When to harvest potatoes in the year. When to harvest potatoes? If you want to dig up potatoes for food in the summer, then you need to do this

The Moon, the natural satellite of planet Earth, has a tremendous impact on life! Gardeners, summer residents, and peasants have long noticed that the work on the site is checked with lunar phases indicated in the calendar, then they have less time to spend on weeding or it is easier to win the war against the pest hordes, or in the autumn to collect a significant harvest, which will be deliciously preserved. The rhythms of the Moon have a greater influence both on the crop itself and on the time of its digging.

And when to dig?

And although the potato is a guest from Central America, it managed to adapt to our conditions. Including the conditions of lunar biorhythms.
Over time, summer will come to an end, and by this time, numerous summer residents and potato growers are eager to begin harvesting potatoes. Of course, people often do this process on occasion - out of convenience, time, or if the weather permits. But by approaching this problem “scientifically”, you can avoid numerous problems when storing potatoes.
The condition and shelf life of potatoes is affected by several factors. The main one is the dilemma of the harvesting period.

Lunar calendar 2017 potato harvesting

It is quite possible to recognize suitable days by and, if it is in the “collective” signs of the zodiac circle.

So, if tubers are needed for urgent consumption, they are dug up on the waxing Moon (August 7-14 and September 7-13). The closer to the full Moon phase, the more nutrients accumulate in them.

And if the harvest is intended for processing or preservation, potatoes are dug on the waning (waning) Moon. At this very time, the intensity of microbes weakens, which is very good for good preservation of tubers. These days are in August (27-31) and from September 25 to 30. To ensure excellent preservation of the cultivated potatoes, it is necessary to dig them when Selena passes through the constellations of Aries, Capricorn, Leo.

A completely unfavorable moment for harvesting tubers is the movement of the Earth's satellite through the constellations Virgo and Pisces (4, 5, 6 and 18,19,20, 31 August and 1,2,3,15,16,17 September). During this period, the gifts of fields and gardens become “liquid”, rapidly rotting and becoming covered with a coating of all kinds of molds.

favorable days for harvesting potatoes

unfavorable days for harvesting potatoes

Using a similar technique, and most good times for digging potatoes this year are indicated above, you can improve their preservation and reduce losses during winter storage.

The main thing is that to preserve the potato harvest, it must be dug up in dry, cloudless weather. In long, slushy weather, potatoes have every chance of rotting in the ground (they are more likely to rot if they have not been dried on the ground). Therefore, they dig them at the very beginning of the rainy period and dry them under a canopy. Since, in accordance with atmospheric situations and the “lunar calendar”, the weather here will still be “more serious”.
You also need to keep in mind that by the end of September, all the potatoes must be dug up.

Potato harvesting by region

But do not forget that different regions of the Russian Federation have their own characteristics. What is good for the Urals is not suitable for Siberia.

According to long-term data from weather stations, the period for digging potatoes in Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk and southern regions The Russian Far East begins in early September.

And for the Urals and Siberia, the time is approximately similar, but there they look more closely at the morning performances and, as soon as the first strong morning performance “beats” the tops, you should immediately begin cleaning. Otherwise, frozen potatoes will be stored extremely poorly.

And in Southern Siberia The time to dig mass varieties of mid-late and late potatoes falls throughout September. Some farmers and summer residents, when it is warm in the fall, can dig potatoes at the beginning of the tenth month (there are similar cases).

Before you start digging potatoes, you can mow the tops and grass, leaving 10-15 cm of the above-ground part. Mowing is done 2 weeks before the start of potato harvesting. What does it give

without tops, nutrients will flow into the tubers, thereby ripening the potato peel faster and increasing shelf life
diseases from the tops will not be able to penetrate the tubers, which also increases the safety of potatoes

After digging up the potatoes, be sure to clear the ground of tops and weeds, which gives:

protection from the spread of diseases accumulated in the tops, protection of next year’s harvest
reducing future weeds

It is best to dig up potatoes in dry weather so that the dug up tubers can be aerated in the field. Then the potatoes are either scattered or poured into bags and left in a dark place to ripen for 1-2 weeks.

What does it give:

During this time, the skin on the potatoes will become denser
diseases, if they exist, will have time to manifest themselves
after you sort the potatoes, you can safely put them on

IN modern conditions Many summer residents are not free to choose the time when to harvest potatoes. Many are in a hurry to dig it up early, while others simply put it off until later because they are busy. Meanwhile, the time of harvesting determines how the potatoes will be stored in winter and what the harvest will be next year.

You can often see the following picture: on a potato plot there are bushes with completely dried stems and powerful green plants mixed together.
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Do you ask the owner what kind of variety he grows? The answer, as a rule, is the same: “Yes, all sorts of things: what I took from my neighbor, what my mother-in-law brought, and I have my own seeds...”.
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The reason for such a difference in the condition of the potatoes becomes clear - both were planted on the field. early, And late varieties.Early They've been ripe for two weeks already, and late The harvest has just begun.
Mid-early and early varieties Potatoes are harvested when signs appear that the harriers are ready for harvesting (see below)
Medium and late varieties in the south of the Omsk region do not have time to completely finish the growing season. Such varieties should be removed when The average daily air temperature will drop to +6-7 °C, since by this time the growth of tubers stops.

The following indicators indicate readiness for cleaning:

slight yellowing of the tops,
drooping stems, which indicate the cessation of tuber growth.

The fact is that the formation of a potato crop ends when the tops naturally die and the movement of nutrients in the plant is complete.

Drying of potato tops indicates its full physiological maturity.
By this time, the maximum yield of tubers and the maximum possible content of dry matter and starch in them have accumulated.

In the last 30 days before the natural death of the tops, intensive tuberization occurs.
But you shouldn’t leave tubers in the ground after the stems have long dried out, since the longer they stay in the ground, the more various diseases accumulate.

How to determine the maturity of tubers?

If in doubt, you can determine readiness for harvesting by digging up one bush.
If the tubers are easily separated from the stolons, and the skin does not come off when you press it with your finger, then they are ripe.

A week before harvesting, the tops are removed to strengthen the skin of the tubers..
Early mowing of tops (2-3 weeks before harvesting) leads to a 20-25% reduction in yield. If you mow the tops 5-7 days before harvesting, the losses will be minimal. In this case, the peel will thicken one and a half to two times, the tubers will be well stored.
The tops must be mowed if severe disease damage or freezing. In both cases, it is important to prevent autogens from entering the tubers due to the outflow of plastic substances from the affected tops.

When you don't need to mow the tops

In wet years with warm autumns, the remaining tops germinate. What depletes tubers and reduces yield.
In addition, it is easy to pathogens penetrate.
When mowing a large number of plastic substances remain in the removed stems and leaves. Due to these substances, you can increase the yield if you use desiccation (pre-harvest drying of the tops with chemical solutions instead of mowing). The action of desiccants leads to a weakening of the water-holding capacity of stems and leaves and their rapid dehydration.

When harvesting, do not ignore the selection of seed tubers. When digging up a bush, all the tubers are placed in a separate pile. Then, when the area is dug, seed tubers are selected from the best bushes.
The dug up potatoes are usually dried for 1-2 hours.
Longer drying is not advisable because it can cause sunburn peels. This “tanning” of the tubers makes them unsuitable for storage and they quickly deteriorate.
You should also not leave dug potatoes on the site overnight, so as not to freeze them.

Have a good harvest and good storage!

Potatoes are tasty and useful product, which we often eat. It can be used both as a main dish and as a side dish.

Potatoes are currently grown in more than 100 countries around the world in temperate, subtropical and tropical climates. At the same time, potatoes need not only to be planted, but also to be harvested good days. If you decide to enjoy young potatoes, then it is not necessary to select a specific day for this.

Although it is better to dig up tubers intended for immediate consumption on the waxing Moon - the closer to the full moon, the more nutrients accumulate in them.

If potatoes are being dug for long-term storage, then it is better to listen to the “advice” of the Lunar calendar.

Cleaning time

The quality and safety of potatoes is influenced by many factors. One of the main ones is the timing of harvesting tubers. You can determine favorable cleaning days by the phases of the moon and its location in certain zodiac signs.

The harvest intended for processing and storage is dug up on the waning moon. At this time, the activity of microorganisms subsides, which has a positive effect on the storage of vegetables.

To ensure good preservation of the grown tubers, they should be harvested during the Moon in Capricorn, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, that is, from September 1 to 6 and from September 9 to 11.

High quality seed material is obtained if tubers are harvested when the Moon is in Capricorn, Aquarius, Aries, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius - September 1-2, September 14-25, September 28-29.

At the same time, the transit time of the Moon through the signs of Virgo and Pisces is extremely unfavorable for harvesting - August 29-31, September 12-13, September 26-27. These days, vegetables become fresh and watery, quickly begin to rot and become moldy.

Thus, the most optimal days for digging up potatoes this year are September 5-6. In addition to all of the above, you should also take into account that harvesting potatoes is best done in dry, sunny weather.

During prolonged rainy weather, the tubers may rot in the ground. Taking into account weather conditions and the lunar calendar, it is also important not to forget that the potatoes must be dug by the end of September.

The potato harvest begins when the tops dry out and the tubers acquire a thick skin. Depending on the potato variety and climatic conditions, potatoes begin to be dug from about mid-August to the end of September.

Experts explain that the timing of potato harvesting should be the most optimal, since too early dates lead to a shortage of harvest, and too late - to its freezing.

Deadlines

The timing of harvesting naturally depends on the weather and the specific region, as well as on the timing of planting and the biological characteristics of the varieties grown. Early varieties are harvested in July - early August, mid-early varieties - in August. Mid-season and mid-late varieties - in late August - September.

For example, potatoes in central Russia are dug up at the end of August or at the beginning of September, depending on the variety. And the potato digging period in Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk and in the southern regions of the Russian Far East begins in early September.

In the Urals and Siberia, the time is approximately similar, but there they pay more attention to the matinees and, as soon as the first strong matinee “beats” the tops, one should immediately begin cleaning. Otherwise, frozen potatoes will be stored extremely poorly.

And in Southern Siberia, the time to dig for mid-late and late potato varieties falls throughout September.

So, different regions of the Russian Federation have their own characteristics, and what is good for the Central regions of Russia will not suit Siberia.

In the south of Georgia in the Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe regions, which are famous for their potatoes, potato harvesting takes place in September.

Before you start digging potatoes, you can mow the tops and grass, leaving 10-15 centimeters of the above-ground part. Mowing is done 2 weeks before the start of potato harvesting. Experts say that without tops, nutrients will flow into the tubers. At the same time, diseases from the tops will not be able to penetrate the tubers, which also increases the safety of the potatoes.

After digging up the potatoes, it is imperative to clear the soil of tops and weeds, which will protect against the spread of diseases accumulated in the tops, and accordingly the next year’s harvest. It will also help reduce weeds in the future.

How to store

An important principle that helps reduce potato losses during storage is compliance with the curing period. To do this, the tubers are dried in the shade for two days, the remaining soil is removed from them, and then kept for two to three weeks in a dark, dry, ventilated room at a temperature of 15-18 degrees and air humidity of 85-95 percent.

After this, the tubers are sorted, the diseased ones are removed and placed in storage.

To avoid excessive moisture in the tubers during storage, it is recommended to place straw, reeds, dry shavings or peeled beets on top of the potatoes in one or two layers. The latter absorbs the moisture released by the potatoes and remains juicy and does not dry out.

Food and seed potatoes can be stored in a pile, which is placed in a dry, non-flooded place. To prevent melt and rain water from getting into it, grooves are made around it. Potatoes in a pile are preserved no worse than in a cellar or special storage facilities.

Story

The history of potatoes goes back more than one thousand years. The birthplace of potatoes is considered South America, more precisely Peru, where today you can find wild species potatoes. The introduction of potatoes into culture began approximately 14 thousand years ago by the Indians of South America.

Potatoes were discovered by Portuguese and Spanish sailors in 1537 in the Indian village of Sorocota (Peru). They called the tubers they found truffles because of their resemblance to mushrooms.

Reproduction of Plastov's painting "Collecting potatoes (In the garden)"

Potatoes came to Europe in 1565, they were brought to Spain. The Spaniards did not like the fruits of cultivated potatoes, since they ate raw potatoes. Later they learned to cook it, and so potatoes gradually spread throughout Europe.

Potatoes came to Russia during the time of Peter the Great, he brought a bag of potatoes from Holland, and from this bag potato cultivation began in Russia. At first, potatoes were considered an outlandish vegetable here, but gradually people learned to cook them and learned about their benefits.

The population of Russia greeted the new culture with distrust. The Old Believers were ardent opponents of potatoes in Russia. They called potatoes “the devil’s apple” and considered it a great sin not only to eat its tubers, but also to grow them in their gardens. On this basis, peasant unrest, called potato riots, arose more than once.

However, the majority of the people accepted the inevitable and got down to business. By the end of the 18th century, potato planting was widespread in the northwestern provinces of Russia and the Baltic states. The new culture took root and soon began its victorious march across the country. By the end of the 19th century, potatoes had become a common garden crop everywhere.

Potatoes appeared in Georgia in 1820. According to some information, potatoes were brought to Georgia by German colonists who were mainly engaged in viticulture and livestock farming.

In 1913, the area under potato cultivation in Georgia was 6.8 thousand hectares, and in 1975 it exceeded 28 thousand hectares.

Thus, after going through a long and thorny path, potatoes have won a place of honor at our dinner table. People began to cultivate potatoes and bred more and more new varieties of potatoes, which we enjoy tasting.

Potatoes are nutritious product, which is rich in carbohydrates, proteins; proteins contain amino acids and mineral salts. Potatoes are also rich in vitamins C, P, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, K, potassium, choline, selenium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, and sodium.

For example, somewhere around 200 grams of potatoes boiled in their jackets contains the daily requirement of vitamin C for a person. Only by spring the content of this vitamin in potatoes usually decreases.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

The quality of the potato harvest depends on many factors, but the most important are planting time and weather conditions. In order to accurately determine the optimal time for placing tubers in the ground, many gardeners and gardeners turn to lunar calendar. The scheme, invented long ago, really helps to grow a good harvest. And potatoes dug up on time are different good quality and is stored for a long time. Therefore, the time to dig potatoes in 2018 is often calculated according to the lunar calendar.

It is not for nothing that the Moon is a satellite of the Earth. Everything that grows on our planet, one way or another, comes under the influence of this celestial body. Through inexplicable forces, the Moon helps to grow a good, rich harvest. But this only works if it is planted and harvested during the correct phase. Therefore, it is important to refer to the lunar calendar in 2018 when you decide to dig potatoes.

How the Moon and zodiac signs influence potato harvesting

Our ancestors also knew about the influence of the Moon on all living things and actively used this to their advantage. Just as the Moon influences the ebb and flow of the tides, the celestial body can help the rapid growth of a plant, or, on the contrary, destroy it.

Let's look at how the phases of the moon are divided for planting:

new moon is the “dead” phase of the moon. All living things seem to freeze during this period, hibernating until the next phase;
the first quarter is the next phase after the new moon, all living things begin to “wake up”, the nutritional juices of plants begin to rise, a surge of energy goes to the leaves and buds;
full moon - all living things during this period are filled with energy, nutrients;
after the new moon, all the juices go back to the stem of the plant and its roots.

Root crops are best planted, fed and hilled in a favorable phase of the Moon for their further successful growth. Gardeners plant tubers immediately after the new moon. At this time, seed potatoes in the soil begin to actively gain vital energy, which contributes to a rich harvest in the future.

Favorable zodiac signs for potatoes

Moon passes through different signs zodiac, this should also be taken into account when referring to the lunar calendar in 2018, when you plan to plant and dig potatoes. Each zodiac sign, in tandem with a certain phase of the moon, can influence the growth and quantity of the harvest.

Let's consider a successful combination:

It is better to harvest potatoes during the position of the Moon in Aries or Leo;
a favorable time for collection is also the phase in Capricorn or Taurus;
The harvest will be stored for a long time if it is harvested during the Moon in Gemini.

Unfavorable time for planting and harvesting:

picking potatoes from the garden at a time when the Moon phase is in Virgo or Pisces is not recommended, otherwise there is a risk of getting watery tubers;

Advice: you shouldn’t rely entirely on the 2018 lunar calendar to take care of potatoes. Without timely care, potatoes are unlikely to produce a rich and tasty harvest, even if you know when to plant the plant and when to dig.

In addition to the phase of the moon, it is important to take weather conditions into account when harvesting potatoes. It is best to harvest before the end of September, otherwise, being in the ground for a long time, the root crops will lose their mass.

Favorable and unfavorable periods for potatoes

Even the most experienced gardener will not say exactly when it is time to harvest potatoes. Many rely on the experience of past years, others on the weather, but most often people turn to the lunar calendar.

Favorable days for collecting tubers:

Unfavorable days for collecting tubers:

To get a good harvest

All summer residents dig up new potatoes, so to speak, “for food.” This is best done in August from the 7th to the 14th, but they dig it earlier. To determine whether the tubers have grown or not, it is enough to dig up the outermost bush.

But from August 18 to 20, harvesting is not recommended. Also, experienced gardeners do not dig up potatoes in early September: from 1 to 3. On these days, there is a high probability of getting watery tubers. Such a crop cannot be stored for a long time.

Please note: we provide in the article general recommendations for harvesting potatoes. When planning to dig up tubers, it is also worth considering the type of fruit. There is a wide selection of potato types on the market. The fruits are different from each other appearance, ripening period and taste qualities. Therefore, when planting and digging up fruits, you should pay attention to the recommendations for this variety.

Collecting tubers based on region

Depending on the region in which the potatoes were planted, the harvest time varies. Climatic conditions region should also be taken into account based on the lunar calendar of the assembly. If you take into account all the nuances, the tubers will be excellent.

In the first half of September, residents of the Far East dig up their potatoes.
In the Urals and Siberia, potatoes are dug up at almost the same time as in Far East. But mostly residents of cities such as Omsk, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk focus on when the tops of the bush have withered. After three weeks, no more, the potatoes can be dug up. But at the same time, it is important to monitor weather conditions in order to have time to collect the root crop before the first frost.
For residents of the Moscow region, everything is a little simpler. Gardeners from this region can harvest potatoes on favorable days according to the lunar calendar: this is the end of the first half of August and the beginning of September.
In the South Siberian region, you can harvest potatoes throughout September without worrying about frost. In this corner big country It is warm enough, so the tubers are left to ripen in the soil almost until the end of September.

Rules for harvesting potatoes

Before you start digging up potatoes, you need to remove the tops and all unnecessary plants from the garden bed. It is worth leaving only 10 cm of the bush above the ground. This is done two weeks before the expected harvest date.

Important! Do not cut off the tops completely! The tubers still need substances from the greenery, with which they will be nourished for the last 14 days. If they are deprived of their only source of minerals, the fruits will not be of high quality, the process of rotting may begin, and this will also affect the shelf life of the potatoes.

After the entire harvest has been harvested, it is important to remove all remaining tops from the beds. Harmful microorganisms will accumulate in the residue, which will negatively affect the future harvest.

It is best to dig up potatoes in dry weather, as the fruits need to air dry. In order for young fruits to ripen, they are placed in a dark place for one or two weeks. Here the potato skin will become much thicker, which will protect the fruit from dangerous diseases and the tubers will be able to be stored longer.

Afterwards you need to sort the harvest. Many gardeners cover their potatoes with mint leaves or birch branches. Such shelter protects the crop from harmful microorganisms that can cause rot. The same is done with seed material. Until next year, potatoes for planting will retain their original condition and will not rot.

When to harvest potatoes in the year. When to harvest potatoes? If you want to dig up potatoes for food in the summer, then you need to do this

And when to dig?

Lunar calendar 2017 potato harvesting