PLANTING POTATOES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 3

PLANTING POTATOES

NO DEFINITE RULE. It is difficult to lay down any precise rule for planting potatoes, as varieties differ greatly in height and vigour. Generally speaking, the distance is governed by the height of the haulm. Thus a two-feet variety should have its rows that distance asunder, and so on. As to the depth of the drills —in no case should they be deeper than six inches. On heavy soils four to five inches is a suitable depth, and on light ones six inches. We have next to deal with the distances for planting the sets. Here, again, the vigour of the variety must be taken into consideration. Most early sorts may be planted 6in to Bin apart; medium growers, 9in to 12in: and strong growers. 12in to 16in asunder. It is unwise to crowd the plants, too closely. Sets planted a foot apart will certainly yield finer produce than' those planted 6in apart. The rows should run from north to south.

Early sorts may be planted in warm borders from July to the end of August. Second earlies should be planted in August; main crop's, the end of August and the early part of October; and late crops from the middle to the end of October. In the case of those reared from cuttings or eyes they may be 1 planted out as soon as the weather permits; and by covering them with inverted pots if the nights are cold, or there is any sign of frost, they may be put out earlier than would otherwise be - safe. This is better than keeping them too long in the pots, for if once they get a little stunted they will not make a fresh start readily.

In planting out the roots may be loosened a little, and if a little soil, with which may be mixed some soot, is put round them, they will soon get a good start, and there will be plenty of time to produce mature tubers equal to the finest that could be obtained from planting whole seed potatoes in the ordinary way.

As regards planting the ordinary tubers choose fine weather for this operation. In the drills of the early sorts spread an inch or so of a mixture of decayed vegetable matter, wood ashes, old hotbed manure and soot. Arrange the tubers on this, then cover each tuber with a handful or so of the same compost and finally the mould. For the remaining crops the drills may be drawn first and planted; or they may be formed, one at a time, by means of the line and spade, another strip dug, a drill formed, and so on, till the plot is finished. The latter is the better plan of the two, as it avoids trampling the soil, and leaves the surface in a better condition for the growth of the crop. The sets should be planted not flat, as is often done, but with the crown end upwards.

Where the soil is heavy it will be a good plan to cover each set with compost, as advised for the early crop. The earliest crops may, in the event of

spring frosts, need protecting by a covering of dry straw at night, or placing branches of evergreens over the young tops. As soon as the shoots are a few inches high use the hoe or prong freely between the rows to destroy weeds, and aerate the soil. When the shoots are six inches high draw the earth well up on each side of the row.