Potato planting has started in the Fraser Valley

Potato planting has started in the Fraser Valley-YAY!- and now is the time to be reminded of the best management practices (BMPs) at planting. Seed handling practices will have an impact on emergence and yield. Here are some of the top BMPs:

1. Plant certified disease-free seed. Inspect seed upon arrival and keep monitoring until planting.

2. Disinfect storage where seed will be stored. Also disinfect trucks, seed cutter, and planter regularly and especially between problematic lots.

3. Use registered seed piece treatments to protect against diseases that have caused issues in the past.

4. Handle seed with care; avoid bruising, which becomes an entry point for pathogens and contributes to the physical aging of seed. Bruising can lead to poor emergence and stand.

5. Cut seed with sharp clean blades. This will help healing and prevent disease entry into the seed.

6. Slowly warm seed to 10-13 ºC over 7-14 days prior to cutting. If not planted immediately, cut seed should be healed at about 10-15 ºC and 90-95% relative humidity for a minimum of 5 days in piles of less than 6 feet. If planting is delayed, cool the seed down to between 5-8ºC after healing and re-warm before planting.

7. Place a tarp over the trucks transporting seed to the field for planting to protect against sunlight, wind, and dry air.

8. Plant when soil temperature is higher than 7 ºC. Fresh cut seed benefits from being planted when the soil temperature is between 13-16ºC, which allows for wound healing, quick emergence, and prevents seed piece decay.

Congratulation you made it to the end! What are some of your potato planting tips? Leave comments below👇🏽 #potatoplanting #potatosorting #growingpotatoes #potatodisease #fraservalleyagriculture #fraservalley #integratedpestmanagement