Potatoes are some of the crops that do well in several parts of Uasin Gishu County and guarantees you good returns.
The crop is mainly grown in Moiben and Ainabkoi constituencies.
If you are interested in potato farming, then here are the five things you need to do to make your venture successful;
Pick the right potato
Classification of potatoes is done depending on the maturity length which is majorly influenced by weather. There are two types of potatoes you can pick from, early seed potatoes and mature crop seed potatoes. The early seed matures between 60-110 days while the main crop maturity length is 125-140 days.
Obtain seed of your choice
It is always recommended that you purchase the potato seed from certified seeded stock. This is to control and reduce the risk of potato diseases and viruses. However, you can also use leftover potatoes you purchased from the market though they will not be certified as disease free.
Preparations to plant
While preparing your potatoes for planting, is advisable to use a sharp, non-serrated knife so as to get the best result. Slice the potatoes roughly into quarters, making sure each piece has no more than three “eyes,” (the small pits or indents on the surface).
After slicing, place the potatoes in the sun and let it sit for a day or two, or until you begin to notice the eyes growing sprouts.
Soaking potatoes before planting is highly discouraged. Soaking creates more risk of rotting than anything it might accomplish.
Cultivation
For the best results, consider using the potato fruit to cultivate the potato seeds. Chop the fruit finely and put the pieces in a dish of water; after about a day, the seeds will separate and sink to the bottom
Spout your potato tubers in a greenhouse
You can use empty egg boxes or you can use empty seed trays to place them upright in. Once the shoots start growing about one half-inch, they’re ready to plant. Only leave 2–3 shoots on each potato, removing the rest.
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