We analyze when planting potatoes in 2024 will contribute to high yields, on what days it is recommended to plant tubers according to the lunar calendar, and also what climatic and varietal features should be taken into account when calculating the optimal days for planting.
Climatic features and
Most of the territory allows for the cultivation of potatoes, but planting material should be selected taking into account the climatic features of the place where the plants grow.
The start time of planting work also varies significantly for different latitudes, since the weather conditions necessary for vegetation in the south come much earlier than in the central part, and in the north of the country, the calendar spring is associated with night frosts, and the period of work in the open soil occurs only with the beginning of summer. Thus, the period of planting work on the territory can cover not only the spring months (April and May), but also the beginning of summer.
On average, the favorable period for planting potatoes for different regions is:
| Region | Recommended landing times |
| Southern latitudes | 10 - April 30th |
| Central part (Moscow region) | 1 - May 20th |
| Leningrad region | 10 - May 30th |
| Southern regions of Siberia and the Urals | 10 - May 20 |
| Northern regions of Siberia and the Urals | May 20 - June 10 |
You can more accurately determine the favorable period in your region by analyzing climate norms. So, for the germination of tubers and the beginning of intensive vegetation, potatoes require the following parameters:
- soil temperature at a depth of up to 10 cm - at least 6°С (optimally 10-12°С);
- daytime air temperature - not lower than 14°С (optimally 16-18°С).
Important! If the tuber is planted in warm, moist soil at a sufficient depth, then light night frosts will not be able to harm it. Sharp drops in temperature are dangerous during the period when young sprouts are just beginning to appear above the soil.
Correct choice of variety
When choosing a variety for planting, it is important to consider in which region the land is located, how long the warm period will be, and whether the crop is adapted to the characteristics of the soil.
According to the growing season they distinguish:
| Sort | Before maturing (days) |
| Ultraearly | 40 - 60 |
| Early | 60 - 80 |
| Mid-early | 80 - 90 |
| Medium | 90 - 100 |
| Mid-Late | 100 - 120 |
| Late | 120 - 140 |
Important! The overwhelming majority of ultra-early and early varieties are not suitable for long-term storage, but they will delight you with tasty young tubers in the shortest possible time.
From the experience of gardeners, you can also get a good harvest in different regions of the country by choosing the right variety for planting in open ground, which suits the soil and climate:
- in the south and in the Crimea they have proven themselves: Nevsky early, Obriy, Slavyanka, Povin, Crimean rose;
- Kuban residents should better plant varieties: Zhekovsky, Luck, Enchantress;
- in the Moscow region the most popular are: Early rose, Priekulsky early, Falensky, Ostra, Detskoselsky, Penza precocious;
- grow well in the Perm region: Kikita, Gala, Pogarsky, Agave;
- in the northwest, a good harvest is given by: Wizard, League, Fairy Tale, Scarlet Sail, Danae;
- Vineta and Sarovsky are recommended for Udmurtia.
Determining a place to land
If potatoes are planted annually, then in 2024 it is worth considering where it is better to plant a crop on the site to maximize yield and minimize possible diseases.
The best choice would be the bed where they grew last season:
- garlic;
- root crops;
- melons (melons, watermelons);
- beans;
- cereals.
Don't plant potatoes where there is moisture stagnation after rains or snowmelt. Excessive moisture provokes the process of decay and the tubers can deteriorate even before they are fully ripe. It is also a bad idea to plant potatoes in a garden where tomatoes or other nightshades were previously located, since these seemingly different plants have many common pathogens.
It is best to decide on a landing site in the fall and carry out the first stage of preparatory work - plowing or digging the site. It is also recommended to loosen the soil a week before the date on which it is planned to plant potatoes in the ground in 2024, as well as apply fertilizers taking into account the type of soil.
Preparation of tubers
The best option is to plant prepared germinated tubers in the ground. Firstly, such preparation allows you to reject low-quality planting material, and secondly, it will start the processes that stimulate the plant's vegetation faster.
Keep in mind that some preparation methods will require a long period. So, if replanting is scheduled for May, then preparatory work should begin as soon as April begins.
Choose the method of germination depending on the availability of conditions and the required period.
| Method of germinating tubers | Estimated date |
| Dry sprouting | 20 - 40 days |
| Wet sprouting | 15 - 20 days |
| Wilting | 7 - 15 days |
| Warming up | 3 - 4 days |
Important! If the planting of potatoes will be carried out in an automated way, then the formation of too long sprouts should not be allowed, as they easily break off. For manual landing, this factor is not so important.
If the potatoes have sprouted too much, and the weather does not allow planting in the ground, then it is permissible to plant tubers for seedlings. But this approach is possible only with small volumes, for example, for a small garden in a summer cottage.
Lunar landing calendar
You can also determine when it's time to plant potatoes in 2024 using the lunar calendar, because planting potatoes, like sowing a number of other crops, obey the basic rules of the lunar cycle:
- root crops develop best if planted during the waning moon;
- unfavorable days are considered when the Moon is in the full moon or new moon phase.
Based on this rule, it is worth considering such periods of the phases of the moon, changing from March to June:
| Month | Descending | New Moon | Growing | Full Moon | Descending |
| March | 1 - 9 | 10 | 11 - 24 | 25 | 26 - 31 |
| April | 1 - 7 | 8 | 9 - 23 | 24 | 25 - 30 |
| May | 1 - 7 | 8 | 9 - 22 | 23 | 24 - 31 |
| June | 1 - 5 | 6 | 7 - 21 | 22 | 23 - 30 |
| July | 1 - 5 | 6 | 7 - 20 | 21 | 22 - 31 |
We also offer to download the full version of the lunar calendar for 2024 for planning other work in the garden:
The gardener's calendar also notes how favorable these days are for planting potatoes:
| Month | Auspicious dates |
| April | 1-5, 26-30 |
| May | 1-5, 25-31 |
| June | 1-4, 24-30 |
| July | 1-4, 23-31 |
Unfavorable dates for work in the garden will be:
| Month | Inauspicious dates |
| April | 6-9, 23-25 |
| May | 6-9, 22-24 |
| June | 5-7, 21-23 |
| July | 5-7, 20-22 |
As you can see, there is simply no universal option that is relevant throughout the territory. The secret to successful gardening is understanding the important nuances. Knowing the basic principles, as well as taking into account the peculiarities of the acquired potato variety and the climate of your region, you can create your own personal potato planting calendar in 2024 in order to achieve maximum yield.
We offer to share our tips for growing potatoes with beginner gardeners by adding them in the comments to this article.
