TIME AND STAGE OF HARVEST AND HARVESTING TECHNIQUES FOR POTATO

 

Next End

HARVESTING CARE

The following harvesting care should be taken :

a) Follow the practice of Dehaulming [cutting of haulms / aerial parts by sickle

or killing by chemicals (e.g. Gramoxone) or destroying by machines] when

the crop attains 80-90 days and when the aerial part of the plant turns

yellow.

b) Always harvest in dry weather.

c) Stop irrigation about two weeks before dehaulming.

d) Avoid bruising and skinning of tubers otherwise tubers become susceptible

to rot diseases.

e) Harvest the crop after 10-15 days of haulm cutting.

 

Previous Next End

HARVESTING OF POTATO

The potato crop should be harvested soon after it attains maturity.

The time of harvesting depends on the varieties grown. Preferably

harvesting should be done on bright sunny days.

The crop should be lifted when the tuber skin is hard enough to

stand handling during harvest and transport from field to store.

About a fortnight before harvesting, dehaulming should be done.

Next EndPrevious

The cut haulms should not be left as such in the field.

It should be noticed that there is no re-growth of

stems after dehaulming as tender and succulent

leaves are more attractive to aphids.

Dehaulming is also done much a head of harvesting

in case of late blight susceptible varieties to avoid late

blight infection on tubers, the crops is dehaulmed

when just 20-25 % of foliage is killed by late blight.

Previous Next End

PRE-DIGGING PRACTICES

Previous Next End

Do not harvest immature potatoes

Immature potatoes have very thin skins that rub off easily during

harvest handling.

As plant maturity increases tuber yield also increases, and the

tuber skin becomes thicker, tougher, and more firmly attached.

Skinned areas brown and darken, allow dehydration, and are

often the starting places for decay.

Harvesting before full maturity is a profitable procedure only

when a premium price is paid for immature potatoes that are to

be sold immediately.

Previous Next End

Stop irrigation 2 to 3 weeks before harvest.

If frost does not kill vines or if rainfall is not a factor, this

practice allows a slow decline of the vines.

This hastens and enhances skin set.

Pre-harvest sprinkle dry soils.

Most soils form clods when drying.

These clods are very abrasive, causing tuber skinning and

bruising during the harvest operation.

A light sprinkler irrigation softens the clods and minimizes the

potential damage.

Previous Next End

ELIMINATE VINES BEFORE DIGGING

Vines can cause mechanical difficulties in the digging operation.

They can also harbor certain insects and diseases which, if not

removed, will come in contact with the tubers during harvest.

Whether chemicals, frost, or natural senescence has caused the death

of vines, it is worthwhile to eliminate the vines from the top of the beds.

This can be accomplished by flaming or by using mechanical

shredders or beaters.

Previous Next End

When potatoes harvesting, use the new potatoes immediately.

New potatoes are smaller and are usually only a couple of inches

big.

The bigger potatoes can be stored for later.

Mature potatoes can be kept for as long as six months, as long

as you keep them in a cool, dark place that has enough humidity.

Potato can be harvested early in the month of august at slightly

immature stage. But these potatoes are not suitable for long

duration storage.

To maintain the supply of locally produced potato for longer

duration, more than 80% produce must be stored during long

freezing winter season.

Previous Next End

For storage, potato crop should be harvested at proper maturity

for which irrigation should be stopped well before.

It can be achieved by harvesting the tubers 12-15 days after

haulm cutting.

The produce should be kept in shady place for further cutting.

Harvesting time in the region depends upon altitude and planting

time.

In most of the areas potato crop is harvested in September when

weather is dry and cool.

At harvest, tubers are liable to considerable skinning, bruising

and other damages, which subsequently lead to rottage if not

handled properly.

Previous Next End

DRYING

The following care should be taken during drying:

(a)Always dry the harvested tuber quickly to remove excess moisture

from the surface of tubers for improving their keeping quality.

(b)Always dry the harvested tuber in storage shed, expose to sun

causes the greening of potatoes.

(c)Do not store the tubers immediately if they are exposed to rain

after harvest.

Previous Next End

CUIRNGThe following care should be taken during curing:

(a)Always follow the curing process at 25 degree centigrade with a

95 per cent relative humidity.

(b) For optimum suberization, curing is essential for healing the

wounds of tubers resulted from cutting and bruising during

harvesting

Previous Next End

ASSESMENT

1. ___________ chemical was used for dehaulming of potato plant

before harvesting. (Gramoxone).

2. Harvest the crop after _______ of haulm cutting.

a). 10-15 days b). 20- 25 days c). 30 days

3. __________ is also done much a head of harvesting in case of late

blight susceptible varieties to avoid late blight infection on tubers.

(Dehaulming).

4. Suberization in known as healing of wounds (True / False).

5. Immature potatoes are suitable for long duration storage (True /

False)

Previous EndNext

References:

Previous