The potato farming business is one of the lucrative ventures with high returns. To earn the profits, one needs to be aware of how to correctly plant, harvest, and store the potatoes. Do you want to know how to plant potatoes in Kenya? It is a very simple process and can be done with just a basic free tool. This article walks you through the steps of how to plant potatoes in Kenya. You’ll learn about the different types of potatoes, planting methods, and ideal growing conditions. By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to start your potato farm.
Irish potatoes are planted using certified seeds on ridges in fertile land to enhance tuber formation. Plant the potatoes about 12 inches apart and cover them slightly with soil.
The following is a step-by-step procedure on how to plant potatoes in Kenya:
1. Preparation of Land
Potatoes are planted on loamy, sandy, fertile, and well-drained soil. It should be rich with organic matter and have a soil PH of 5 to 6.5 and receive regular rainfall.
Plough the land thoroughly to remove weeds and break the soil into a fine tilth for aeration, then apply decomposed manure. The richer the soil, the better. Therefore, it is recommended to add quality compost to the soil.
2. Choose the Seed Variety
Buy potatoes from certified seeds that are left to sprout to form tubers for 21 days. The commonly used varieties in Kenya are Shangi, Kenya mavuno, Sherekea and Tigoni.
The type of seed you choose to buy will determine the fertilizer insecticides, herbicides and all other chemical that will need in your farm.
3. Planting of Irish Potatoes
At the onset of rain, furrows are made 15 cm deep at the onset of rain and require fertilizer to be incorporated to a depth of 40 cm for potatoes since they can go deeper.
Potato space when planting is 75cm apart from one ridge to another and 30cm from one plant to the next, at a depth of 10cm.
Cut the big potatoes using a sharp knife 1 to 2 days before planting. The cut seed tubers are held in well-ventilated spots to prevent rotting.
Place the seed tubers into furrows incorporated with fertilizer since they will require nutrients after they germinate and cover properly but not deep.
When sprouts appear after 12 to 16 days after planting, fill the trench with 4 inches of soil. Repeat for several weeks, leaving the soil mounded five inches above the ground level.
After the plant has emerged, add organic matter into the rows to conserve moisture, control the weeds and cool the soil.
4. Weed Control
Weeding is done once the potatoes have grown above the soil. Earthing up of the plants is done until they attain a height of 25 cm, at which point an extra layer of soil is added around the stem to prevent light from reaching the potatoes near the surface.
5. Pests and Diseases Control
To control pests like aphids, use appropriate pesticides by spraying on leaves every two weeks. Diseases are controlled by practicing crop rotation and also spraying with appropriate fungicides according to need.
You can also control pests and diseases through proper weed control and good spacing during planting.
6. Harvesting
Harvesting is done when the leaves start to turn yellow, the flowers open, or when the buds drop. It is done three to five months after planting, depending on the variety.
Harden the skin of the crop by cutting the stems two weeks before harvesting to allow potatoes to develop a thick skin. On a dry day, dig the potatoes gently.
In Kenya, Irish potatoes take 70 to 120 days to develop and mature, depending on the type of Irish potato and the climatic conditions of a particular area. Germination occurs after two weeks of planting the seeds.
The yield of Irish potatoes in Kenya will depend on the variety of potatoes. For instance, Kerr’s Pink produces 10 000 to 12 000 kg, Dutch Robjn gives 14000 kg to 16000 kg, while Roslin Tana and Nyayo give 14000 kg to 18000 kg per acre.
Generally, the yields of potatoes on an acre range from three to six tonnes of Irish potatoes in Kenya.
7. Storage
After harvesting, the products are kept in store ready for market. One should store clean and dry Irish potatoes in a cold place to remain fresh.
It is advisable to check the conditions of your potatoes before storing them. This will help you in selecting the potatoes that are in good condition.
The Cost of Planting Potatoes in Kenya Per Acre
On average, the farmer will require approximately Ksh 80 000 to start potato farming from planting to harvesting on an acre of land.
Here is the breakdown of the cost:
1. The cost of planting potatoes will start with land preparation, which costs Ksh. 5000.
2. Buying 50kg certified seeds at Ksh. 2500 per bag.
3. Buying fungicides and insecticides, which cost around Ksh. 27500.
4. Total cost of applying fertilizer is around Ksh. 22000 on an acre piece of land.
5. There are other costs like transport, labour and weeding, which can cost up to 25,000 per acre.
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