid compacted or rocky soil.
	# Slightly acidic pH: Ideal pH is between 5.5 and 6.5. Too alkaline (above 7) increases risk of scab.		# Slightly acidic pH: Ideal [[pH]] is between 5.5 and 6.5. Too alkaline (above 7) increases risk of scab.
	# Nutrient-rich: Mix in [[compost]] or well-rotted manure a few weeks before planting. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers—they promote leafy growth over tubers.		# Nutrient-rich: Mix in [[compost]] or well-rotted manure a few weeks before planting. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers—they promote leafy growth over tubers.
	# Moist but well-drained: Consistent moisture is key, especially when tubers are forming, but the soil should never be soggy.		# Moist but well-drained: Consistent moisture is key, especially when tubers are forming, but the soil should never be soggy.

Elias: /* 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption */

2025-05-06T13:28:42Z

4. Prepare potatoes for consumption

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:28, 6 May 2025
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	== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==		== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==
			Potatoes must be cooked or boiled soft before eaten. Only the potatoes are edible, not the leaves or the stamm. To enhance the flavour cook them in salt water and peel them.

Elias: /* 3.7. Potato pests */

2025-05-06T13:23:55Z

3.7. Potato pests

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:23, 6 May 2025
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	=== 3.7. Potato pests ===		=== 3.7. Potato pests ===
			Various pests cause damage to potatoes, sometimes only on the plant, but often also on the tasty tubers. Here are the most common potato pests and tips on how to avoid infestations and control them.

			Aphids (Aphidoidea): These small, sucking insects can cause leaf deformation on potatoes. In nature, however, they are no match for beneficial insects such as ladybirds (Coccinellidae) and lacewing larvae (Chrysoperla carnea), among others, who serve to keep the aphid numbers under control.
			Wireworms (Agriotes): These dark yellow, several millimetre long beetle larvae eat deep tunnels into the nutritious tubers. Good soil preparation, an early harvest (using early variety and pre-sprouting seed potatoes), and a balanced crop rotation with a cultivation break of 4 to 5 years greatly reduces the risk of a wireworm infestation.
			Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata): This beetle hibernates in the soil and lays its eggs on the underside of the leaf shortly after the first potato shoots appear. The potato beetle larvae eat entire potato plants within two to three weeks. Spraying oil of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) combats the potato beetle larvae in the young larval stages L1 to L3. It is important to check the plants regularly to spot damage in the early stages. Colorado potato beetles and their larvae can be removed by hand when they are too large for neem treatment.
			Potato beetle eating potato leaf
			The larvae of the Colorado potato beetle can consume the entire plant foliage in just a short time.
			Potato root or potato cyst nematodes (Globodera): If potatoes are planted without a long enough cultivation break (4-5 years), harmful nematodes can colonise and repeatedly infest the roots of the plants. A severe infestation is indicated by growth disturbances and yellowing of the leaves. Small, brownish cysts appear on the roots and can survive in the soil for up to 15 years. The potato plant yields drop by up to 50%. Good crop rotation, avoiding other host plants, and using resistant varieties prevent nematode infestation.
			Voles (Arvicolinae): Various species of Arvicolinae, especially the field mouse (Microtus arvalis), like to gnaw on potato tubers and can cause great damage. Above ground, individual shoots may wilt and die because their roots have been cut. Read our article on how you can deter voles to find out more about these rodents.
			Many potato diseases can be prevented or limited by good crop rotation and companion planting instead of monoculture. We give tips on good companion plants for potatoes.
			Fungal diseases on potatoes
			Fungi cause a number of different diseases on potatoes. Here, prevention really is the best means of defence. For some diseases, however, there is no way to save the plants once the symptoms appear.

			How to prevent fungal diseases on potatoes:

			Choose varieties with low susceptibility
			Remove potatoes that have grown from the previous year as early as possible
			Chit (pre-sprout) the tubers for earlier harvesting before infestation
			Keep wide row and planting distances to allow plants to dry
			Apply a well-balanced fertiliser
			Only harvest ripened tubers with firm skin
			Use crop rotation and healthy, certified seed potatoes to prevent soil-borne fungi
			In case of acute infestation, dispose of infected plants in household waste and use approved spray fungicides
			Cutworms (Agrotis): The caterpillars of moths, known as cutworms, prefer to live in light, warm soils and can cause severe feeding damage to potato tubers. The grey-brown shiny cutworms, which measure up to 5cm long, curl up when touched. The moths also lay their eggs on weeds, so hoeing the potato rows is an important preventive measure. An acute infestation of cutworms on potatoes can be controlled with nematodes of the genus Steinernema carpocapsae, which are simply stirred into water and spread with a watering can.
			Root rot (Rhizoctonia solani): A potato disease that causes dark, surface spots on the tubers and indented, brown spots on the stem. The plants grow stunted and produce only a few shoots. A white fungal coating can form at the base of the stem, and sometimes the leaves of the shoot tip curl up. The pathogen is soil-borne; only crop rotation prevents renewed infestation.

	== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==		== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==

Elias: /* 3.3. How to plant the potatoes */

2025-05-06T13:14:35Z

3.3. How to plant the potatoes

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	Potatoes are usually grown in ridges, as these warm up better, give the tubers more space, and make it easier to cultivate the soil. The ridges are about 60 cm wide. Early potatoes can be planted as early as mid-March. In this case, it is advisable to cover them with plastic or fleece to protect the sprouts from frost.		Potatoes are usually grown in ridges, as these warm up better, give the tubers more space, and make it easier to cultivate the soil. The ridges are about 60 cm wide. Early potatoes can be planted as early as mid-March. In this case, it is advisable to cover them with plastic or fleece to protect the sprouts from frost.
	When the plants reach a height of 15cm you have to hill potato plants.Covering potato plants with fresh~~, rich~~, loose organic material rich earth like this can continue until the hill is as tall as you can or want to make it.		When the plants reach a height of 15cm you have to hill potato plants.Covering potato plants with fresh, loose organic material rich earth like this can continue until the hill is as tall as you can or want to make it.

	=== 3.4. Watering ===		=== 3.4. Watering ===

Elias: /* 3.3. How to plant the potatoes */

2025-05-06T13:13:04Z

3.3. How to plant the potatoes

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:13, 6 May 2025
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	Potatoes are usually grown in ridges, as these warm up better, give the tubers more space, and make it easier to cultivate the soil. The ridges are about 60 cm wide. Early potatoes can be planted as early as mid-March. In this case, it is advisable to cover them with plastic or fleece to protect the sprouts from frost.		Potatoes are usually grown in ridges, as these warm up better, give the tubers more space, and make it easier to cultivate the soil. The ridges are about 60 cm wide. Early potatoes can be planted as early as mid-March. In this case, it is advisable to cover them with plastic or fleece to protect the sprouts from frost.
			When the plants reach a height of 15cm you have to hill potato plants.Covering potato plants with fresh, rich, loose organic material rich earth like this can continue until the hill is as tall as you can or want to make it.

	=== 3.4. Watering ===		=== 3.4. Watering ===

Elias: /* 3.6. Harvest */

2025-05-06T13:07:13Z

3.6. Harvest

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:07, 6 May 2025
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	=== 3.6. Harvest ===		=== 3.6. Harvest ===
			Before harvesting the potatoes, remove the wilted foliage above ground. If you have placed your seed tubers in mounds, harvesting should be relatively easy. Be careful when digging up potatoes planted in shallow beds, as the soil is usually compacted, so you will need to apply more force when digging. To help keep strains and injuries to a minimum, we recommend a digging fork, rather than a spade, to gently lift the potatoes out of the ground. There are also special potato forks with rounded tips to protect the tubers from punctures.

			Regardless of the tool used, it is best if the soil is relatively dry when harvesting. If the soil is moist, too much of it will stick to the potatoes, and they will need to be washed before storage. Any moisture on the potatoes in storage will promote the growth of harmful fungi and lead to premature spoiling of your harvest. Bruising on potatoes, however, is not a problem as long as the potatoes are dry. The tubers are quite robust and can be stored in boxes in several layers.
			Tip: Make sure you get every potato, even the small ones, out of the ground. Otherwise, the potatoes left behind can germinate, and new plants will emerge the following year − which might not be in the best interests of crop rotation or your planting plans.
			Storing potatoes and preserving them after harvesting
			The potato is one of those vegetables that stores well as it is, unprocessed. However, the right conditions for storage are crucial. Above all, the potatoes must be stored in a cool, dry and dark place to prevent premature germination. Humidity is also a decisive factor in ensuring that your potatoes last for a long time. High humidity, about 90%, is ideal for keeping potatoes fresh and preventing wrinkling.

	=== 3.7. Potato pests ===		=== 3.7. Potato pests ===

	== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==		== 4. Prepare potatoes for consumption ==

Elias: /* 3.5. Fertilizing */

2025-05-06T06:11:13Z

3.5. Fertilizing

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:11, 6 May 2025
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	=== 3.5. Fertilizing ===		=== 3.5. Fertilizing ===
			It is advised to use liquid fertilizer to fertilize them every 2 weeks. To make liquid fertiliser put water and plant parts(most optimal is nettle(Urtica dioica)) in a pot and let it ferment for two weeks. Than dilute the solution with fresh water to get the ready fertilizer.

	=== 3.6. Harvest ===		=== 3.6. Harvest ===