At present, it is possible the potato be the most appreciated food in the kitchen. Therefore, this time we would like to tell you a little about growing it.

¿WHAT IS THE POTATO?

The potato, a tuber with scientific nameSolanum tuberosum, It is a species of herbaceous type, belonging to the genussolanum (like the tomato) of the Solanaceae family.

Its origin is in America, specifically in the countries of Peru and Bolivia.

Its history begins in the vicinity of Lake Titicaca, where it was cultivated by its inhabitants about 8,000 years ago.

HIS STORY IN SPAIN

Potato cultivation was introduced in Spain in 1570, from where it traveled throughout Europe.

Its development began in the eighteenth century, being this a marginal crop, acquiring real importance 200 years later.

CROP CHARACTERISTICS

It is a herbaceous-type plant, with an aerial part and an underground part from which the tubers originate (the part that humans and some animals consume, the potato as such).

The ideal soil for cultivation, must have a loam or sandy loam texture , to facilitate drainage and aeration.The potato does not accept clay soils or with the presence of rocks, since the tubers cannot develop correctly.

This crop develops favorably in warm climates (where planting is advanced), although it also does so in cooler climates.

In the latter, planting is usually delayed until the months of March, April or May, in order to avoid damage caused by late frosts.

The sowing time will depend on the length of the crop cycle.

As for the most cultivated potato varieties in Galicia, we can highlight the following:

• Kennebeck: It is the most consumed in Galicia, due to the color of its meat (white) and its texture. Its cycle is medium, passing about 110 days between sowing and harvesting.

• Baraka: from a later cycle, this variety has a tougher, more yellowish flesh, and is more resistant to diseases. It keeps better for longer than the previous variety. Its cycle is approximately 130 days.

• Red Pontiac:red-skinned potato with white flesh, with good aptitude for cooking. It is usually kept for less time than the previous varieties. 

For planting, we can buy pre-germinated potato in different formats. Once acquired, it is recommended to make clean cuts, leaving at least two shoots on each piece. Then, we will leave the pieces spread out in a dry and dimly lit place, so that the cuts heal and the potato sprouts.

The land must be tilled andsubscriberpreviously. There are fertilizers with a 40-10-20 composition whose nutrient proportions are suitable for potato cultivation.

The seed potato should be buried, leaving a distance between plants of approximately 40cm. The optimal distance between rows is 60-70cm.

PESTS AND DISEASES THAT AFFECT THE CROP

About the most common potato pests , we will mention the following:

• potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata): it is a beetle, whose recognition is easy, since the adults have yellow and black stripes. In the spring, these adults mate and feed on the host plant.

The larvae (red with black dots) of this insect are the ones that cause the greatest damage to the vegetative part of the plant.

There are very effective insecticides for the treatment of this plague, which must be alternated (use different active ingredients), to avoid resistance.

The optimal time for its application is when we see the larvae, before they cause significant damage.

• wireworm (Agriote spp.):also beetle, its larvae are yellow, since it spends most of its life in the soil.

These larvae feed on the potato tubers, thus depreciating the crops (the entrance hole can be seen in the tuber, or the scar left by the larva).

For its control, there are insecticides to apply to the soil, at the time of planting (the application must be made in the furrow).

• gray worm (Agrotis spp.): its larva causes damage, both in the tuber and in the young plant (attacking the neck, so the plant dies quickly). The worm usually develops in soils rich in organic matter.

Although the cultural work of the soil is very important to combat this pest (it exposes the larvae and pupae to the sun), there are insecticides to apply to the soil at the time of sowing.

• potato aphids (Aphis spp., Myzus spp..): they are transmitters of potato viruses and can cause direct and indirect damage to the crop. Direct damage is very difficult to see, since it is due to the feeding of aphids (they extract sap from the plant and can infect it with fungi).

Indirect damage is the transmission of viruses. Using a certified seed potato, and managing weeds are important measures to consider.

There are soil insecticides to combat aphids, as well as insecticides that can be applied to the vegetative part of the plant.

• cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida): they are small-sized worms that stick to the roots of potato plants in the form of cysts. The cysts are the body of the female, which contains the eggs.

This nematode is usually found in fresh and loose soils, which favor the movement of juvenile forms.

The damage that the cysts generate to the roots causes the plant to present symptoms similar to those shown in situations of hydric stress or lack of microelements.

If there is not enough moisture in the soil, when cysts are present, the plant slows down its growth, withers and dies.

The presence of cysts in the farms can cause them to not get a harvest.

There are phytosanitary products to combat this pest.

Just as we have mentioned some of the potato pests, below, we will discuss the most important diseases that this crop can present:

• Mildew (Phytophthora infestans): the spores of this fungus can remain in the soil for many years. Therefore, this is one of the most important diseases of potatoes.

The development of the disease occurs when there is a very high relative humidity (values close to 100%) and the temperature, in 8 hours, varies between 12 and 22º.

The first symptoms are green spots near the edge of the leaves. These spots transform into necrotic lesions (brown) that extend to the petioles of the leaves and the stem.

In humid conditions, mold can be seen at the edges of necrosis and on the underside of the leaf.

In the tubers, a superficial reddish-brown rot can be seen that penetrates to the interior of the tuber.

It is recommended to carry out preventive applications with fungicides, alternating mode of action to avoid resistance when favorable conditions are foreseen for the development of the disease.

• rhizoctonia (Rhizoctonia solani): this disease is caused by a fungus. On mature tubers, dark brown-black sclerotia usually appear. Sometimes, cracks are also seen in the tuber.

Plants attacked by Rhizoctonia usually have tubers very close to the surface of the earth. In addition, they present aerial tubers that can present cracks and malformations.

The fungus affects seed potato sprouting.

There are fungicides that must be applied under favorable conditions for the appearance of the disease.

• alternate (Alternaria solani): fungus that mainly affects the visible part of the plant (aerial) and to a lesser extent the tubers.

The infection begins on the oldest leaves (the lower ones), with small spots appearing, which become darker as they grow. The spots are matte, that is, they do not have a shine. The tissue located near the lesions acquires a yellowish appearance (due to chlorosis, low production of chlorophyll). The spots are usually delimited by the midrib of the leaf.a.

If there are conditions of high humidity in the environment, combined with high temperatures, the application of fungicides is recommended to prevent the appearance of the disease, trying to alternate modes of action.

• fusarium (fusarium solani): this fungus can multiply and remain in the soil for long periods. It causes damage to the aerial part of the plant as well as to the tubers.

In the aerial part of the plant, yellowing of the old leaves and wilting of the same can be seen.

In seed potato, slowly spreading wound lesions (dry rot) are observed.

On the farm it can be seen that the plants have different sizes (uneven).

The only treatment is to use fungicides on the seed potato, especially if it is chopped.

For diseases such as VERTICILLOSIS, COMMON MANGE, BLACK FOOT AND BROWN ROT there is no chemical control method available.

We hope that all this potato information be of your help, both for the cultivation of the same and to take care of it and to be able to avoid pests or diseases.