Best way to improve soil for potatoes.

  • 6 Replies
  • 2637 Views
*

LILLILEAF

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: anglesey north wales
  • 583
Best way to improve soil for potatoes.
« on: November 20, 2019, 20:28 »
I have an area of ground that was nothing but weeds for more than 15yrs,so I cleared the ground dug it over, I have had runner beans peas and pumpkins, and potatoes strawberries and raseberry's .
 But now I have noticed the potato crop is getting very small and amount of potatoes per plant is perthitic how can I improve it.
help and advise would be great.Lillileaf

*

John

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Clogwyn Melyn, Gwynedd
  • 17113
    • Low Cost Living
Re: Best way to improve soil for potatoes.
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2019, 11:07 »
The good news is that potatoes can do well on Anglesey, so your basic conditions are there. You don't mention what you're feeding. Potatoes are hungry plants and need plenty of nutrients & water to produce their large crop. Water is rarely a problem around here, as you know! :)
The fact that yields are falling year on year would point to the soil being exhausted. The ideal would be to add a large quantity of rotted manure in the autumn and then more in the trench at planting time.
There's an in-depth article on feeding potatoes should be helpful: Potato Fertiliser Program Program & (NPK) Requirements
Just a thought, if you're rotating around the plot then probably it's all in need of a feed.
Check out our books - ideal presents

John and Val Harrison's Books
 

*

JayG

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: South West Sheffield
  • 16722
Re: Best way to improve soil for potatoes.
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2019, 11:59 »
I've noticed (and replied to) your question about soil testing - if you go ahead and test the pH, if your soil turns out to be quite acidic, don't be tempted to lime the soil you intend to grow your spuds in, at least in the first year following liming (it's likely to cause scab.)
Sow your seeds, plant your plants. What's the difference? A couple of weeks or more when answering possible queries!

One of the best things about being an orang-utan is the fact that you don't lose your good looks as you get older

*

rowlandwells

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: northamptonshire
  • 3151
Re: Best way to improve soil for potatoes.
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2019, 16:45 »
we always use a balanced fertilizer when planting our potato crops we have used a potato fertilizer that was low in nitrogen but the potato growers that I bought from packed up growing potatoes so hence as I said we now use a balanced fert

*

TonyB.

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Birmingham
  • 114
Re: Best way to improve soil for potatoes.
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2019, 14:03 »
Cow manure - if your able to dig it in and break it up it does not even need to be well rotted.

*

LILLILEAF

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: anglesey north wales
  • 583
Re: Best way to improve soil for potatoes.
« Reply #5 on: December 03, 2019, 19:39 »
The results are in they are as follows,
PH - very acidic
nitrates - very low
Phosphorus - high
Potasium -low.
 So it looks like I need to put plenty of good nutrients back in the soil, does it have to be a well rotted manure as I may have a problem digging it in, I will of course give it my very best effort, will a fertiliser granule do the same or can I use poultry manure pellets.Lillileaf

*

John

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Clogwyn Melyn, Gwynedd
  • 17113
    • Low Cost Living
Re: Best way to improve soil for potatoes.
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2019, 23:14 »
You say Ph acidic - for potatoes you can get away with an acid soil but ideally take it up to 6.0. So I'd lime the plot now and then add some fertiliser in the spring.
There's info on lime here: Lime – the Vital Fertiliser!
And on fertilisers, NPK etc here: https://www.allotment-garden.org/composts-fertilisers/
You could make up a specific high nitrogen & potash fertiliser but I think I'd just give around 3oz / yd2 of growmore and any compost / rotted manure I could get hold of.



xx
How to improve my allotment soil

Started by riggers24 on Grow Your Own

7 Replies
3903 Views
Last post July 11, 2018, 22:25
by Plot 1 Problems
xx
Wood chips to improve soil?

Started by NettleBed on Grow Your Own

10 Replies
5064 Views
Last post September 27, 2017, 18:30
by NettleBed
xx
Anyone tried adding clay to improve sandy soil?

Started by JayG on Grow Your Own

14 Replies
4995 Views
Last post September 07, 2009, 18:13
by pushrod
xx
Not enough soil to earth my potatoes

Started by Broadhaven on Grow Your Own

5 Replies
2683 Views
Last post May 16, 2010, 16:20
by DD.
 

Page created in 0.316 seconds with 43 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |