I keep my seed potatoes in cold store. When and how should I take them out so they sprout well at planting?
When should I take seed potato (aloo) out of cold storage before planting?
MMahesh Chauhan7mo ago · 280 views
4 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓7mo ago
Seed potato coming straight from cold store is dormant and cold, and planting it directly into warm soil can cause poor and uneven sprouting. Take the seed out some time before planting and keep it in a cool, shaded, well ventilated place so it gradually warms up and breaks dormancy and the eyes start to sprout. This pre sprouting or greening of seed in diffused light gives stronger, more uniform sprouts and a quicker, more even crop. Avoid direct hot sun which damages the tubers, and handle gently so you do not break the tender sprouts at planting. Discard rotten, shrivelled or heavily sprouted weak tubers. The exact days needed before planting vary with your region and weather, so check the right window with your KVK or the cold store advisory.
RRam Singh Tomar7mo ago
Do not dump the cold bags straight in the open. The sudden warm air made the cold tubers sweat and some rotted for me. I now open the bags in shade and spread the tubers in a single layer so they warm up slowly and dry, then they sprout evenly.
DDevi Dayal7mo ago
Spreading in a thin layer under diffused light greened my sprouts and made them short and tough, which survive planting much better than the long white sprouts you get in a heap in the dark. The long sprouts break off in the planter and you lose plants.
NNaresh Kushwaha6mo ago
Plan the timing with the weather. If you bring them out too early and a warm spell hits, they over sprout and weaken. I match the take out to my expected planting date and keep them cool and airy so they are just nicely sprouted when the soil is ready.