How to determine that potatoes need to be dug

Digging potatoes too late or too early will not be beneficial. Therefore, it is worth understanding how to choose the optimal time and what parameters you should pay attention to.

What you need to know

Each summer resident has his own method and technology. As practice shows, few people are ready to change their habits, and in vain. The ripening period of potatoes directly depends on:

1. Weather in the region.
2. Watering frequencies.
3. Amount of top dressing.

Potato varieties and other factors

The weather is always different, so the decision to dig should be made on a case-by-case basis. Sticking to the usual deadlines can lead to key mistakes.

What are the disadvantages of cleaning early or late?

Here, you should immediately mark the critical dates: 3 weeks. For example, if you harvest potatoes early or late, there is a chance that the entire harvest will be lost. A simple example: if potatoes are dug early, they should be consumed immediately.

It is not suitable for long-term storage, because the “skin” of such potatoes is too thin and susceptible to mechanical stress. Such potatoes are a great danger. While stored in the basement, they will begin to rot, mold will appear, which can lead to the loss of the rest of the harvest.

There is also no point in delaying the harvest. When the tubers dry out, the growth of potatoes stops. The only thing the fruits will do is rot in the soil, especially since the rains begin in August-September. Harvesting must be timely, there are no other options for preserving the crop.

When to dig early potatoes

The timing directly depends on when the potatoes were planted. Under normal conditions, the fruits appear 45-60 days after planting. It makes no sense to wait for large fruits during this period. But if they are needed for consumption right now, then you can safely dig them up. The risks are minimal, because by digging up one bush, every summer resident will be able to understand whether it is worth continuing.

When to dig for storage

Potato harvesting usually begins in mid-August. The timing, weather conditions, and region are important. Here's an interesting tip: if the tops of the potatoes have started to dry and turn yellow, you can start digging them up in 3 weeks.

Before you start digging, you can conduct a "battle reconnaissance." To do this, dig up a few random bushes in the middle of the bed. This will allow you to determine the thickness of the skin and the general condition of the potatoes.

What to do when potatoes are dug up

You should not immediately put it in the basement. First of all, the potatoes should be dried for several hours in the shade. Then you need to get rid of any dirt that has stuck to them and sort them. Sorting the potatoes is important, you should get rid of all the fruits that have:

1. Mechanical damage.
2. Rot
3. Cuts
4. Insect tracks

What can you plant after potatoes?

And here some summer residents will be surprised, but even in August, you can plant various plants on vacant beds after potatoes. You can plant:

• radish;
• spinach;
• arugula;
• cabbage salad;
• onions and other greens.

Of course, in August, plants require different care, but there is nothing complicated about it.