Do I need to feed potatoes? Fertilizers for planting and growing potatoes

Victor Ivanovich. Tell me what is the best way to feed the potatoes after planting? ?
The most common and popular vegetable today is potatoes. Even in small plots, gardeners select a planting site for this vegetable. But in order to get a rich harvest, like other plants, potatoes need to be fed. Folk remedies are perfect for this task; fertilizing them will ensure productivity and environmentally friendly products.

Features of growing potatoes

This vegetable is particularly unpretentious, but requires utmost attention. The main thing is to perform care on time. Planting is done with heated, sprouted tubers. It is desirable that the earth is warmed up. This will ensure quick germination. You also need to adhere to the distance between the bushes; it is recommended to plant at intervals of 60x60 cm. Planting depth is 5-8 cm.

The soil needs to be loosened as it compacts; potatoes like to grow in soft soil. When the bushes grow up to 30 cm, they need to be hilled up so that the stems do not fall or break. Spraying potatoes will help protect seedlings from the Corolad beetle and diseases. For this purpose, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides are used. It would seem that such care is enough to obtain a generous harvest, but without fertilizer it is almost impossible to achieve good returns.

Humus is a useful organic fertilizer for potatoes

Folk remedies for feeding potatoes

The most effective home fertilizers include:

humus;
slurry;
wood ash;
bird droppings;
nettle.

Humus is considered an effective useful organic fertilizer. It is applied to the ground before plowing the land in the fall. During the winter, humus releases useful substances into the soil. Planting crops in spring in fertilized soil contributes to the formation of a good harvest.

But not every gardener has the opportunity to add humus. And frequent use of other types of fertilizers contributes to the accumulation of nitrates and other harmful substances in fruits. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to fertilize potatoes after planting with folk remedies.

After germination, it is recommended to fertilize the potatoes with diluted slurry. The solution is prepared by diluting the slurry with water in a ratio of 1:5. It is enough to pour about one and a half liters of the prepared liquid under the bush. To make the fertilizer more nutritious, you can let it stand for half a day.

Attention! Any fertilizing of potatoes must be done after watering or immediately after rain!

If it is not possible to get slurry, then chicken or bird droppings are good for fertilizer. You need a little bit of water per bucket, one or two tablespoons of already dried droppings. Dilute it well in water and add 0.5-1 liter of the prepared liquid under the bush. This fertilizer is good to apply during the flowering period of potatoes.

After germination, potatoes can be fed with a solution of slurry

Another effective folk method of fertilization is the use of herbal infusions. To do this, finely chop 10 kg of nettle and fill it with water. The mixture is allowed to brew for 5-6 days, after which it can be used. Add 1 liter to each bush.

Infusion of wood ash is widely used for root fertilizer. This mixture can be applied throughout the entire growing season of potato growth. The mixture is prepared using 1 glass of ash per 10 liters of water. Pour liquid under the bushes. This fertilizer is especially effective during the period of potato budding.

Despite the fact that fertilizers are natural and organic, it is not recommended to exceed their dose, since in hot weather the plant can simply burn.

Attention! Fertilizing potatoes after planting should be done in the morning or evening, or in cloudy weather.

Potato feeding is carried out in three stages:

During the growth of tops.
During the formation of buds.
When flowering.

The last feeding of potatoes is done during flowering

When using root fertilizers, you should also avoid getting them on the leaves. Another negative factor when growing potatoes is excess moisture. Therefore, if the summer is rainy, then it is better to apply fertilizers after the rain, so that after a while you do not have to water the garden specifically before applying nutrient mixtures. When using natural home fertilizers, the harvest will be generous and environmentally friendly.

By observing this distribution of fertilizers and alternating their types, the result of your efforts will be justified. After all, potatoes will receive nutrients during the most important growth phases.

Feeding potatoes - video

How nice it is to eat potatoes from your own garden! But to get a good harvest, you should periodically fertilize your potatoes, and this is best done when planting. In this case, you need to know the properties of fertilizers, classification, and how often to apply them.

Classification of fertilizers for potatoes

Based on their structure and state of aggregation, they are divided into liquid fertilizers, solid granular fertilizers and loose substances of natural origin (manure, peat, etc.). But this classification does not give an idea of the composition of fertilizers for potatoes, so most often all fertilizers are divided into the following categories.

Organic - contain organic matter in a form accessible to plants, most often of natural origin. This includes manure and slurry, bird droppings, peat, humus, green manure, etc.
Mineral – the composition includes micro- and macroelements necessary for the development of cultivated plants. Such fertilizers are produced at chemical plants, but some can be obtained independently (for example, wood ash). Ammonium nitrate, urea, etc. are widely used.
Mixed - consist of a mixture of fertilizers from the two previous groups.

When potatoes are planted annually in the same place, the yield decreases, since a large amount of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other elements necessary for the growth and formation of tubers are transferred from the soil to the tubers. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the properties of the soil by applying fertilizers. Application rates and effects on crop plants differ for different fertilizers, so we will consider this issue in more detail.

Organic fertilizers for potatoes

Most organic fertilizers are waste products of living beings - plants and animals, which is why they are sometimes called biofertilizers. They not only enrich the soil with nutrients, but also improve its structure: they make it lighter and more porous.

manure and slurry;
chicken manure solutions;
green manure.

For each type of biofertilizer, there are nuances regarding preliminary preparation and application.

Manure and its derivatives

Cow and horse manure are simply a storehouse of microelements! It makes the substrate looser, promotes the formation of a humus layer and increases potato yield. More often, manure is used during autumn or winter digging, embedding it into the soil to a depth of 30-40 cm. As biofertilizer decomposes, it releases heat and warms up the crop, which is especially important when growing potatoes in northern latitudes. The application rate for plowing is 400 kg per hundred square meters.

If you only have fresh fertilizer on hand, it is better to prepare slurry by pouring 1 part of it with 9 parts of water. 1 liter of infusion is poured into each well.

Do not fertilize the soil with manure every year, as this may reduce fertility. The optimal application interval is once every 3-5 years.

Chicken droppings

This is a concentrated biofertilizer for potatoes when planting in a hole, which is used only in diluted form.

The infusion is prepared as follows:

take 700 g of bird droppings and dissolve in 10 liters of warm water;
the container is removed for 3 days in a warm place for fermentation;
filter the solution;
pour 1 liter of infusion into each well.

The optimal ratio of litter to water is 1:15. But it is better to make the infusion a little weaker than to exceed the concentration.

Green manure

Rotten and fermented plants can be used as biofertilizer. But what herbs are suitable for creating such feeding? Yes, any! When weeding and mowing the area, a lot of grass remains. This is what you can use.

Recipe for creating green biofertilizer

Place all the weeds along with the soil on the roots in a barrel.
Add a few handfuls of urea if desired.
Fill with warm water to the edge of the barrel.
Stretch the polyethylene to enhance anaerobic fermentation.
Leave for 2 weeks.

You can apply this fertilizer when planting potatoes without diluting it. Just pour 1 liter of green biofertilizer into each hole.

Mineral fertilizers for potatoes

Some gardeners are afraid to fertilize the soil with chemical products, fearing excess nitrates in the crop. But you can also flavor the land with manure so that the nitrates in vegetables go off scale. With strict adherence to standards, it will be possible to grow a bountiful and healthy harvest.

What mineral fertilizer is considered the most popular for feeding? Of course it's urea. In addition, saltpeter, superphosphate, and natural wood ash are used as fertilizers for potatoes when planting in holes.

Used on soils with an alkaline reaction. Application rate – 1.5 kg per 100 m2. When planting, you can spill the holes with a urea solution (40 g/10 l). Some gardeners apply urea granules directly to the soil. The norm is 1 small handful per hole.

Do not place the tuber directly on the urea granules. It is better to sprinkle the fertilizer with soil, and then place the seed on top.

A very economical concentrated fertilizer that can be used annually in small doses. This mineral fertilizer is produced in several variations, differing from each other in composition and ratio of components. Ammonium nitrate is used in dry form, and also as solutions for fertilizing. In combination with fungicidal agents, it is used to soak tubers before planting.

Application rates depend on the degree of fertilization of the substrate. On neglected soils, it is better to place 20 g of ammonium nitrate granules in each hole. And for well-groomed areas this norm is 2 times less. After pouring into the hole, the fertilizer is mixed with the substrate and only then the seed is added.

Another mineral fertilizer containing a lot of nitrogen in a form accessible to plants. The fertilizer also contains potassium, sulfur and phosphorus. Azofoska strengthens potato roots, promotes heap formation and rapid growth of tubers. It also has protective properties: it prevents the development of fungal infections on tubers.

Azofoska is used for preparing mineral mixtures and as an independent fertilizer. It can be applied in the spring when planting tubers in rows or holes. The norm for one pit is 3 g.

The fertilizer is rich in phosphorus, as well as sulfur, calcium and other elements. This mineral fertilizer stimulates the growth of tops and the storage of substances in tubers. Gardeners note that superphosphate is the best phosphorus-containing fertilizer when planting tubers. It is ideal for acidic soils, alone or in combination with phosphate rock. Application rate – 2 kg/100 m2 for well-groomed areas.

Do not use superphosphate in mixture with other mineral fertilizers! It works better if used separately.

Ash

Wood ash has been used for a long time to improve the properties of the soil and increase the yield in the garden. This natural fertilizer is used in dry form, in solutions or in combination with other organic and mineral fertilizers. Excellent for acidic soils.

To increase the potato yield, wood ash is poured directly into the hole. The consumption rate per 1 hectare is from 5 to 10 kg (200 g in each hole).

Complex fertilizers

Many gardeners use special complex fertilizers to fertilize the soil for potato beds. It is better to introduce them during spring digging, but you can also add them directly into the hole.

What organomineral fertilizers are considered the most popular?

You can prepare nutrient mixtures to increase productivity yourself. Here are a few recipes that will help fertilize the soil for potatoes.

Organic feeding: Mix humus (500 g) with dry wood ash (3 tbsp) into each hole.
Mineral feeding: under each tuber, pour a mixture of bone meal (100 g) and nitrophoska (1 tbsp.).
Organomineral mixture. You will need white moss (sphagnum). Prepare a mineral solution for it from the following components: water (12-liter bucket), urea (10 g), copper sulfate crystal hydrate (1 tsp), azophosphate (5 g), potassium chloride (10 g). Dissolve all components in water and dip moss cushions into this mixture. Place the soaked sphagnum moss at the bottom of the hole and sprinkle it with soil, and place the seed on top. Such organomineral fertilizing will not only increase productivity, but also protect the tubers from some fungal infections.

Complex solutions and dry granules are used not only during planting, but also in the summer to feed the plant. The main thing is not to overdo it with nitrogen, otherwise all the nutrients will go to the tops and not to the tubers.

It is impossible to imagine growing potatoes without proper care and timely fertilizing. Properly selected fertilizer for potatoes is the key to a good harvest. If you don’t know what organic or chemical products to use, we recommend reading our article.

We will tell you which potato fertilizer is best to use when planting and how to properly process tubers and bushes during cultivation.

Which fertilizer is best for potatoes when planting?

Potatoes have long been one of the staple foods on our table, so many would like to know what methods are most effective in growing them, and what fertilizers are best to use for this vegetable.

Potatoes are one of the few crops in the cultivation of which the main role is played by fertilizing carried out during planting. After all, the volume and quality of the future harvest depends on it.

This is due to the fact that the plant very quickly absorbs nutrients from the soil for the development of tubers. Thus, it impoverishes the soil, and in the absence of fertilizing, the harvest in a quantitative and qualitative sense will be low.

At the same time, the deficit of consumed substances cannot be restored at one time, so potato fertilization is carried out in two phases: during autumn plowing and during planting in holes.

Types of fertilizers for potatoes

First of all, potatoes prefer organic fertilizers: manure and peat manure compost, as well as bird droppings.

Note: Green manure - green plants that are a valuable source of nutrients for subsequent crops - are becoming popular. These include: peas, clover, winter rye, barley, etc.

Among minerals, ammonium nitrate, urea, potassium sulfate and double superphosphate have a good effect.

Figure 1. Main types of fertilizers for potatoes

Liquid fertilizers based on phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen preparations, as well as micro- and macroelements, are also widely used.

You should beware of elements such as chlorine; carefully use substances containing calcium and nitrogen.

The main types of fertilizers for potatoes are shown in Figure 1. Let us consider in more detail their individual types and application features.

Mineral

Among the wide range of mineral fertilizers, potatoes most need potassium contained in wood ash, and the need for nitrogen will be satisfied by urea (urea).

Note: Wood ash is rich in phosphorus, potassium, calcium, as well as other valuable microelements important for the full development of root crops. It needs to be applied at the rate of 5-10 kg per hundred square meters.

Figure 2. Mineral fertilizers for vegetables

Along with wood ash, potassium chloride and ammophosphate are used (Figure 2). Nitrogen plays an important role in the amount of harvest: with the right dose, the bushes will be able to form a sufficient number of large tubers. If the required norm is exceeded, all growth will be directed not to the roots, but to the leaves. Then, of course, there will be no high yields.

Organic

Since organic fertilizers include almost all the nutrients necessary for full growth, they are the best type of feeding (Figure 3).

Organic substances are easily digestible, and also contribute to the accumulation of humus in the soil and increase the amount of carbon dioxide, which helps in the growth of tubers.

Figure 3. Types of organic fertilizers

Organic nutrients include rotted manure and chicken droppings, various types of composts and waste, as well as green manure plants.

Manure for potatoes

Manure should be applied to potatoes in advance so that the soil can be enriched with nutrients over the winter.

This should be done before digging (ploughing), having previously scattered manure over the area in an amount of 5 to 10 kg per square meter.

Note: The application of live organic fertilizer in the spring delays the work and leads to overcompaction of the soil and insufficient harvest.

It should be remembered that only dry rotted manure can be applied directly to the crop. This procedure is carried out during planting. 200 g of compost or manure is lowered to the bottom of the hole, then sprinkled with a thin layer of soil.

Among all organic preparations, chicken manure has the fastest effect on the development of tubers, but it is not recommended to apply it fresh to the soil so as not to burn the plant.

The droppings must be diluted in water (1:10) and left to infuse for several days in a warm place, then the resulting slurry should be watered at the roots of the bushes, 1 liter for each bush.

The author of the video explains how to properly apply organic fertilizers to potatoes.

Spring feeding (features, methods, etc.)

What fertilizers should I apply for potatoes in the spring? One of the most important elements for potato growth is nitrogen contained in manure and wood ash. And yet, the best increase in yield is possible by combining organic and mineral fertilizing (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Fertilizing potatoes in the spring when planting

It is important to know that early varieties consume more nutrients than late ones. Since early ripening varieties have a short growing season, they are simply not able to have time to absorb all the necessary substances from organic matter. Mineral preparations act much faster and are able to provide the plant with the substances necessary for growth and development in full.

Possible options for feeding potatoes with mineral fertilizers during planting:

Potassium sulfate - 2 kg per hundred square meters.
Double superphosphate or ammonium nitrate - 1 kg per hundred square meters.
Ash - half a bucket per hundred square meters.
Complex - nitrophoska (5 kg per acre), nitroammophoska (3 kg per hundred square meters).

The above substances are applied directly into the holes (rows), following certain standards.

Liquid fertilizing is carried out when the tops reach a height of 12 cm. It is usually carried out together with the first hilling.

What fertilizers to use when planting potatoes

So what fertilizers are suitable to use during planting? Experienced gardeners prefer rotted manure and compost, wood ash and bone meal, as well as mineral nutrients such as urea, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and complex preparations.

What fertilizers to apply in spring for potatoes?

Since potato roots grow only in the upper surface layer of the earth, in the spring it is customary to apply any type of fertilizer simply into holes or rows in certain doses. This uses a small amount of the drug and has a direct effect on the crop.

If fertilizing is carried out along the surface of the soil, then the first formed tubers, which are closer to the surface, will turn green.

Note: The amount of fertilizer is determined by the fertility of the soil. So, for fertile soil, take 2.5 kg of rotted manure (compost), 2.5 kg of superphosphate and 1.5 kg of potassium preparations.

No more than 3 kg of manure and an equal amount of nitrogen-containing preparations, as well as 2.5 kg of potassium and 4 kg of phosphorus preparations are added to soil with an average level of fertility.

For soil with low fertility, take 100 kg of humus with the addition of 1 kg of ammonium nitrate and 3 kg of superphosphate.

Figure 5. Scheme for fertilizing potatoes during planting

For example, if you prefer natural organic matter, then for each prepared hole you will need about 700 g of dry humus (compost) and a handful of wood ash.

Having chosen mineral fertilizers, add 1 tbsp to each cavity. a spoonful of nitrophoska and 0.5 cups of bone meal. Purchased products should be dosed according to the instructions. Figure 5 shows a scheme for introducing such substances when planting potatoes.

What to feed potatoes after planting

After planting, along with loosening and hilling, it is necessary to fertilize young plants. Potatoes must be saturated with nutrients before the tubers ripen, that is, no later than mid-July.

Note: The need for such fertilizing is indicated by the appearance of the plant. So, if the stems are very thin and pale green in color, then per 1 linear meter of the row you need to add 1.5 cups of humus with 1 teaspoon of urea.

During budding, to accelerate flowering, a second feeding is carried out, consisting of wood ash and potassium sulfate (3 tablespoons of ash and 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate per 1 linear meter).

Finally, the final application of nutrients is carried out at the flowering stage for the fastest formation of tubers. During this, 2 tablespoons must be added per meter. superphosphate.

If you are concerned about slower growth, water the soil around the bushes with an infusion of dung or liquid mullein. Perform the procedure carefully so that the solution does not get on the tops.

Root and foliar fertilizers

Various types of fertilizing are carried out using root and foliar methods (Figure 6). The simplest option is root, when nutrients are applied under the root. It is carried out after light loosening to facilitate access of nutritional components to the roots of the plant. For this procedure, organic and inorganic substances are used.

Let's look at the features of using some of them:

Bird droppings It can also be used fresh, only by diluting it with water (1:10) and infusing it in a warm place. The resulting solution is poured between the rows.
Tablespoon of urea(urea) dissolves in 10 liters of water. The resulting mixture is used for root feeding after loosening and before the first hilling.
Row spacing can also be shed with fermented mullein infusion(a liter of fresh manure per bucket of water).
Feeding with herbal infusion carried out at the beginning of summer, when potatoes especially need nitrogen. To do this, you need to soak any weeds in a large container of water, let them ferment, then dilute them to obtain a light brown liquid and water the bushes around the perimeter of the hole in the evening.

Various agrochemicals are also widely used, including a solution of ammonium nitrate (20 g of the substance per bucket of water), as well as a mixture of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers (1:1:2). 25 g of this mixture is dissolved in a bucket of water.

Since potatoes need nutrients at every stage of the growing season, a one-time feeding may not be enough.

For this reason, foliar application of nutrients is practiced. It is carried out by spraying after weeding, preferably in the evening, so as not to injure the plants with burns.

Figure 6. Root and foliar feeding

Although nutrients penetrate the plant’s body through the leaves at different speeds, they nevertheless enter individual plant organs faster than when applied at the root.

It is important what condition the leaves are in: healthy ones are able to absorb nutrients faster and in full, while absorption by diseased leaves is difficult.

On sandy soil, the nitrogen type will be most effective. It will require a urea solution in a weaker concentration than for regular feeding, so as not to cause chemical burns to the leaves.

The first fertilizing with a solution based on urea (urea) is carried out 14 days after the complete emergence of seedlings. The working solution includes: water (5 l), urea (100 g), boric acid (5 g) and potassium monophosphate (150 g). The resulting mixture must be diluted twice. Further fertilizing is carried out with an undiluted solution at a time interval of two weeks, until the crop begins to flower.

You should know that the plant has difficulty absorbing nutrients from the soil in cold and cloudy weather with precipitation, so it would be useful to feed the plants with complete mineral fertilizer. It will not only activate all the processes occurring in the plant, but will also increase its resistance to fungal diseases. Per liter of solution you need to take 20 g of superphosphate, 2 g of potassium chloride and ammonium nitrate, as well as 0.1 g of copper sulfate. All parts are mixed and dissolved in warm water. The resulting solution is infused for at least 3 hours, then filtered and adjusted to the required volume.

Phosphorus fertilizing improves yield and starch content in tubers. It is used for spraying approximately a month before the start of harvesting. To improve the taste of tubers, as well as for preventive purposes against the formation of voids inside root crops, foliar feeding is carried out with the addition of manganese and boron.

You can start treating plants with humates from the time the 4th leaf appears on the bush. The periods between treatments are 2 weeks.

For those who prefer natural fertilizers, you can prepare a nettle infusion. To do this, nettle stems with leaves are filled with water and left to ferment in a warm place. The finished solution must be filtered and diluted. Potatoes can be treated with this solution at intervals of 10 days.

Remember that foliar feeding will be effective provided that the plants receive sufficient essential nutrients.

Methods of application to the soil

Fertilizers are applied to the soil in three ways: basic, pre-sowing and as top dressing. How to do this is shown in Figure 7.

With the main method, they are applied before cultivating the soil or during cultivating the soil before sowing. Thus, all organic and most mineral substances enter the soil.

If fertilizing occurs simultaneously with sowing, then this is a pre-sowing method.

Fertilizing refers to the introduction of special nutrients during the growing season. Fertilizing the soil for potatoes is carried out both in autumn and in spring.

Figure 7. Fertilizer technology for potatoes

In late autumn, before the onset of frost, fresh manure, bird droppings, and peat are incorporated into the soil. In the spring, fertilizing is carried out with rotted manure, compost and humus. At the same time, it is better to add them to dry soil.

As for inorganic fertilizing, they are also carried out at different periods of time. Thus, nitrophoska is applied during autumn deep tillage, and for heavy soils, nitroammophoska is used. Ammophos is used as a liquid fertilizer in the spring. All such preparations are applied either by the root (directly into the hole) or by the foliar method (by spraying).

Technology of fertilizing the soil

It is important to know that root fertilizing is applied specifically to the holes in clear sunny weather. This is due to the peculiarities of the processes of photosynthesis, which is possible only with good sunlight.

It is known that the root system of potatoes develops in the near-surface layer of soil. Therefore, fertilizers applied to each hole are quickly absorbed by the roots.

When applying humus, it must be embedded in rows (holes, furrows) simultaneously with planting the crop.

As for foliar fertilizing, it is best to carry it out in cloudy weather or in the evening. Sunlight causes solutions to dry out, which can damage the leaves. In addition, spraying is carried out two hours before possible precipitation, so that the fertilizing has time to be absorbed.

Let us dwell separately on the technology of introducing inorganic compounds:

A handful of wood ash must be added to each planting hole and sprinkled with a 2 cm layer of soil.
The first fertilizing after emergence of seedlings is carried out with a solution of urea (30 g per 15 liters of water). Half a liter of this solution is added to each bush.
The second feeding is carried out in the bud formation phase. A solution is prepared for it from 20-30 g of potassium sulfate, 15 liters of water and 20 g of wood ash. A liter of the prepared mixture is poured under each bush.
To accelerate the formation of tubers, fertilize with a mixture of liquid mullein (250 g) and two tablespoons of superphosphate. The contents are mixed and allowed to brew for about half an hour. Then the mixture must be diluted in 10 liters of water and applied to each bush at the rate of 0.5 liters per plant.

How to calculate the required fertilizers

Fertilizer application rates depend on the level of soil fertility. If 2 to 2.5 kg of manure and superphosphate, as well as up to one and a half kilograms of potassium preparations per hundred square meters, should be added to fertile soil, then for soil with average productivity the norms increase. You will already need 3 kg of compost (manure) and nitrogen fertilizers, as well as 2.5 kg of potash and 4 kg of phosphorus.

Depleted soil needs feeding most of all. To fertilize it you will need 100 kg of humus with 1 kg of ammonium nitrate and 3 kg of superphosphate.

Remember that excessive amounts of nutrients applied can negatively affect the harvest, while the above-ground part of the bush will look lush.

With proper feeding, you will get an excellent harvest not only this year, but also next year.

From the video you will learn how to make fertilizer for potatoes with your own hands.

Potatoes appeared in Russia during the reign of Peter I, and since then we can no longer imagine our life without dishes prepared from these root vegetables. Now every gardener necessarily grows this plant in his summer cottage, receiving delicious, hearty fruits.

When planting potatoes on their plot in the spring, every summer resident thinks: “How to get a good harvest?” And, of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the idea of using fertilizers.

Potatoes are a big eater. During growth and development, it consumes in large quantities all the nutrients it needs from the soil. Naturally, after each harvest, the soil loses a lot of useful substances, giving them to us in potato tubers, which negatively affects its condition. Every year there are fewer and fewer nutrients and microelements in the soil, and it is our duty to replenish these reserves, otherwise we risk getting infertile soil and a very modest harvest of everyone’s favorite root vegetable.

Scientists have calculated that 5 kilograms of potatoes from just one square meter of soil takes about 6 grams of magnesium, 20-30 grams of nitrogen, 7-10 grams of phosphorus, 35-45 grams of potassium oxide, as well as copper, boron, manganese and zinc. With such consumption, it is not surprising that without replenishment, after a few seasons the potato harvest will become negligible.

Fertilizers help restore soil fertility and return high potato yields. The root crop absorbs useful substances throughout the entire period of life, and most of all during the formation of buds and during the flowering period. This is why it is so important to fertilize potatoes during planting.

For the sake of experiment, you can plant one part of the garden with potatoes without fertilizing the soil, and the second part using fertilizers. So you will see from your own experience that with proper fertilizing, potato yields will increase significantly.

What do potatoes like?

It would seem that potatoes are the most picky type of root crops grown by summer residents. But this is far from true. In fact, potatoes are very sensitive to growing conditions. The main reasons for this:

underdeveloped root system;
its high oxygen demand during tuber formation.

Most of all, potatoes “appreciate” sandy loam, light loamy, soddy-podzolic soils and tolerate high soil acidity very well.

Types of fertilizers

So what should you feed your potatoes during planting? Fertilizers are organic and mineral.

Gardeners have noticed that organic fertilizers can increase yields several times.

View	Picture	Why it's useful
		A type of fertilizer known from time immemorial. A source of nitrogen, ash elements and carbon dioxide necessary for potatoes to grow. It also has a positive effect on the structure of the soil, making it airy, porous, and attracting beneficial microorganisms. Fresh manure is usually not used: gardeners are afraid that the plants may get burned. Rotted manure is more often used - that which has lain for a whole year before use, humus
		It is healthier than manure, as it contains much more nitrogen and phosphorus. Non-toxic, non-flammable, improves soil condition
		Rotted, decayed plant waste, paper, sawdust collected by summer residents during the previous season. In order for the compost to ripen, the waste pile is covered with film to retain heat and moisture - this is important for the ripening of the fertilizer. The resulting mass is mixed with soil and used; in its pure form it is used only if it has been stored for more than a year. Source of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus
		Plants that can replace manure are mustard, legumes, and oats. They are allowed to grow before planting potatoes, and then dug into the soil. As green manure decomposes, it improves the condition of the soil and becomes a source of nutrients.

Mineral fertilizers are nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, etc.

View	Photo	Why it's useful
		One of the best fertilizers for potatoes, as it contains about 35% nitrogen. Also contains chalk, flour, gypsum. It’s cheap and works immediately after application: the yield of a fertilized plot of land increases by 50% in the first year. Ammonium nitrate acts prophylactically, protecting potatoes from various pests and diseases. Poorly effective on podzolic soils
		Nitrogen urea contains about 45% nitrogen. Quickly copes with nitrogen starvation and also improves the taste of potatoes. Once in the ground, it turns into ammonium carbonate. It tends to evaporate, and therefore it is important to add urea to the soil and not scatter it on the surface of the earth. Do not use urea in combination with chalk, lime, superphosphate
		Recognized as one of the best fertilizers. Contains phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, calcium and other elements necessary for potatoes. This fertilizer not only increases productivity, but also improves metabolism, accelerates plant development, and protects against diseases.
		Universal fertilizer, source of potassium oxide (contains about 50% of the substance). Fertilizer has a positive effect on the plant’s immunity and improves the composition of the fruit. With a lack of potassium, plants wither
		Improves the chemical composition of fruits, increases productivity, ensures uniform growth and improves immunity. Nitrophoska contains phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium - the most important elements for potatoes

How much fertilizer do you need for potatoes?

Having found out what fertilizers are used by summer residents when planting potatoes, let's find out in what quantity they need to be used, because excess fertilizers will negatively affect not only the condition of the soil, but also the harvest.

How to fertilize correctly

Having figured out what main types of fertilizers for potatoes exist and in what quantities they need to be used, we will consider in detail the technology of fertilizing.

That's it, the potatoes are planted! Now all that remains is to provide it with proper care during the summer and wait for the harvest.

By the way, fertilizers are placed exactly in the hole, since in this case the greatest effect is observed from them: as we said earlier, the root system of potatoes is weak and does not penetrate deep into the soil, and so all the useful substances will be “under the nose” of the potato. In addition, in this way it is possible to reduce fertilizer consumption.

Video - Fertilizing the soil for potatoes with ash and fertilizers

How to avoid mistakes

Unfortunately, no one is immune from mistakes when planting potatoes. To reduce the risk of error, follow the tips below:

When we plant potatoes in an area where there was previously virgin soil, the harvest is excellent without any fertilizers. But if we inherit a dacha from our grandmother, where active gardening with digging, weeding and other delights has been going on for forty years, you can’t just grow good potatoes.

Despite its apparent simplicity, potatoes annually consume a huge amount of minerals. One plant “pulls” 50 grams of nitrogen, 100 grams of potassium and 20 grams of phosphorus from the soil per season. So it is necessary to feed, especially on poor soils. How to fertilize potatoes? When is the best time to fertilize potatoes? Let's find out...

By and large, we all understand that areas intended for growing potatoes can be fertilized both in the spring before planting and in the fall after harvesting. As they say, fertilize when it suits you.

Fertilizers for spring plowing

Before digging up a potato plot in the spring, the greatest effect comes from the combined use of organic and mineral fertilizers. Combinations may be different:

Option 1. 10 kilograms of humus, 20 grams of ammonium nitrate, 20 grams of potassium sulfate, 40 grams of superphosphate, 450 grams of dolomite flour per 1 square meter.

Option 2. 7 kilograms of compost, 30 grams of nitrophoska, 20 grams of potassium sulfate, 20 grams of ammonium nitrate per 1 square meter.

Option 3. 1 bucket of humus, 3 tablespoons of nitrophoska, 1 glass of ash per 1 square meter.

Option 4. If they grow on the site, then along with planting the green mass it is enough to add 20 grams of ammonium nitrate, 20 grams of potassium sulfate per 1 square meter.

Option 5. If there is a deficiency of organic matter, complex fertilizers are applied: nitrophoska at the rate of 5 kilograms per hundred square meters or nitroammophoska (3 kilograms per hundred square meters).

You can include microelements in the fertilizer mixture, for example: copper (0.5 grams of copper sulfate per 1 square meter) and molybdenum (0.1 grams of ammonium molybdate per 1 square meter). They help absorb essential macronutrients.

All fertilizers are usually applied superficially. They are simply scattered over the surface of the soil, and then buried to a depth of 20-25 centimeters when plowing, digging or loosening with a flat cutter.

Applying fertilizers to the hole during planting

The second method of applying fertilizers in the spring is even simpler and even more effective - all fertilizers are applied directly into the hole along with planting the tuber. Fertilizers can be applied to the planting hole, both organic and mineral.

Organic option: Five tablespoons of ash and a 700 gram jar of dry humus in each hole.

Mineral option: 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska in each hole or 15-20 grams of Kemira Potato complex fertilizer.

Potato feeding in summer

If in the spring you were late with fertilizers, did not have time, or the appearance of the plants shows that they do not have enough nutrition, fertilizing helps out. You can feed potatoes until mid-July; you shouldn’t wait any longer, otherwise the plants will gain excess green mass and “forget” about the tubers. Any fertilizing is best done after watering or rain.

Potato root feeding

First feeding carried out at the beginning of tops growth. It is needed if the potato stalks are thin and pale green.
Usually it is applied immediately before the first hilling.

The first feeding option. 1 teaspoon of urea (or ammonium nitrate) + 1.5 cups of humus per 1 linear meter of potato strip.
Second feeding option. 3 grams of superphosphate, 3 grams of potassium chloride or sulfate, 2 grams of urea or ammonium nitrate for each bush.
The third feeding option. 10 grams of nitrophoska per plant.
The fourth feeding option. 10 grams of dry bird droppings for each bush or watering the furrows between potato rows with an infusion of chicken droppings in a ratio of 1:10.
Fifth feeding option. Two handfuls of humus per bush.
Sixth feeding option. 1 tablespoon of urea per 10 liters of water. The consumption rate for one plant is 0.5 liters.
Seventh feeding option.
Eighth feeding option. 20 grams of ammonium nitrate per 10 liters of water. The consumption rate for a bush is 0.5 liters.
Ninth feeding option. 1 liter of mullein per 10 liters of water. This solution is watered between the rows.

As you can see, there are plenty of variations of the first fertilizing so that everyone can choose the most suitable one for their garden.

The first feeding option. 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate and 3 tablespoons of ash per 1 linear meter of potato strip.
Second feeding option. 30 grams of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water per 10 square meters.
The third feeding option. Two handfuls of ash are mixed with the same amount of soil and added under each bush.

Third feeding done during flowering to accelerate the formation of tubers. To do this, dissolve 2 tablespoons of superphosphate and 1 glass of mullein in 10 liters of water. Apply 0.5 liters of the resulting solution to each bush.

Foliar feeding of potatoes

Some people like to water, while others prefer to spray. If you belong to the second group, then it is undoubtedly better for you to pay attention to foliar fertilizers that are sprayed directly onto the leaves of plants. Such fertilizers quickly deliver nutrients “to the address”, activating the metabolic processes of the plant.

Nitrogen-potassium fertilizing. For 5 liters of water take 100 grams of urea, 150 grams of potassium monophosphate, 5 grams of boric acid. You can also add microelements - boron, copper, manganese, zinc and cobalt in a dosage of no more than 0.5 grams per 5 liters.

This feeding is carried out two weeks after germination. If necessary, repeat again. Potatoes can be sprayed with this solution before flowering at two-week intervals.

Supporters of organic farming spray potato plots with fermented infusion of nettles or solutions of gummates.

Phosphorus fertilizing. At the very end of potato flowering, to increase the yield and starchiness of the tubers, potato bushes are sprayed with a superphosphate extract: 20 grams of fertilizer are poured into 10 liters of warm water and left for two days, stirring occasionally. The consumption rate for this infusion is 1 liter per hundred square meters.

Fertilizing potato beds in the fall

Those who value every minute in spring prefer to fertilize the soil for potatoes in the fall. This option has quite a few advantages: some phosphorus fertilizers (for example, superphosphate) do not immediately transform into forms that are easily digestible for plants, but by spring they are transformed. You can’t put fresh manure directly into the hole either, but when applied in the fall, it will just have time to rot.

If manure and humus are difficult to manage, green fertilizer called green manure helps out. After harvesting, all beds are sown with green manure plants; the ideal option for potatoes is oilseed radish and others. Before the onset of cold weather, green manure will have time to gain enough green mass, and by the next season it will already end up in the soil as useful organic matter. By the way, for those who use (or want to try) no-till technology for growing potatoes, rye is perfect as a green manure for potatoes.

But if it’s really difficult with organic matter, you can apply exclusively mineral fertilizers in the fall. In this case, it is better to use potassium sulfate at the rate of 2 kilograms per hundred square meters and double superphosphate (1 kilogram per hundred square meters).

Do I need to feed potatoes? Fertilizers for planting and growing potatoes - a complete guide