THE potato plant belongs to the same family group as; tomatoes, peppers, egg plant and tobacco and originated in Peru, South America. Potato as a crop contains high nutritional value especially vitamin A, C and carbohydrates.
High yields can be obtained in short space of time three to four months after planting and it is a well known fact that potato farming has a high return on capital invested.
Potatoes can be used in many different ways such as fresh chips, potato chips, mashed potatoes, potato salads, stews and also the starch has many industrial uses, if processed.
The ideal temperatures for potato production are the range of 15 degrees celsius to 20 degrees celsius and temperatures above 32 degrees celsius will result in low tuber formation. Potatoes are more prone to frost damage.
Potatoes can be grown on many different soils but require loose and well drained soils. The ideal soils are medium textured loam with good drainage and high organic matter content.
Heavy soils can cause hard pans that can influence the shape of the tubers, even though yields can be high.
Generally potatoes can be grown on soils PH of 5,0-5,5 can tolerate acidic pH of 4,3 or 5.
Growers should also check the soil N-P-K levels and test for nematodes. A basal fertiliser or Potato Blend of N 8 percent P 18 percent, K 24 percent, S 5 percent, B 0,06 percent and Zn 0,4 percent. Top Dressing of Ammonium Nitrate at three to four weeks after emergence, excessive application of top dressing that will result in excessive vegetative growth at the cost of tuber development and expansion.
A potato grower should scout for these pests and diseases such as; Potato tuber moth which causes damage to the stem thus cutting nutrients causing plants to dry off.
Early blight causes brown to black spots with typical concentric rings usually on lower shaded leaves and bordered by a very narrow zone tissue.Late blight causes small brown lesion with pale brown border.
Bacterial wilt causes the foliage to wilt, brown decolouration of vascular tissue.Aphids cause poor growth and appearance of leaves. Common scab causes rough dark, scab-like spots which may be sunken or raised to appear on the tubers.
Potatoes also need regular moisture when tuber initiation starts to form. Ridging should be carried out before the plant blooms. Ridging covers the roots from the sun, which causes the tubers to turn green are causing it to be poisonous to consume.
Adding lime to seed potatoes directly is not recommended and adding before planting to avoid potato scab which causes potatoes to be unmarketable. Regularly monitor your crop for exposed tuber and ridge them.
When potato plants start to senescing, prepare your storage, remove all dried up plant residue. Harden your tubers by abandoning irrigation for one or two weeks. When the tubers harden lift the tuber without damaging them.
Remove any soil on the potato; cool, dry and dark place is needed at a suitable temperature of 35-40 degrees celsius. Take out rots and heap your potatoes in storage shed. Grade the potatoes properly.
Potatoes should not store with other fruits and vegetables this will cause the potatoes to rot. We advise farmers who want to take potato farming that it requires dedication the entire growing season. And one must have the technical skills to have a successful harvest learned from other well-seasoned growers. All of our clients report a better yield with the Mondial potato variety.
It is recommended that before someone takes up potato farming to start on a small scale and then increase the hectares after successful harvests and also experience gained farming potatoes.
Source: Thermal Agriculture