"Zhuravinka" is the so-called table sort of potato of medium late maturity, developed by Belarusian breeders. Its yield reaches 640 quintals per hectare. This is a very high figure.
Potato "Zhuravinka" - description and characterization of the variety
The bushes of this potato are low, erect. The potato "Zhuravinka" blossoms with violet-red flowers. In one bush an average of 5-6 stems is formed. The plant has small oval or round tubers with small eyes and a weakly splayed red skin and cream pulp on the cut. From one bush it is usually collected up to 18 pieces of tubers, therefore it is rare to plant potatoes "Zhuravinka".
Such potatoes can be stored for a long time. The potato "Zhuravinka" has an excellent taste, and the starch content in tubers reaches 20%. Due to this, this variety of potatoes is often used in the preparation of chips. In addition, the potatoes do not darken and boil well, so the puree from it turns out delicious.
This variety has good resistance to diseases and pests: potato nematode, common cancers, black stalk, scab and others. Less resistant to blight of tubers and leaves, to various viruses.
Many farmers who grow potatoes of this variety in difficult field conditions note that they obtained rather high yields. At the beginning of growth, a strong root system forms in the potato bush, which ensures an excellent yield in all weather and climatic conditions.
With variations in air temperatures during the potato growing season from + 7 ° C to + 38 ° C, the yield of the "Zhuravinka" variety was still satisfactory. In the hottest or coldest days of such potatoes, not more than 40% of leaves died, while on plants of other varieties this figure reached 60%.
Potatoes of this variety normally tolerate a temporary lack of moisture. But then, when the weather conditions improve, the tubers quickly gain necessary weight. Therefore, the potato "Zhuravinka" is excellent for growing on private plots.
Growing and caring for potatoes "Zhuravinka"
If you decide to purchase the seed potatoes of the variety "Zhuravinka", then you will not regret it. It grows well on any soils. For the cultivation of this potato, it is better to use solar plots, during the dry weather - regularly watered. However, the "Zhuravinka" does not tolerate an overabundance of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil.
In order to increase the potato yield, about three weeks before planting, it is necessary to remove the seed material for heating and germination. Tubers must be sorted out by rejecting patients who are unfit for planting. The optimal time for planting potatoes in the open ground is around the beginning of May (it all depends on the area in which you live), when the air temperature reaches 16-18 ° C, and the soil warms up to 12 ° C.
Planting of potatoes "Zhuravinka" should be made in rows, with the distance between them must be at least 60 cm. This
Shoots of potatoes appear amicable and uniform, and the intensive growth of the tops immediately begins. At this time it is necessary to loosen the soil, to destroy the weeds. When the height of the potato bush reaches about 20 cm, they should be bored and covered in order to retain moisture better. It is desirable to spend hilling when the soil is slightly moist.
The variety of potato of the Belarusian selection "Zhuravinka" is very popular due to its good taste qualities and high stable yields.