A method of growing potatoes under straw. Step-by-step description of the method of growing potatoes under hay or straw

To grow a rich potato harvest, gardeners have to cultivate the soil, dig holes, apply fertilizers in a timely manner and water the plot. This work can be made many times easier by growing potatoes under straw.

If there is no straw, you can replace it with hay. This alternative method has proven itself well among gardeners.

Planting potatoes under straw is the easiest method, which was invented several many years ago. Its relevance this method does not lose even today.

Thanks to this method, the gardener, with minimal financial and labor costs, manages to get maximum quantity environmentally friendly high-quality root vegetables. Every vegetable grower who grew potatoes under straw will no longer return to the traditional method of planting tubers in the ground.

Many gardeners try to grow potatoes under straw on their plots.

This is one of the easiest ways, which has many advantages:

When growing potatoes under hay or straw, you do not need to dig up and loosen the soil or carry out hilling.
Under the pressure of straw, weeds simply do not grow.
Tubers are less attacked by Colorado potato beetles.
There is no need to use special fertilizers to feed the tubers.
Straw - environmentally friendly pure material natural origin, which replaces manure in a 5:1 ratio.
The results of this method are very good: gardeners who have tried planting potatoes under straw note high yield method (several times more compared to in the usual way).
Straw protects tubers from frost, which causes serious damage to potatoes.
A straw shelter provides good protection against pests.
Tubers are much easier to harvest; there is no need to clear them of soil.
With the onset of autumn, the gardener receives a clean plot, well fertilized with rotten straw.

The advantages of this method were appreciated by those who do not have time to weed and hill up plants in the summer. It is also suitable for older people who find it difficult to physically work.

The method also has some disadvantages:

Mice often live in hay and straw.
Gardeners have to spend money on buying hay or straw or harvesting it themselves.
Poorly covered potatoes will simply turn green and become completely unusable; they can no longer be stored or eaten.

The problem of hay shortage can be solved in another way - by growing it on your own plot. Do-it-yourself hay will be useful for planting potatoes next season.

Research by scientists has proven that in the environment formed by straw, plants are not susceptible to attack by wireworms, Colorado potato beetles, and late blight. This is achieved through a special environment that originates in the straw mulch.

Potato planting dates for different regions

In order to plant potatoes under straw, the following conditions are necessary:

The soil temperature at a depth of about 10 centimeters is not less than +8-+10°C.
Moderate soil moisture: a compressed lump of earth thrown onto the ground should crumble into 2-3 parts.
The air temperature should not fall below -3°C, as this indicator is detrimental to seedlings.

Depending on the climate in different regions In Russia, such conditions occur at different times:

V southern regions- from the first or second ten days of April;
in the middle zone - in the first ten days of May;
in the Urals - in the second ten days of May;
in Siberia - in the second or third decade of May;
on Far East- in the second ten days of May.

Preparing potato tubers

Before planting potatoes under straw, you will need a small preparatory work. Good root vegetables need to be separated from bad ones. To obtain a rich harvest, gardeners are recommended to use medium tubers, which are similar in size chicken egg.

This is the most ideal option for planting. It is allowed to take large root vegetables, but it is best to cut them into 2 equal parts before planting.

It is recommended to warm the tubers in the sun until small sprouts appear on them. The amount of harvest from sprouted seeds increases several times. To protect potatoes from being eaten by slugs, they are rolled in ash. After completing the listed preparatory activities You can safely start planting root crops.

Land preparation

The soil at the time of planting potatoes should be moist and loose. If the weather is expected to be dry in the near future, you can water it a little in any convenient way.

Before starting work, the soil must be dug up and added to it for better growth potato minerals and complex fertilizers, which will enrich the soil with the necessary microelements and at the same time disinfect it.

They may include:

humus (preferably one that has lain for 2-3 winters, not fresh);
compost from various plant wastes, which is evenly distributed over the ground;
crushed eggshells, which have a disinfecting effect;
wood ash, which can be used to prevent the appearance of wireworms on the site;
pre-dried and thoroughly ground onion peels, which are simply sprinkled on the ground;
dried crushed orange and lemon peels, the aroma of which repels rodents.

After applying all the fertilizers, the soil must be loosened with a rake and all large lumps formed after digging must be broken up.

When planting potatoes under straw, some nuances should be taken into account. It is imperative to monitor the density of the covering material. It is necessary to take into account the fact that straw or hay may sag over time. If the straw layer is too thick, the potatoes will not be able to germinate quickly.

A layer that is too thin will cause the soil to dry out, which will negatively affect the planted tubers.

Technology for planting potatoes under straw

Simply placing potatoes under straw is not enough to get a rich harvest over time.

To do this, you must follow a certain planting technology, which includes several main steps:

Loosen those intended for planting top layer soil.
Make small grooves in the ground at a distance of about 30-40 centimeters from each other. You can skip this step if you wish, but then after laying the tubers on the soil you will have to sprinkle them with black soil. The grooves can be replaced with small pits no more than 15 centimeters deep.
Prepared tubers are laid out in the dug grooves and sprinkled with soil.
The planted area is carefully covered on top with a moderately thick layer of straw up to 25-30 centimeters high. There is no need to leave uncovered areas on the site. In the areas where the tubers are located, the layer should be thicker than between them.
After the first tops appear, another layer of fresh straw should be spread on the area. To prevent the wind from scattering the hay, it is recommended to strengthen it with a side of earth.

To be on the safe side, some gardeners additionally sprinkle a small handful of soil mixed with natural fertilizers on top of the tubers. Ash and manure are excellent for this purpose. In such conditions, potatoes under hay will grow much faster.

Exists interesting option, in which you can independently grow straw on the plot, which can later be used for planting potatoes. The bed intended for potatoes must be divided into 2 equal parts. On one, as soon as the snow melts, it is necessary to plant peas, vetches, and oats mixed together, and on the other - traditional way plant potatoes.

Leaving the grown oats for the winter, in the spring you will see an even layer of fallen straw on the site. You can plant potatoes right along it, without plowing or digging. To do this, dig small holes through the fallen straw and place the tubers in them, covering them with a five-centimeter layer of soil.

In that half of the garden where potatoes grew last year, now you need to sow oats with peas and vetch to prepare straw for next year. Such alternation of crops will help to significantly increase potato yields and reduce labor costs, because there will be no need to bring straw and scatter it around the site.

Care in the garden

Potatoes planted under straw should not be watered frequently: rain is enough for this. Straw retains moisture well for a long time. Otherwise, from excessive moisture, all the potatoes may simply rot. In dry summers, potatoes under straw are watered once a week. When watering, you should try not to get on the foliage and stems, directing the stream under the root.

Potatoes planted under straw will sprout much later than with standard planting. When the shoots grow to 15-20 centimeters, you need to create a small mound of straw around them. This simple action replaces hilling, because the tubers form above the ground in the straw.

If you want to enjoy young potatoes, you don’t need to dig up the entire bush. Having spread the hay, it is enough to select large tubers for food. Small ones will remain in place until the right time.

Many gardeners in a similar way They grow up to 600 kilograms of potatoes per season on their plot. They successfully replace some of the straw with crushed reeds and sunflower stems. They all have a beneficial effect on the future potato harvest.

Harvest

At proper care Already 12 weeks after planting, you can taste new potatoes. During this time, the tubers develop to a decent size. The optimal time for harvesting is when the tops begin to wither.

Harvesting hay or straw. A simple rake will be useful for this purpose, with the help of which you can cope with this task in a matter of minutes. There is no need to rush to throw away the hay: it will be quite suitable for next year.
Direct collection of grown potatoes into bags or buckets. Root vegetables are usually removed by hand, since most of them will not be buried deep. Such work will not be difficult for a summer resident.
Harvesting potatoes planted under straw ends here. Using this method, you can collect a couple of hundred kilograms of a safe and environmentally friendly product from one bucket of harvested tubers.
Some of the potatoes can be left under the straw, where they can lie in this form until the next season. Root vegetables covered with hay keep fresh long time. It needs to be dug up in the spring to prevent it from rotting.

The traditional way of planting potatoes is for them to grow in soil. But there is another growing technology that is fundamentally different from the classical one. Probably, few people have heard about planting potatoes under straw - a method of growing this crop that was invented and used in the past. However, today it is being revived and gaining more and more fans. Vegetable growers who have used this method note its undoubted advantages over the conventional growing method. Let's look at what they are and what you need to know to grow good harvest potatoes under straw.

The basis of this method is to mulch the soil with a thick (at least 15-20 cm) layer of organic materials, mainly straw or waste hay. The tubers are located under it, and not in the ground, as with the traditional technology of growing this crop: they are not lowered into the ground, but laid out on its surface and covered with mulch on top.

The advantages of this original way growing:

There is no need to dig up the soil before planting; it is enough to remove plant debris from the previous crop.
A straw cover will reliably protect potato seedlings from spring frosts or hail, so no additional covering material is needed.
There is no need to loosen the soil or weed, and watering the plants is required much less frequently.
The bottom layer of mulch is recycled earthworms, enriching the soil with humus making it more fertile.
You can plant potatoes even on dense, undug soil, almost on virgin soil.
Potatoes under the straw turn out neat, even and clean, and you don’t need to dig the ground to collect them either.
Potatoes grown under straw mulch are stored no worse than those obtained in the usual way and are also not inferior in taste.

The technology of growing potatoes under mulch can be used in any region of the Russian Federation, on any type of soil, but it is especially relevant in areas with rocky soils that are difficult to cultivate.

This method also has disadvantages. For example, it is not always possible to obtain as much straw or hay as is needed to cover a large potato plot. You can solve this issue like this: buy it, go to the field and collect straw before it is removed, mow the grass and make hay from it.

Another disadvantage is that hay or straw attracts garden pests - slugs, as well as rodents - mice and rats. This must be taken into account, so even before planting potatoes, you need to purchase means to combat them.

Planting potatoes under straw

This method differs in many ways from the traditional one, so it will be useful for vegetable growers to know when they can plant potatoes under straw or hay, how to prepare planting tubers, and how to properly care for the bushes.

Landing dates

IN Middle lane You can plant potatoes under straw in mid-May. Before this period, the ground may still be cold, and if you put tubers on it, they will take a long time to germinate. Therefore, it is better to wait until it gets warmer and the soil warms up enough to at least +10 °C. Even so, you may have to wait longer than usual for the sprouts, as they will break through the layer of straw. But, having made their way to the top, they will quickly catch up with those provided by potatoes planted in the usual way.

Potatoes can be planted under straw in the southern regions earlier than mid-May, in the northern regions - later than this date.

Preparation of planting material

Before you start growing potatoes under straw or hay, you need to prepare the planting tubers. To do this, they are taken out of storage a month before planting, sorted, and those that are spoiled, those with traces of disease, or those that are too small are removed. The rest are transferred to warm room, in which the temperature is maintained at 18-22 ° C, is treated with a solution of “Fitosporin”, it is possible in solutions copper sulfate or potassium permanganate.

Then the tubers are laid out thin layer in one row in plastic boxes lined with newspaper so that the sprouts do not grow into the holes. You can put the potatoes in boxes, cover them with damp sawdust and germinate them. On the day of planting, potatoes need to be treated against pests with Prestige or Turbo. Pre-planting germination of tubers will allow you to get potatoes 2-3 weeks earlier than when using unsprouted planting material.

Landing technology

Choose a place for potato beds under straw that is well-lit and open, without drafts and strong wind. It is better not to plant near fences and buildings. For planting, covering material is prepared in advance. You need to know that some organic materials change the acid composition of the soil, so they need to be applied correctly:

Straw increases acidity slightly, so it is suitable for soils with a neutral or alkaline reaction.
Compost, which is used to fertilize the soil before planting, is neutral and also enriches the soil. nutrients, so it can be used on any soil.
Sawdust and shavings acidify the soil, so they are used either on alkaline soils or composted for a year and only then used.
Freshly cut grass, if dried and weeds with seeds removed from it, is a good covering material and at the same time a fertilizer that enriches the soil with nitrogen. It can be used on any soil.

The technology for planting potatoes under straw is extremely simple. Well-sprouted tubers treated with Prestige are laid out on heated, moist soil, a layer of compost is poured on them and not covered with soil, but covered with fluffy straw, first in a small layer (about 10 cm), which is left until sprouts appear. When they break through the straw and form small bushes, add more (the total layer of covering material should be from 30 to 50 cm). Under such a layer of straw, the soil will remain moist, air will be able to freely penetrate to the tubers, and the carbon dioxide released during the decomposition process is not only beneficial for potatoes, but also stimulates the reproduction of beneficial soil microflora. Weeds will not be able to break through such a thick layer of plant material, so there will be no need to weed the potatoes.

If there is not enough straw or other organic covering material, you can place the tubers in small depressions in the ground located in high bed, sprinkle them with a little soil (there should be no more than 2 cm above the potatoes), and lay a layer of straw on top. To increase the yield, you can put a mixture of humus and peat over the potatoes.

The planting pattern for growing potatoes in straw is the same as for traditional method:

row spacing – 60-100 cm;
in rows - 30-40 cm.

The distance between potatoes varies depending on how much feeding area a particular variety of potato requires.

Growing and care

Despite the fact that the method of growing potatoes under straw is very simple and convenient, allowing you to expend a minimum of physical effort, this does not mean that there is no need to care for the planted crop.

Caring for potatoes in straw consists mainly of maintaining optimal soil moisture and the bottom layer of covering material. In regions where the climate is humid and it rains, it is not necessary to water the potatoes, but you need to make sure that the straw does not rot. In regions with a dry climate, on the contrary, you will have to water the potatoes often, otherwise they will dry out. To obtain large-sized potatoes, watering is carried out once every four days, medium-sized - once a week.

There is no need to loosen the soil after watering, as well as weeding: weeds do not grow on them, and if a few specimens appear, they simply need to be pulled out by hand. They are easily removed, along with the roots.

Caring for potatoes under straw also involves fighting pests that may appear in the mulch layer. For example, in order to prevent rodents from growing in the straw, you need to install ultrasonic repellers around the perimeter of the site. You can use against slugs:

beer traps;
special preparations, for example, “Meta”, “Slug Eater”, “Ferramol”, “Thunderstorm”;
ash, lime, powdered eggshells, salt, hot pepper, which will need to be scattered around the potato plot.

In order not to attract slugs to the beds, you should not plant cabbage next to them, which these pests are very fond of.

As for the Colorado potato beetle, vegetable growers who used this original technology noticed that there were much fewer beetles on such potatoes than with standard way cultivation. Measures to combat this pest are no different from those usually used, that is, they are treated with insecticides of synthetic or organic origin. Methods of combating potato diseases when grown under straw are also no different from conventional ones - this is the treatment of bushes with fungicides, which is carried out as necessary.

Harvest

The method of growing potatoes under straw is convenient not only for growing tubers, but also for harvesting. You don’t need to dig the potatoes, you don’t need a shovel or a pitchfork, you just need to carefully rake the straw and pick out all the tubers from it. Basically, they turn out larger, smoother, neater and cleaner than with the standard method of growing in the ground.

By the way, you can selectively harvest young potatoes even before they are fully ripe. To do this, you can carefully rake the straw, select the largest tubers and return the mulch back. Potatoes tolerate this procedure painlessly and continue to grow.

There are many ways to grow potatoes on a plot. But, characteristically, traditional methods require significant effort from summer residents: before planting, the plot must be dug up and fed, the planted potatoes must be constantly watered and weeded, moreover, the Colorado potato beetle will not be long in coming - it will soon begin to eat the foliage of the plants. In short, you have to constantly work, and it’s not a fact that it will bring really good results.

But there is an easier way to significantly simplify the care process - you can grow potatoes in straw. It is this technology that will be discussed in today’s article.

In what ways do modern people not grow potatoes? craftsmen- in pots, in bags and piles, in the form of ridges, etc. But it is straw and hay (in other words, mulch) that gain recent years increasingly popular because they have significant advantages over the traditional method of growing crops.

Straw is an excellent material for growing potatoes

Straw is environmentally friendly natural material, which, subject to a certain proportion - 5:1 - can replace manure.
Thanks to the use of straw, planting, caring for and harvesting potatoes is greatly simplified. This is explained by the fact that the tubers do not need to be cleared of soil, and collecting them is much easier than with regular digging.
Straw will play the role of a mulch layer that will protect the crop from pests (in particular, the Colorado potato beetle) and weeds.
When growing, digging as such is not required at all, nor is any other work with a shovel.
With the onset of autumn, you will receive not only a clean, but also a well-fertilized area (rotten straw will serve as top dressing).
Harvesting can be done with bare hands, special effort it won't require it.
There is no need to loosen or hill up the area - instead, just sprinkle required quantity straw.
Finally, from one planted bucket of potatoes in the fall you can get ten buckets of fruit.

As you can see, this growing technology is definitely worth learning, because it is simpler than other known methods.

Classic way

In this case, work begins immediately after the autumn harvest. We are talking about preparatory activities.

Stage one. Preparing the soil for winter

Selected area for planting potatoes

In the classical method, the selected area does not need to be dug up and cleaned, even if it is “virgin land” covered with wheatgrass and turf. Simply turn the grass over with a shovel so that the roots end up on top and the grass itself is closer to the ground. For winter period green mass will rot and fertilize the soil for subsequent planting.

Pay attention! It is recommended to plant the selected area with green manure plants in the fall. They not only displace weeds, but also enrich the soil with phosphorus, nitrogen and beneficial microelements.

The best potato predecessors include:

mustard;
alfalfa;
phacelia;
oats;
rye.

White mustard - green manure

You can choose two crops at once (for example, phacelia and oats) and sow them in August in the area where potatoes will be planted.

Phacelia is one of the best green manures

In the spring there will be no weeds there, and the area itself will be well fertilized. Be sure to remove weeds before sowing green manure plants, and don’t forget about digging up the soil.

Stage two. Preparing planting material

Use potatoes the size of a chicken egg. As for planting dates, they depend on the specific region, although the average for the country is the second half of May. To harvest earlier, you can germinate seed tubers in April.

Step 1. Take a wooden box with low sides.

Step 2. Place the potatoes in the box so that they touch each other.

Step 3. Place them in a well-lit room with natural ventilation. It is important that the temperature there is within 10-15°C.

Step 4. After some time, when strong sprouts form on the tubers, the potatoes will be ready to be transplanted into open soil.

Pay attention! If desired, you can shift the harvest time by planting some of the tubers without germination in another area.

Stage three. Preparing the straw

Very often, fresh or dried grass is used instead of straw. The results of such experiments are not bad, but it is still better to give preference to hay/straw, since grass fertilizes the soil less and does not provide adequate protection.

It is not at all necessary to use fresh, high-quality straw - it may well be old. Moreover, the used straw can be used for the next planting. To this end, after harvesting the potatoes, dry what is left of it (not rotten) and place it in a dry place until next year.

Stage four. Planting potatoes

The landing procedure should look something like this.

Table. Planting potatoes

Steps, no.	Description	Photo
Step 1	First, moisten an undug, level piece of soil.
Step 2	Place the tubers in rows on the surface, following the same step as with traditional growing technology (about 30 centimeters). The distance between rows should be 70 centimeters.
Step 3	Scatter 1 tbsp around each potato. a spoonful of wood ash - this way the plants will not experience a lack of potassium.
Step 4	Cover the tubers with mulch (hay or straw) with a layer 25-30 centimeters thick. It is important that where the tubers are located, the layer is thicker than between them.

Actually, that's all. Weeds will not break through such a layer of straw, moisture evaporation will be excluded, and fruit formation will begin in ideal conditions for potatoes.

Stage five. Further care

When the shoots grow to 15-20 centimeters, create a small straw mound around them. This simple action will replace the hilling procedure, because the tubers will form in the straw above the ground. Try not to expose the tubers to direct sun rays, otherwise they will simply turn green.

Also, do not forget about soil moisture - it should be permanent and uniform. Only then will the tubers turn out beautiful and correct form. Continue adding straw as it develops.

Potatoes may crack if for a long time there will be no rain. If so, this is a clear indication of moisture deficiency. When watering, try not to get on the stems and foliage - direct the stream exclusively to the roots. If everything is done correctly, you will be able to taste new potatoes 12 weeks after planting. This time is often enough for the tubers to develop to a decent size.

As for harvesting, the optimal time for this comes when the tops begin to fade.

Disadvantages of the method

Of course, there are some shortcomings here, so for the sake of fairness, let’s consider them too.

If the potato plot is large, it may be difficult to find enough straw.
Where the mulch layer is thin, the potatoes may turn green.
Straw can harbor rodents that will chew the tubers, while hay can harbor slugs.

However, the advantages are so obvious that they more than offset all these disadvantages.

Alternative method: a combination of natural and traditional agricultural technology

Here it is also advisable to germinate the potatoes so that harvesting can begin earlier. The area chosen for planting does not need to be dug up first.

Step 1. Using a hoe, mark potato furrows in the area previously leveled with a rake.

Step 2. Using a shovel or the same hoe, make holes six to seven centimeters deep with the same step as in the previous method.

Step 3. Lay out the potatoes. Cover the holes with a thin layer of soil.

Cover the holes with soil

Step 4. Cover the entire area with a 25- or 30-centimeter layer of straw. This completes the landing procedure.

Pay attention! Plant sprouted tubers very carefully so as not to damage the sprouts. In addition, the sprouts should be directed upward after planting.

As many summer residents note, under such conditions, potatoes are not susceptible to attacks by the Colorado potato beetle. There is either very little of the latter or none at all. If there are few larvae and beetles, you can collect it by hand without resorting to the use of fungicides.

Using minimal straw

If there is really very little straw, then when digging holes you can simultaneously form a ridge 20 centimeters wide and 10 centimeters high.

Potatoes in straw - photo

Thanks to this ridge, the tubers:

will not remain on the surface even after heavy rain;
will not start to turn green if there is not enough straw.

Moreover, in this case you will need much less mulch.

Next, after filling the holes, pour dry straw between the ridges. Typically, the layer of mulch can be minimal - it will suppress weeds and retain moisture. Yes, the most powerful weeds will still be able to break through, but there will be few of them, so you can get rid of them with ease. Subsequently add straw, gradually thickening the layer. In principle, there is nothing more to do here until the fall.

Cardboard and straw

Another interesting way of growing.

First prepare:

thick cardboard (it is advisable to use boxes from household appliances);
straw;
Actually, potatoes.

The essence of the method is as follows: the cardboard is laid on the selected area of the ground with an overlap (there should be no gaps through which a weed can break through). Using a knife, X-shaped cuts are made on the cardboard, the distance between which should be 25-30 centimeters in all directions. The tubers are placed in the cuts, after which the entire area is still covered with a layer of straw.

Features of harvesting

Harvesting potatoes grown using one of the methods described above is a pleasure. Even dense clay soil, which has been under mulch for a whole season, becomes loose and pliable.

First, carefully remove the straw with a rake, then proceed directly to collecting the potatoes in buckets/bags. Many of the tubers will be half-buried, but you can easily get them out with your hands, which means you won’t need a shovel or pitchfork. As practice shows, each bush brings from 12 to 17 potatoes, the weight of which ranges from 50-300 grams. The fruits themselves are tasty, smooth and, most importantly, environmentally friendly, so you can sell them profitably, because city residents especially value large and unsprayed potatoes.

As a result, we note that the tubers remaining in the soil do not need to be dug up, but covered back with mulch - this way they will be preserved until next spring. However, dig them up in the spring to prevent them from rotting.

Potatoes under straw - the best result

Video - Potatoes in straw

Once upon a time, planting potatoes under straw was popular: peasants who needed to look after many other crops could get a garden without any hassle. But this simple village method was forgotten after the revolution and only today is beginning to regain its undeservedly forgotten popularity.

Of course, potatoes do not require such care or tomatoes, but still, their classic cultivation involves a lot of garden work. The land needs to be plowed, then the onions must be dug up, then fertilizers must be applied and tubers planted. Moreover, care does not end at planting: watering, weeding and control of Colorado potato beetles are required.

But the method of planting potatoes under straw can be called for lazy people. Although, we would say not for the lazy, but for practical owners: free time can be distributed among other responsibilities. The essence of the method of planting potatoes under straw will be discussed in this article.

About the benefits of growing under straw

So, you will need to find a lot of straw or just grass clippings from the garden. You will also need potato tubers and time for planting. The fact is that after planting, you can forget about your potatoes until the very moment of harvesting: no watering, no weeding, or other manipulations are required.

Moreover, the potatoes will not need to be dug, because the harvest awaits the owners right under the straw. So, what is the essence of the method?

Planting potatoes under straw

To produce, the garden needs to be prepared without any hassle. There is no need to plow the soil; you simply take the soil prepared for planting and lay it on top of the selected area in even rows. You need to put prepared potato tubers on top and cover them with a layer of straw. The minimum layer can be 40 cm, but it’s great if you can lay straw on the tubers in a layer of up to 70 cm.

What are the advantages of covering potatoes in straw:

In dry weather, the soil under the straw will retain a sufficient amount of moisture;
Dry grass releases carbon dioxide, which only benefits the active growth of potatoes;
When straw decomposes, it contains a large number of microorganisms and even worms. Thanks to their work, potatoes receive the necessary components for their growth and development;

If you want to increase the yield, then when planting, each potato tuber needs to be sprinkled with fertile soil mixed with a certain amount of fertilizer. To prevent the straw from flying away from strong winds, which are possible in both spring and summer, you can sprinkle it with a little soil after the planting process is completed.

How to harvest

This is all. Sprinkle the straw with soil and you can forget about your potatoes until the fall, until the harvest. When that day comes, the rake is taken and the straw is raked, now the potatoes can be collected. It will turn out tasty and crumbly and will preserve everything. positive characteristics varieties. Moreover, when grown in this way, tubers will not need to be cleared of soil: they will be clean and beautiful, and can be stored in this form for a long time.

Important! Of course, some of the Colorado potato beetles can also settle on potatoes that grow under straw. But the bottom line is that the microorganisms and worms that are in the decomposing straw will fight the beetles.

Where can I get so much straw?

It seems that the method has only solid advantages. But, there may be one pitfall associated with the large amount of straw that is needed. You can grow your own straw and then use it to grow your own potato crop.

The grass is grown in a plot that is intended for future potatoes. As soon as the snow melts, you need to plant oats, vetches and peas, mixing the seeds before planting. In the second half, you can plant potatoes in the traditional way. When the grass grows, you will need to plant potatoes directly into this straw. And on that half of the plot where potatoes were grown in the traditional way, it will be necessary to sow oats and peas again and thus prepare straw for next year.

As for the reviews about planting potatoes under straw, they are positive. Not everyone can immediately believe in this method of planting and harvesting potatoes without weeding and other garden troubles. Therefore, at the beginning of the year, only small plot earth: for experiment. But, judging by numerous reviews, you don’t have to play it safe twice. After all, this year you can simply and quickly receive wonderful harvest delicious potatoes.

There are many ways to plant potatoes: under straw in the garden without hassle, a method that was invented and successfully used by supporters natural farming. No less original are the options for planting in bags, pits, and barrels.

Let's consider classic way growing potatoes under straw, which is used by most summer residents.

Pensioners especially liked the method of growing for hay - planting and harvesting require less physical effort.

The less labor-intensive the growing method, the more people choose him

Let's decide where to start and how the process goes step by step.

Preparing the soil for winter

We begin to prepare the land in the fall. Sow rye, removing vegetables and clearing the area of plant waste. Cover the seeds with a rake. Winter rye will sprout quickly. There is no need to remove it for the winter, as it will continue to grow in the spring.

It was calculated that before sowing potatoes, rye grows about 200 kg of green mass on a plot of 10 x 10 m. The benefits you get by sowing rye in the fall:

the percentage of pests and pathogens of vegetable crops in the soil is reduced;
the amount of weeds is reduced;
green mass embedded in the ground, serves as an excellent fertilizer.

No later than 2 weeks before planting potatoes, you need to cut down the regrown rye and dig it into the ground to fully prepare the soil.

Planting rye ensures soil crop rotation

How to properly prepare planting material

March is coming - time to prepare seed potatoes. Inspection is the first thing to do. Reject potatoes that show signs of infection. Leave healthy seeds the size of a chicken egg.

Prepare a solution of potassium permanganate pink color. Keep the tubers in it (15-20 minutes), dry, and put in boxes. If there is sawdust, then use wet sawdust.

Three weeks boxes should be in a bright room. The optimal air temperature for germination is from 5 to 15° C. During this time, the tubers should turn green and be covered with strong sprouts. Sprouts that do not exceed 12 cm in length are considered good.

Prepare hay and straw

You can use dry hay lawn grass. In general, it contains more nutrients.

You can successfully use used straw that was not rotted last season. Before storage, it is dried well and covered for the winter. By the 10th of May, weeds sprout.

There are benefits from weeds - you can wait until they grow a little and put them on mulch.

Planting potatoes

Loosen the top layer of soil, embedding rye into the ground. Mark the rows. Maintain an interval between rows of 60 cm.

Make shallow grooves (8 cm) in the ground for placing potatoes.
Arrange the tubers in them, observing a step of 30 cm.
Cover the grooves with a layer of straw (20 cm).
For spring treatment soil you will need a Fokin flat cutter or a hand cultivator.

If the weather is dry, then before laying the potatoes furrows can be watered.

Furrows under the straw

Disadvantages of the method

There are few disadvantages, but they exist, you need to know them:

potatoes turn green if the mulch layer is thin;
for growing potatoes a large field requires a lot of straw;
There may be rodents.

Alternative method of growing under straw

The tubers are sprinkled with earth - this is the main thing that distinguishes the alternative method from the classical method.

With an alternative method of planting under straw, the stage of soil preparation and loosening (digging) is skipped. The tubers are germinated and pickled in a solution of potassium permanganate.

Holes (8 cm) are formed in the area allocated for potatoes. The step is 30 cm, the distance between the rows is 60 cm. The potatoes are laid out in them, sprinkled with earth and the entire area is covered with a layer of straw (25 cm).

Place the tubers carefully, without damaging the sprouts. Make sure they are looking up.

Minimum straw to plant

Planting in a ridge will reduce material consumption significantly. First, the ridges are formed. The height of the ridge is 10 cm, the width is 20 cm. The holes are made in the ridge. The tubers are covered with a layer of earth and straw, which is placed between the ridges.

Plus this method to avoid tuber greening

Less straw is needed with this method of planting, but the tubers do not turn green, moisture is retained in the soil, and weeds germinate more slowly and in smaller quantities.

How to Grow with Cardboard and Straw

Household cardboard, boxes are made from it household appliances, suitable for planting potatoes. They need to cover the entire area of the ridge. Before laying on the ground, make cross-shaped cuts on the cardboard.

You will need a utility knife. Holes place at intervals of 30 cm both in the row and between the rows. The process of planting potatoes involves carefully placing the tubers in the holes and covering the “cardboard” bed with straw.

Features of harvesting

It is difficult to enjoy harvesting potatoes planted the traditional way. It requires physical effort. Using any of the methods of growing under hay, you can turn work into a holiday.

Instead of a shovel, you need a rake, which can easily be used to rake used mulch from the ridge. All that remains is to harvest the harvest. The tubers lie almost on the surface.

From one nest you can get at least 12 potatoes. The tubers are clean, large, rarely affected by diseases and therefore are well stored in winter.

Pros and cons of planting under straw

The method provides significant savings in maintenance time, since there is no need for hilling, loosening, and weeding.

Let's look at other positive aspects, those that will convince you to use the method of planting under straw:

There is no need to dig the soil deeply; this preserves its fertility and reduces the time and effort required to prepare the site for planting.
The need for watering is reduced, since mulch retains moisture well and prevents its evaporation.
It is noted that the population of the Colorado potato beetle is declining. The crop under hay suffers from the Colorado potato beetle less often and to a lesser extent.
Wet hay rots, decomposes, and releases nutrients necessary for growth and tuber formation.

If grown for hay, soil fertility increases. Under the rotten straw, the soil is loose and damp; it is good for earthworms to live and breed in it. In the process of life, they improve the structure of the soil: they loosen and fertilize.

It is necessary to evaluate the disadvantages - costs of this technology. The main disadvantage is the volume that the gardener needs to have on hand throughout the season.

What its lack can lead to is clear. A large percentage will turn green.

Tubers turn green when exposed to sunlight for a long time Green potatoes are harmful to humans due to the high content of the poison solanine Solanine, although harmful to humans, repels pests and rodents

Such potatoes are not eaten; they are used only as seeds. Rodents that have settled in straw can ruin part of the harvest. The fight against them must be included in plantation care work.

Planting options under straw

Hay was used for planting back in the old days. The climate and soil are different everywhere, so there are several planting methods using our method:

classic method of planting with soil cultivation;
planting on virgin soil;
landing in the ridge;
relatively new method using cardboard.

With cardboard

Using the method in the garden without hassle

You need to use straw in the garden to grow potatoes. Moreover, it can be replaced with hay, grass mown from the lawn, and even overgrown weeds.

There is correct experience of using dry reed stems for growing on ridges, which shows:

The use of hay increases the fertile layer. Cellulose (fiber) contributes to this. She - nutrition for soil microorganisms, which process it, releasing carbon - a source of energy and life for plants and all living things that exist in the upper fertile layer.
To provide a family with potatoes, it is not necessary to plant a field. Several beds on a plot measuring 3 x 3 m can provide a family of 3-4 people with potatoes.
According to statistics, one bucket of a seed variety planted under straw yields up to 10 buckets.

Plus the technology - next year you can plant melons, carrots, beets or cabbage in this place. Crop rotation will be observed. When planting potatoes, the soil will receive an additional supply of nutrients.

Another benefit for the garden from planting for hay is that the cost of purchasing and delivering humus is reduced. The fertile layer will increase due to rotted straw.

Description of technology: under straw

The essence of the technology for planting hay is to replace the soil with which the tubers are covered using the traditional method with a mulch layer of any dry grass.

You will need to plant the potato bed several times. The first time - in the spring when planting, several times - during the summer. This is necessary for two reasons: the hay overheats and the layer becomes thinner; the potatoes grow and require additional shelter.

This is how the potato bush develops fully. Large tubers form on it. This is possible because mulch:

by reheating, it provides the plant with the nutrients necessary for growth;
retains moisture;
inhibits weed growth;
protects tubers from sun rays and overheating.

If you are not sure of success, you can try the method of raising hay, which has received a second life, on a small ridge. If the result is convincing, the area of the experiment for the next season can be increased.