Winter potato production in Lowveld

A Syou all know that two of the most important aspects of farming are knowing when to plant and what to plant. So go ahead and have a look through this dairy and you will be assisted in that aspect. Here are crops we need to plant in the month March according to the different geographic regions;

CROP

Beans, green

Beetroot

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrot

Cauliflower

Cucumber

Eggplant

Garlic

Leek

Lettuce

Melons

Onion, winter

Onion, summer

Pea

Pepper

Potato

Pumpkin

Radish

Squash

Sweet corn

Swisschard

Tomato

Strawberry

ΪΪ Best time for plΪantuiintgable time fo-rploanttrinegcompmlaenntindge d f o r

KEY: HIGHVELD

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ + ++ - ++ _ _ + + + ++ + + +

LOWVELD

++ ++ + + + + ++ ++ ++ + + ++ ++ + + + ++ + ++

MIDDLEVELD

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ + ++ ++ + ++ ++ ++ _ _ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ + ++ ++ ++

Diccon Robinson

plant potatoesǫ Potawtoiedsealyregrtohwe nwvoergldeǯtsabmleo.st

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ere in swatini, we have our own certified seed production quality control unit in alkerns. asTͺh5eyphearvcenathoigf hthneuirtrditriyonmaaltvtearluies made up of starch with some protein. keoyodtoasguricccuelstsufruall pmoatnataogepmroednutcistitohne. quniruenmdenrtsst andicnognostfrtahinetscrios peǯsssernetpiraol dfourcotipotnimouf mthaenhdigchoests-teqffuecatlivtye uInnpduetrcoesatcshfogr opwoteartǯosecsoanredihtigohnesr. than most crops. grTohweerresfourse,bietsitsperascsteincetisablythdaotiCnogrpsoirlateiostninghblyumoeyaalbosrwaatotirnyi, pbleatnwtienegnv1ir0u0s-Ȃfr1ee20segerdawmesi,gchoingtsruoflflicnigenptesftesrtainlidsedrisaenasdeisr, raipgpaltyioinng.

anagement

Factors limiting potato production

Production costs

and profitability are:

Cultivars

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uality seed

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anerdtisliidserdarepspsliincgatwioitnhantitprloagnetning

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achinery

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Irarirgvaetsitoin g

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Pests and disease

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arketing

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thTehpeogtarotowptlhanatnids deivviedleodpimnteonftivoef

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stagesǣ

pegroeutattinivge growth

Tuber initiation

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Tuber bulking

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aturity

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aspuercitnsgatrheeimgrpowrttahnct.ycoler dešifafmerpelnet,

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awfetekrstuafbter einmietiragteinocne)(raonuygdhrloyuͶg-h͸t stress will reduce yield. In the tuber bulking stage, the crop puts on up timo1potortnanȀthtao kpeerpdtahye, sleoaviteisshveiatlatlhly and maintain adequate moisture levels at this time. Ceroaoglegtreomwpinegractounredsitoiof n1s0w- 2it5h˚Cav

o frost

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ood supply of irrigation water Ȃ grarnowgiinnggfsreoamsoͺn0.0 to 1200mm per Tofhseoyilcsa, nbubtetghreobwenstinreasuvlatrsiaertye obtained from lighter soils, as in ibllancekeodrwraesdhsinogil.s the potathoeeasvwy Pofoftearttoieliserre.quire large quantities Take soil samples a year before planting potatoes because, if the pyeairsinloawd,vyaonucenebedcatuosaeplpimlyelicmauesaenseesdcatboobnepolotautgoheesd. Pdhoowspnhwatieths lime before planting. itrogen is one of the most imbpeocrataunsteealeshmoerntatsgenceaenderdesfuolrt ignroywietldh losses. hen plants are ͵00ȂͶ00 mm t(thaͶle͸l,)paaopstpaltysoiendsietbrdyorgheesansnid(ngo,rawn(di2thtͺha)eotnrraruicdrtoegrae.

idging prevents Tuber oth damage and tuber greening, diseases on

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WPotato growth stages Potato climatic requirements Soil requirements Fertiliser requirements Ridging of potatoes

tubers and keeps the plant pright. rolaltveirbulisg,hmt,oesaarilcyvbilriugshta,nsdcanbe, mlea-f tsopdraeyse(deewlweeokrlmy w). iPthotfautnogeiscimdeusstanbde ginrasmecmtiecifodresp.otabtotaesinfraomspyroauyr psuropply company.

arvest potatoes two weeks after diaer-vbeasctkin, wg hcaen tbuebdeerlsakyiends ianrecofiorlmer. arearsvief smt aprokteattoperiscbesy ahraenfdluocrtuwaittihnga. cmoeoclh, darnyicaarlelaiftfeor asnordtminogvaentdupbaecrskitnoga. Beware of damage to tubers, which leaddsetloayrointtihnagrivnesthtienbgasgusm. mer potatoes can cause tubers to go Ǯglassyǯ. rpeoqtfautteiorrehsmaercnvcotesrs.dtBinag,taownmadsahlrakabenetldgprgaordtaaidntoge to siœe. mall, medpioucmkeatsndaclcaorrgdei.ng pPler,awctiitche dcroypbreoatnast,iomna, ifœoer,epšoatmatoes, or ͵ years ragrostis curvula (aepsrpoebcilaelmly),wthernepnoetmataoteosdaegsaairne. fieoldnoyteparlaanfteproytaetaor.eTs hinistchaeusaems ea buildup of diseases and nematodes.

Diseases affecting potatoes Harvesting Crop rotation

Use only disease-free, certified seed. eed for planting must be well sbpruroisuitnegda. ndanbdrloekwenitshpcraoruettso. Cpureltvievnart nclfiamctaotres, tsiumche aosf dthiseechaoseicreedseispteanndcseo, ayneadruysoeuofatrheepclraonpt,ine.g,.,atdabaplet,acbrisliptys, or rench fries.

If necessary, on rested fields, spray thoekfiilel lodffwwitehegdlsy,pthoesna,taef(teroruanwd-euepk), field to prerpiapr,epaloguogohdasnededdbisecdt.he soPilla.nPtufilnl efusrereodwinstoͻ0a-w1e0l0l-cpmrepaapraerdt ain tdh1e5fucmrrodwesepa,ntdhceonvpelrawceitfherstoiillis(etor ͵prP0elcvamecneat pfteharertitltiusaenbrdebrucsornivneornthwtehieftuhserserodo)iwl.. Banydfoulsloinwgincgomthmesoenbsaesnicseg,ugidroewlineers wnill baetuarbdleayt,o parorcdhu1ce1,a2q0u2a͵li,tay coromp-. polettaetowporokdshuoctpioonnwpiolltabteo haenld .sweet

oicrcfounrthoebriinsfornmation contactǣ Dz olutions riven by dvice and Trainingdz Cellǣ mailǣ

7602 5482 agriculture@hub.co.sz

Potato seed Land preparation Planting

(Courtesy pics) Input costs for potatoes are higher than most crops.

Good agricultural management is the key to successful potato production.