Unpretentious in care and high-yielding potato variety "Agata"
Few people know that the potato was once a wild plant that has been unsuccessfully tried to domesticate for five thousand years. Today it is a traditional cultivated vegetable that grows in almost all vegetable gardens and summer cottages.
Agata potatoes captivate not only with their taste data (for this reason, the variety is widely used for the production of chips), but also with a high yield. The culture does not belong to Russian developments, but quickly took root in our country and successfully adapted to its climatic characteristics.
The content of the article
What kind of potato is this
Let's consider in detail the characteristics and features of this variety.
Origin and development
Agatha potato variety came to us from Holland... Dutch breeders instilled in him a high yield and early maturity. In Europe, culture has become widespread not only among summer residents, but also among farmer entrepreneurs.
Culture has not yet been included in the Russian State Register of Breeding Achievements, but this does not detract from its popularity among summer residents and farms.
Historical reference. The homeland of potatoes is South America. For more than 10 thousand years, Indians have tried to cultivate wild potatoes. A lot of effort and time was spent, but there was no result. The plant was able to tame only five thousand years later. It happened in Peru: the Peruvians idolized the vegetable, making sacrifices to it. Today in Peruvian markets you can see up to 1000 potato varieties. Moreover, locals sell the vegetable not only raw, but also pamper customers with unique ready-to-eat dishes.
Description of the variety, appearance
Fruits are oval, slightly elongated, with small eyes... Average weight 80-130 g. The starch content is not higher than 14%, therefore, during heat treatment, the potatoes retain their appearance. The peel is smooth, pale yellow, the flesh is quite dense, with a yellow tint. The taste is sweetish.
The photo shows Agatha potatoes.
The crop is designed for long-term storage and can withstand long-term transportation... For long-term storage, the main thing is to provide the fruits with optimal humidity and air temperature: the room should be cool and dry.
Ripe vegetables are suitable for all meals, potatoes are ideal for frying, mashed potatoes and baking. It also makes great chips and frozen vegetable mixes.
Reference! For the manufacture of chips, many companies use this particular potato variety.
Plant characteristic
it table variety, early ripening, the ripening of fruits occurs 80-85 days after sowing. But the first undermining is carried out in 50-55 days.
Bushes are low, spreading, average foliage... The leaves are small, dark green, the flowers are large, white. The root system is strong, well developed, so the fruits grow quickly. There are practically no small potatoes.
Above average culture resistance to diseases, the plant is immune to alternaria, verticillosis and potato crayfish, but it is affected by late blight and fusarium.
Yield
The variety is distinguished by high rates of fruiting, from 1 hectare harvested up to 400 centners. 10-15 potatoes are formed on one seedling. Tubers retain their presentation until spring, keeping quality is high.For stable and rich fruiting, plants must be planted in fertile, well-fertilized soil, although seedlings can also grow on heavy clay soil.
Other varieties of potatoes:
Adretta potatoes from German breeders
How to Grow Agatha Potatoes
Another positive feature of Agatha is the possibility of early sowing... The seed is sown into the soil as soon as it warms up to + 10 ° C.
Timing, scheme and landing rules
The tubers are cooked a month before sowing, carefully sorted out, leaving only healthy specimens no visible damage. Potatoes are placed in prepared boxes in two rows and exposed to light for germination. The room temperature during germination is maintained at + 15 ° C.
The planting material is ready for sowing as soon as the sprouts reach 1.5 cm and will be painted in a pale pink color. The day before sowing, tubers are treated with a growth simulator "Epin" for faster germination and "Fitosporin" to prevent fungal infections.
The soil is dug up two weeks before sowing with the introduction of humus and wood ash... The holes are made in advance - 10 cm deep and 30 cm apart. Humus is placed at the bottom of each hole and water is poured. The row spacing is at least 70 cm. Such a planting scheme provides the necessary nutrition for the seedlings for full growth and development.
The planting material is placed in prepared holes with sprouts up. Sprinkle on top with water and moisten the topsoil.
Reference! The weight of potatoes for sowing should not exceed 100 g.
Further care for Agatha potatoes
Planting and leaving is not complicated and comes down to the usual procedures. The main thing is to plant potatoes in fertile soil and water wisely, especially on dry days.... Good watering means drip irrigation. This is the best option for supplying moisture, since with drip irrigation, water flows directly to the roots of plants, without exceeding the moisture level in the beds.
Reference! Excess moisture is dangerous for the development of fungal diseases.
After watering, the ground is loosenedthereby improving the air permeability of the soil. Oxygen supply is necessary for the development of the root system.
Removing weeds also contributes to the full development of seedlings.... Weeds take many nutrients from the soil and serve as carriers of dangerous diseases. Also, weeds are a favorable environment for the development of parasitic insects.
Hilling seedlings is carried out three times before flowering... From the row spacing, they rake the earth with a rake on the plants. This procedure is necessary to build up new roots. In the last procedure, straw is laid out between the rows. This is called mulching and it prevents ground pests and new weeds from growing.
With the timely introduction of fertilizers, yields increase... To do this, use not only basic, but also foliar dressing.
Reference! For the full development of Agatha and a rich harvest, fertile soil and top dressing are needed.
Full a complex of minerals alternates with organics... Two weeks after planting in the ground, the seedlings are fed with nitrogenous fertilizers for rapid growth of green mass.
During flowering, organic matter is introduced: bird droppings or mullein infusion in a ratio of 1:10. Also, from organic compounds, an infusion of weeds is used together with wood ash.
During the fruiting period, they are fed with mineralsof which potassium and phosphorus are the most important. Also at this time, foliar dressing is carried out, for example, leaf processing. To do this, 100 g of superphosphate is diluted in a bucket of water, this amount of solution is consumed per 10 sq. m.
Important! Top dressing on the leaf gives the potatoes substances that, when they enter the tissues, are immediately absorbed.
Of the complex mineral fertilizers, they are mainly used "Giant", "Kemiru" and "Kristalon".
Nuances and possible difficulties
When growing potatoes on the site remember the rules of crop rotation and distribute planting sites, according to expert recommendations. The best predecessors of potatoes are cucumbers and onions, but after pepper, eggplant and tomato, it is impossible to plant a plant, since it will not receive full development.
The same crops are not recommended to be planted next to potatoes. - they suffer from the same diseases and if any one crop is affected, the disease will immediately spread to all other plants.
When applying dressings, do not abuse complexes containing nitrogen.... Supersaturation with such fertilizers contributes to the accumulation of harmful nitrates in fruits.
Diseases and pests
The plant is not immune to fusarium leaf wilt and late blight... There are also pests that can damage tubers and aerial parts of the plant.
Fusarium (dry rot) and late blight are fungal diseases... They are dangerous by the rapid spread of fungal spores and can destroy up to 70% of all plantings. For the prevention of fungal diseases, the seedlings are sprayed with a manganese solution every two weeks. Potassium permanganate is diluted to a faint pink color to avoid leaf burn. Also, for the purpose of prophylaxis, the drugs "Ridomil", "Oksikhom" are used. The same remedies will help with plant diseases.
Of the pests, the bear and the Colorado potato beetle are the most dangerous... Medvedka moves underground, disrupting the root system. It cannot be noticed, therefore, preventive measures are carried out immediately when planting seedlings.
Fish heads or chopped garlic are dug into the aisles, the smell of which the bear feels long before approaching and bypasses such beds.
The Colorado potato beetle is easy to spot. This is a large insect that damages the leaf blade, as a result of which the plant withers and dies.
The pest is collected by hand and burned in glass jars. But don't forget that female beetles lay their eggs on the inside of the leaf, which, like larvae, cause irreparable harm to plants. Therefore, it is important, when examining seedlings, to turn the leaves in order to detect orange clutches and pink larvae.
In case of a large accumulation of the Colorado potato beetle, the drug Prestige or Karate is used.
Read also:
Collection, storage and use of the crop
The final harvest is harvested in August, but the first excavations are carried out from mid-July.... 2-3 days before harvesting, the tops are cut, leaving at least 10 cm. The fruits are dug up with a pitchfork or a shovel and left to dry in the aisles or removed under a shed if precipitation is predicted.
After drying, the potatoes are ready for long-term storage in dry and cool rooms.
Agatha grown not only in small summer cottages, but also on an industrial scale, on the fields. The keeping quality of ripe fruits is high, the presentation is preserved in 93% of the total harvest. There are practically no small potatoes. All fruits are large, leveled.
Ripe vegetables are ideal not only for preparing first and second courses, but also for semi-finished products, chips.
Advantages and disadvantages
In addition to high taste, culture has a number of other benefits:
- the possibility of breeding in all regions;
- unpretentiousness;
- high yield rates;
- universality of application;
- long-term preservation of the presentation;
- the possibility of breeding on an industrial scale;
- attractive presentation and quick sale of finished products.
Negative qualities include weak resistance to fusarium and late blight.
Which regions is best suited for
Below are the regions where Agatha has taken root best. and showed the highest yield (300 - 400 c / ha):
- Central;
- Volgo-Vyatsky;
- Ural;
- West Siberian.
Farmers reviews
This section presents the views of those who grew the variety on their plots. Reviews of summer residents are mostly positive.
Sergey, Kuban: “I have been planting Agatha on a hectare for 2 years now. I have been bringing humus to the fields since autumn. My harvest is rich. I harvest at the end of July, leaving a few rows for seeds. The taste of potatoes is unique, sweetish. There is little starch in fruits, so you can cook any dish, potatoes do not disintegrate. Especially delicious mashed potatoes: lick your fingers! ".
Margarita, Moscow: “First of all, I would like to note the simple care of the seedlings. In addition, my plants practically do not get sick, although I have been growing crops for more than one year. I fight the Colorado potato beetle well in advance of its appearance. I spray seedlings with insecticides and potassium permanganate. I also plant mustard and marigolds between the bushes. The potatoes are delicious, suitable for any dish. Especially good for baking and filling for a pie ".
Conclusion
Many vegetable growers have long opted for the Agatha potato variety. The culture is distinguished by a high rate of fruiting (up to 400 c / ha), resistance to diseases, early ripening and simple agricultural technology. Breeding entrepreneurs also see multiple benefits. The high keeping quality of the variety allows you to enjoy the taste of homemade fried potatoes until spring.