Temperature and length of growing season
The potato is a cool-season crop that grows well in certain areas of the Prairie Provinces. The rate of
development of sprouts from seed pieces depends on soil temperature. Very little sprout elongation occurs
at 43°F (6°C), elongation is slow at 48°F (9°C) and is maximized at about 64°F (18°C). The optimum soil
temperature for initiating tubers is 61-66°F (16-19°C). Tuber development declines as soil temperatures
rise above 68°F (20°C) and tuber growth practically stops at soil temperatures above 86°F (30°C). The
number of tubers set per plant is greater at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures, whereas higher
temperatures favour development of large tubers.
Yields are highest when average daytime temperatures are about 69°F (21°C). Cool night temperatures are
important because they affect the accumulation of carbohydrates and dry matter in the tubers. At lower
night temperatures, respiration is slowed, which enhances storage of starch in the tubers.
From the temperature information in the above paragraphs Physiological Days (P-Days) can be
calculated. P-Days are a measure of the heat useful for the growth and development of potatoes. In the
potato production areas of the Prairies, the highest average accumulation of P-Days, 850-950, occurs south
of Lake Manitoba to the U.S. border and the lowest accumulation, 750-900, occurs in the seed production
areas south of Edmonton and in Central Saskatchewan.
The varieties currently grown on the Prairies require anywhere from 800-1000 P-Days to reach full
maturity. An early-maturing variety such as Norland requires 800 P-Days, and later maturing varieties
such as Russet Burbank require 1000 P-Days. Growing a potato variety in an area with insufficient P-Days
will reduce yield and affect tuber quality factors such as accumulation of solids and fry colour. The average
accumulation of P-Days is insufficient in many parts of the Prairies to produce late season varieties where
the crop must be fully mature before harvest. These areas may be suitable for seed or table production,
where the crop is killed or harvested before full maturity
Temperature and length of growing seasonThe potato is a cool-season crop that grows well in certain areas of the Prairie Provinces. The rate ofdevelopment of sprouts from seed pieces depends on soil temperature. Very little sprout elongation occursat 43°F (6°C), elongation is slow at 48°F (9°C) and is maximized at about 64°F (18°C). The optimum soiltemperature for initiating tubers is 61-66°F (16-19°C). Tuber development declines as soil temperaturesrise above 68°F (20°C) and tuber growth practically stops at soil temperatures above 86°F (30°C). Thenumber of tubers set per plant is greater at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures, whereas highertemperatures favour development of large tubers.Yields are highest when average daytime temperatures are about 69°F (21°C). Cool night temperatures areimportant because they affect the accumulation of carbohydrates and dry matter in the tubers. At lowernight temperatures, respiration is slowed, which enhances storage of starch in the tubers.From the temperature information in the above paragraphs Physiological Days (P-Days) can becalculated. P-Days are a measure of the heat useful for the growth and development of potatoes. In thepotato production areas of the Prairies, the highest average accumulation of P-Days, 850-950, occurs southof Lake Manitoba to the U.S. border and the lowest accumulation, 750-900, occurs in the seed productionareas south of Edmonton and in Central Saskatchewan. The varieties currently grown on the Prairies require anywhere from 800-1000 P-Days to reach fullmaturity. An early-maturing variety such as Norland requires 800 P-Days, and later maturing varietiessuch as Russet Burbank require 1000 P-Days. Growing a potato variety in an area with insufficient P-Dayswill reduce yield and affect tuber quality factors such as accumulation of solids and fry colour. The averageaccumulation of P-Days is insufficient in many parts of the Prairies to produce late season varieties wherethe crop must be fully mature before harvest. These areas may be suitable for seed or table production,where the crop is killed or harvested before full maturity
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