Mid-season table potato variety Volat
Belarusian potatoes Volat are grown both for themselves and for sale. Farmers respect the culture for its high yielding rate, and in the household, vegetables are valued for their excellent taste, high protein and vitamin C content. Despite its youth, the variety enjoys stable popularity and continues to join the ranks of its fans.
The content of the article
What are these potatoes
The young potato variety Volat is gaining popularity at a rapid pace. This is due to the high yield of the crop, increased resistance and excellent taste of the tubers.
Origin and development
The Volat potato variety is a new crop created by breeders from Belarus. Originator - Scientific-Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Potato and Vegetable Growing. It was entered into the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2014.
Despite its short lifetime, the variety has already been chosen for commercial cultivation by hundreds of private entrepreneurs and farms. High yield combined with unpretentiousness could not fail to attract the attention of those who are engaged in vegetable growing with the subsequent sale of finished products. Farmers note an increased consumer demand for vegetables not only in retail, but also in bulk purchases.
Description of the variety and appearance
Appointment of ripe vegetables for table, average weight - 90-160 g, oval shape. There are few eyes, they are of a reddish tint. The peel is yellow, dense enough to protect the fruit from mechanical damage. The pulp is light yellow, the taste is at a high level. Potatoes are distinguished by a high content of protein, vitamin C (up to 30%) and other useful elements, which determines its nutritional value.
The starch content ranges from 11-19%. Ripe vegetables are ideal for grilling and baking. The friability is moderate, so tubers are often used for cooking and making mashed potatoes.
Large enterprises buy potatoes for further processing in order to manufacture chips and fast food products. Vegetables are also used to produce starch.
The variety is suitable for long-term storage, keeping quality is 94-96% of the total volume. During long-term transportation, the tubers retain their taste and presentation.
The photo shows the Volat potatoes.
Plant characteristic
The bush is of medium size, the stem is powerful, the root system is well developed. The leaves are medium-sized, rich green. During flowering, medium-sized white flowers are formed, collected in neat corollas.
Ripening periods are average, tubers reach full technical ripeness in 85-95 days after landing... The variety is highly adaptable to drought, but not frost resistant.
Plants are immune to aureus nematode, potato cancer, viral diseases, fusarium rot and anthracnose. However, the variety does not have resistance to late blight, so preventive measures are needed.
Yield
Productivity is the main advantage of culture... From 1 hectare, up to 600 centners are harvested, which is an order of magnitude higher than the indicators of other high-yielding varieties. Therefore, Volat is a welcome guest on numerous Russian fields and in neighboring countries.
All fruits are beautiful, aligned, damage resistant.Presentation preserves 98% of finished products.
How to grow potatoes
Potato growing technology is reduced to standard procedures. The culture needs proper watering, timely feeding and hilling. The plant quickly adapts to soil composition and climatic conditions.
Presowing preparation
Tuber preparation begins 1 month before planting. The optimum weight is no more than 100 g. Large tubers are pre-cut into slices.
The potatoes are carefully examined, damaged ones are removed. The remaining seed is laid out in a bright germination room. Only sprouted tubers are planted, otherwise there will be no shoots. The optimum room temperature is + 15… + 17 ° C.
Before sowing, the tubers are treated with a growth stimulant. The drug accelerates the emergence of seedlings and protects potatoes from fungal diseases. Most often used "Epin", "Kornevin" and "Bioglobin".
By the end of germination, tubers may acquire a greenish tint. This indicates an increased accumulation of solanine in the peel. The substance belongs to glycosides with toxic properties. It is best to plant green potatoes: thanks to solanine, the seed will be reliably protected from rodents.
Reference! Field mice are the most dangerous for planted potato tubers.
Timing, scheme and landing rules
Volat loves light but fertile soil, so it is important to saturate it with nutrients before sowing. It is prepared in autumn by digging with humus and wood ash. In the spring, the procedure is repeated. Digging not only loosens the soil, making it lighter, but also destroys the larvae of parasitic insects and fungal spores.
Planting begins in late April - early May, when the soil warms up to + 10 ° C, and the daytime temperature reaches + 16 ... 18 ° C. If there is a threat of return frosts or heavy rains, it is better to postpone planting so as not to ruin the seed.
Planting scheme: 35 cm - distance between holes, 70 cm - distance between rows. When these conditions are met, it is convenient to take care of the plants, they are ventilated and receive enough light, which prevents the spread of pathogens.
Potatoes are placed in the holes no deeper than 10 cm. A little wood ash is placed on the bottom and sprinkled with soil on top.
Reference! When cutting large potatoes, leave at least three shoots on each wedge, otherwise there will be no shoots.
Further care
The culture is unpretentious in care, does not require constant attention, a lot of time and effort.
Watering
Seedlings need abundant watering during flowering and fruit formation... But do not forget about the plant's susceptibility to late blight. Excess moisture contributes to the spread of fungal spores and their rapid development.
The best watering is drip. With such irrigation, the roots will not experience a lack of moisture, and the moisture level in the beds will always remain within normal limits.
After watering, loosening is carried out. Loose soil improves oxygen access to the root system, which has a beneficial effect on the development of seedlings.
Weeding the beds is a necessary preventive measure in pest control. In addition, useful elements necessary for the life of seedlings are spent on the growth of weeds. Weeds are removed from the roots, and the beds are mulched. Mulch retains moisture in the beds and inhibits the growth of new weeds.
Reference! Most often, peat and straw are used as mulch.
Hilling is carried out three times per season. The procedure begins as soon as the seedlings reach 10-12 cm. The earth is raked from row spacings onto the seedlings. The higher the hilling is carried out, the more the fruits are protected from sunlight and pest damage.
Top dressing
Top dressing improves crop performance and strengthens the immune system. The first is applied as soon as the seedlings grow up to 20-25 cm.With poor growth of the bushes, fertilize earlier.To do this, use nitrogenous substances or ammonium nitrate.
The second feeding is carried out at the time of flowering. During this period, seedlings need organic matter. The culture responds well to poultry droppings at a 1:10 ratio. The solution is spilled in the aisles, having previously well moistened the soil.
The third time is fertilized with a full range of minerals. This top dressing is applied 1 week before fruiting. Phosphorus elements and potassium substances are especially effective.
Reference! The introduction of nitrogen accelerates the growth of bushes and the growth of green mass.
Disease and pest control
The most effective and popular fungicide in the fight against late blight is Fitosporin. In addition to the curative, it also performs a preventive function. Many gardeners spray seedlings with this product from the beginning of planting. Such a preventive measure is a guarantee of plant health in your areas.
In addition to Fitosporin, gardeners use wood ash, which is sprinkled on bushes. It protects plants not only from fungal diseases, but also from many pests.
To combat the Colorado potato beetle, use the drugs "Confidor" or "Prestige", potato aphids - insecticide "Aktara". Another effective remedy is tobacco infusion, the smell of which scares off not only aphids, but also whiteflies. The solution is prepared simply: 500 g of tobacco is dissolved in 1 liter of water and boiled for 1 hour. The concentrate is diluted in 10 liters of water and sprayed on the plants.
Reference! The natural enemy of aphids is the ladybug. Plant dill on site to attract beetles. Ladybug actively destroys aphids until autumn.
Collection, storage and use of the crop
Before harvesting, it is advisable to mow the tops. The foliage is burned as it can contain pests.
The potatoes are dug out with a pitchfork or a shovel, then left on the site for 2-3 hours to dry completely. Then the harvest is placed in wooden boxes for storage. The room is chosen dry and cool.
The percentage of keeping quality of finished products is high, almost the entire crop retains its presentation until spring.
Ripe tubers in cooking are as wide as your imagination tells. The fruits are ideal for preparing any dish, including baking and stewing.
Large enterprises buy potatoes for further processing and production of chips, fast foods. Also tubers are used to make starch.
It is interesting:
What are the dimensions of the largest potato in the world and who raised it.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the many advantages of the Volat variety:
- the possibility of breeding in all regions;
- adaptation to drought and soil composition;
- the possibility of quick implementation;
- unpretentious care;
- high resistance;
- increased productivity;
- excellent fruit taste;
- long preservation of the presentation;
- duration of transportation;
- universal application.
Of the negative qualities, susceptibility to late blight is distinguished.
Which regions are best suited for
The culture has become widespread in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. But it is preferable to plant the variety in regions with light and fertile soil.
Farmers reviews
Reviews of potatoes come not only from Russian gardeners, but also from neighboring countries. Here are some opinions:
Ilya, Minsk: “From the characteristics of Volat potatoes, it follows that all agricultural techniques are reduced to several standard procedures. The way it is. I am a farmer, I have been growing vegetables for a long time and the minimum cost of cultivating the fields is very important to me. Ripe vegetables are in great demand. The taste of the potatoes is amazing, so I not only sell the harvest, but also keep it for the winter. "
Ekaterina, Moscow: “Last year I saw a photo on the Internet, got acquainted with the characteristics and decided to land on my site. My garden is small, so I always wanted a fruitful crop.Volat did not disappoint. A lot of potatoes were born, all smooth, beautiful and tasty. I advise everyone. "
Conclusion
The widespread cultivation of Volat potatoes is due to high yields (up to 600 c / ha), immunity to many dangerous diseases, ease of care and high-quality finished products.
The culture has many advantages, including excellent taste, high protein and vitamin C content. That is why ripe vegetables are in constant demand and do not sit on store shelves for a long time.