Potato and Tuber Crops

Season of Planting and Preparation of Sets

• As an irrigated crop, cassava can be planted during any part of year, but December-January planting is better.
• As a rainfed crop, planting is done during April-May before onset of South-West Monsoon and during September-October coinciding with North East monsoon.
• Stem cuttings, usually called as sets, for planting are taken from disease free stakes of 8-10 months maturity having a thickness of 2-3 cm diameter.
• Discard woody basal portion and tender top portion of stem.
• Prepare sets of 15-20 cm length with a smooth circular cut at the base and slanting cut at top for easy identification of base and top.
• The circular cut at base ensures uniform callus formation and root initiation.
• Sets prepared from stem stored for 15 days with leaves give better sprouting.