How to intercrop the potato
How to intercrop the potato
The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family native to an area that includes Peru, Bolivia, Mexico and Chile.
The potato was subsequently brought to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century around 1570.
This vegetable is cultivated all over the world from temperate to subtropical areas, in very different climatic conditions, and is of particular importance in temperate climates.
Its tubers can be used as a staple food, as a cash crop, as animal feed, and as a source of starch for many industrial uses.
Potato cultivation, like all plants, takes advantage of the intercropping technique (as well as rotation) to give a more abundant, healthier product with better organoleptic and nutritional characteristics.
In intercropping the potato can benefit from several plants that can help repel pests, improve soil fertility and promote mutual growth. Among the plants that can be combined with the potato we remember some with their relative benefits and relationships:
– Beans: Beans fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, thus improving its fertility for potatoes. Additionally, their leaves can shade the soil, reducing water evaporation and keeping the soil moist.
– Herbs such as mint or thyme: these can keep away some insects that are harmful to potatoes.
– Leeks and onions: have repellent properties against some potato parasites, such as some beetles harmful to potatoes.
– Spinach: can protect potatoes from excessive sun exposure during spring growth.
– Cabbage and broccoli: can confuse insects and protect potatoes from pest infestations.
– Peas: Like beans, peas fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility and providing good support for potatoes.
– Marigold (Tagetes spp.): these are plants that repel many potato pests and can also improve the soil.
– Carrots: can grow well with potatoes and do not compete too much for nutrients as they mainly use the top layer of soil.
– Radish: Can keep some potato pests away and they don’t compete much for space or nutrients.