Potato varieties for the Leningrad region: how to choose the best
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It's no secret that the weather on the territory of the Leningrad Region is very unstable: sharp temperature fluctuations, excessive precipitation. And the soil in these places does not have a high level of fertility. In this article, we will talk about how to grow potatoes in the Leningrad Region and which potato varieties to choose for the Leningrad Region, taking into account the peculiarities of the local climate.
The best potato varieties for the Leningrad region
Much also depends on the correct choice of potato variety, since not every variety can come up and give a decent harvest in certain climatic conditions. Consider varieties that have proven themselves well in the Leningrad Region.
Adretta
The variety tolerates dry weather quite well. It has a fairly high yield. Produces approximately 45 tons per hectare. Skin with a yellow tint, rough in texture. This variety is not too whimsical to the soil used, which is very good for the not very fertile Leningrad lands. Has a high taste. One fruit weighs about 140 grams.
Spring white
Quite a productive variety, which gives fruits of excellent quality. The whole of one fruit is highly dependent on weather conditions and the correctness of agricultural technology. It can range from 80 to 140 grams. This variety has an average resistance to many viral diseases. However, many gardeners complain of frequent susceptibility to late blight disease.
Aurora
This potato variety has an average level of yield; as a rule, 250 - 300 centners can be harvested from one hectare. On average, one fruit weighs about 90 - 150 grams. It tolerates short dry weather well, has an average resistance to major diseases and pests.
Naiad
The variety gives an average yield, but quite stable. Approximately 190 - 370 centners per hectare. The tuber is different in weight, from medium to large. The weight is usually from 70 to 130 grams. It has a white flesh and a yellowish skin. Good resistance to disease, has a fairly strong immunity.
Pushkinets
Quite a productive potato variety, yields about 32 tons per hectare. The average weight of a potato is about one hundred grams. It has a beige skin and white flesh. It has a pretty strong immunity. However, it can be affected by scab and late blight. It has a fairly high quality to taste.
Latona
This variety has a yellow skin and yellowish flesh. One tuber weighs about 90 - 150 grams. It gives a high yield, for which this variety is very popular among summer residents. As much as 5 tons can be removed from one hectare. It adapts well to different weather conditions: drought, rain. Latona has excellent taste. Good immunity to most diseases, however, is quite often affected by late blight.
Impala
One tuber weighs approximately 90 - 150 grams. It has a good yield (366 centners per hectare). It has a yellow skin and beige flesh. It has good resistance to dry summer weather, mechanical damage is also not terrible for the Impala. Not scary this variety and many viral diseases, but he periodically suffers from rhizocosis, scab and late blight.
Zhukovsky early
This variety is practically not affected by cancer, nematode, scab. It tolerates dry weather well. It has a pink skin and white flesh.One tuber weighs about one hundred - one hundred and twenty grams. Gives a good harvest - 400 - 450 kg / ha. Possesses excellent taste.
Bullfinch
The tubers are not the largest, usually weighing from 60 to 90 grams. The yield is at an average level, 350 - 450 centners per hectare. Good resistance to most diseases, but can be affected by nematodes.
Luck
One tuber usually weighs one hundred and twenty grams. It is practically not affected by scab, mosaic, rhizoctonia. But, unfortunately, it is often affected by late blight.
Early varieties of potatoes for the Leningrad region
For a normal landing, you need to choose the right time and place. Potatoes, as a rule, are planted during the May holidays, by which time the soil should be warm enough (at a depth of ten centimeters about +10 degrees). You can easily tell when to plant your potatoes by looking at the birch buds. The buds on them should burst, and the first leaves begin to emerge.
What distance to maintain between the bushes must be decided based on the type of potato. For early maturing, dig holes with a distance of 25 centimeters from each other. For late ripening - not less than 30 - 35 centimeters.
When choosing a place for planting, keep in mind that potatoes are a fairly light-loving crop, so choose open areas, but with protection from the cold wind. The pH should be around five units.
The basics of planting potatoes correctly
The soil for planting potatoes must be prepared in the fall. For digging, you need to add organic and mineral fertilizers. After that, you can make rather high beds, this is necessary in order for the earth to quickly become warm and ready for planting in the spring.
And to make this process even faster, it makes sense to cover your garden at the moment the snow melts until the moment of planting.
For planting, you need to choose tubers of a fairly large size (about 60 - 80 grams in weight). They need to be prepared: lay out in a well-lit place and turn them regularly. You can also fill several boxes with sawdust and place your tubers there. Sprinkle lightly and spray occasionally with water. Make sure that the sprouts on the tubers remain intact, otherwise the potatoes will not sprout.
There are several ways to plant potatoes: they are planted in holes (about 10 cm deep), ridges are formed and holes are dug at a depth of 10 -12 centimeters, potatoes are planted in trenches.
Since the summer is short, it is preferable to plant early potato varieties for the Leningrad region. As for the late varieties, it is better for them to choose a greenhouse cultivation method.
The planting depth of tubers is determined based on the composition of the soil. So in soil, with a predominant amount of clay, the depth of the holes should be about four to five centimeters. In lighter soils - ten to twelve centimeters.
Potato varieties for the Leningrad region: care
Until the buds appear, your plants will not need watering, however, after the buds appear, you need to start regularly moistening the soil. Before watering the soil, you need to make sure the soil is dry at a depth of six to eight centimeters. For watering, it is better to prefer the evening time, under 1 bush usually there are two to three liters of water. When the weather is dry, you need to water your plantings three to five times a season. While the ground is wet, you need to loosen your plantings.
The hilling process can be carried out after you have watered your plants while the ground is still damp. First, you need to huddle plants that have reached a height of about 15 cm. After that, you will need to return to the same procedure in two to three weeks, during the budding period.
How to grow potatoes in greenhouse conditions
Since it is possible to maintain the required level of temperature and humidity in the greenhouse, the result in the form of a crop can be achieved earlier than in the open field.It is also worth noting that various diseases and pests will not disturb your potatoes in the greenhouse.
As for the time of planting potatoes in greenhouses, April is usually chosen. The process of planting and leaving is no different from what needs to be done in an open area. You also need to make top dressing, dig up the soil, dig holes, then lay the tuber that sprouted and sprinkle it with earth on top. Care consists in loosening, regular watering, weeding from weeds.
You can plant potatoes and seedlings. Three to four weeks before planting, you need to plant the tubers that have sprouted. It is better to use peat glasses for these purposes. Then you need to lay the soil on top, water and loosen.