Content
The Lyubava potatoes are well adapted to the Russian climate. Its value lies in its high yield, good root vegetable taste and early ripening. Potatoes are planted in spring and cared for in summer.
Origin story
Potato variety Lyubava was the result of a selection of Moscow and Novosibirsk specialists. Since 2000, the variety has been tested, which was included in the state register in 2003.
Description and characteristics
Lyubava potatoes are recommended for growing in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. Tubers have a table purpose.
Features of the variety Lyubava:
- early fruiting;
- erect bushes of medium height;
- small leaves of an open type with wavy edges;
- purple flowers;
- amicable ripening of tubers.
The Lyubava variety brings reddish rounded tubers with a rough skin. Average weight is from 110 to 210 g. The flesh of the potato is white, the taste is good. Starch content 11-17%. The commercial qualities are assessed at a high level.
The yield of the variety is from 288 to 400 kg / ha. Compared to the standard varieties Pushkinets and Beloyarsky early, from 1 hectare of potatoes Lyubava harvests 50-100 centners more.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of growing and disadvantages of the Lyubava variety are shown in the table:
| pros | Minuses |
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Landing
Potatoes prefer medium to light soil. The culture grows well on sandy and sandy loam soils, in loam and black soil. In clay soil, tubers develop slowly and are prone to rot.
The best precursors for potatoes are beets, cabbage, cucumbers, green manure. Planting a crop after tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and eggplants is not recommended.
The tubers are planted in April or May, depending on the weather conditions in the region. The soil should warm up well to a depth of 10 cm. For planting, select healthy tubers weighing about 80 g, without traces of decay and damage.
1.5 months before the start of work, potatoes of the Lyubava variety are kept in a bright place to stimulate the emergence of sprouts. When the sprouts reach a length of 1 cm, it's time to start planting. Immediately before planting, root crops are treated with Epin or another growth stimulant.
Tubers of the Lyubava variety are planted in holes or furrows. If the soil is heavy, the roots are deepened by 4-5 cm.The depth of planting in light soil is 10 cm. 30 cm are left between the tubers, the rows are placed every 70 cm.
Care
Before emergence, planting care consists in loosening the soil. So the tubers will receive more oxygen, which is necessary for the active growth of the root system. In the course of loosening, weeds are weeded. The procedure is best done after watering or precipitation.
When the first buds appear, intensive watering of the potatoes begins. Moisture is added as the topsoil dries out. It is necessary to constantly keep the soil moist.
2-3 liters of warm settled water are added under each bush. Lyubava potatoes are watered in the evening, when there is no direct exposure to the sun. After watering, the soil is loosened between the rows.
Hilling and feeding
Due to hilling, Lyubava potatoes form stolons on which tubers develop. The soil supports the shoots and prevents them from falling apart. When hilling, the soil is raked from the row-spacing onto potato bushes. For manual processing, a pitchfork is used; to simplify hilling, a special technique is used.
Hilling is performed twice per season:
- with a bush height of 15 cm;
- 2-3 weeks after the first treatment, before flowering.
Regular feeding ensures a high yield of the Lyubava variety. Processing is carried out 2-3 times per season, taking into account the condition of the bushes.
The procedure for feeding potatoes Lyubava:
- when forming tops;
- during budding;
- 3 weeks before harvest.
The first feeding is necessary when potatoes develop slowly. The need to fertilize is indicated by the thin stems and pale green leaves of the plants. For irrigation, prepare a solution enriched with nitrogen. It is best to use natural ingredients: bird droppings or manure.
For the second treatment of the Lyubava variety, a complex fertilizer is prepared containing 15 g of potassium sulfate and 30 g of superphosphate per 10 liters of water. The bushes are watered with a solution under the root. Processing stimulates the formation of tubers, improves their taste and keeping quality.
Feeding with phosphorus and potassium is repeated after flowering ends before harvesting. An alternative way of feeding is the use of any complex fertilizer for vegetables.
Diseases and pests
The most dangerous disease of Lyubava potatoes is late blight, which affects tubers and tops. It is identified by dark oily spots. Plants are also susceptible to rot, scab, fusarium and other fungal diseases. Spores of harmful fungi enter the site along with poor-quality planting material and tools.
To protect plantings from late blight and other fungal diseases, the bushes are treated with Bordeaux liquid or other copper-based preparations. Mandatory preventive measures include careful selection of tubers for planting, digging up the soil, fertilizing and weeding.
Potatoes attract the Colorado potato beetle, nematode, wireworm. Spraying with solutions of Sumi-Alpha or Karate preparations is effective against the Colorado potato beetle. Processing is carried out when the first beetle larvae appear.
The nematode looks like a worm with a length of no more than 1.3 mm. The pest feeds on plant sap and provokes the appearance of malignant formations. Preventive measures help to protect plantings from nematodes. Be sure to observe the crop rotation and weed the weeds.
Harvesting
Harvesting of the Lyubava variety is carried out at an early date. Harvesting of potatoes begins 45-55 days after the emergence of seedlings in the garden.
The tubers are dug up when the potato tops are yellow and dry. It is recommended to harvest no later than 3 weeks after the appearance of such signs. If you overexpose root crops in the ground, their taste and transportability will deteriorate.
Then, for 2 weeks, the root crops are kept in a dark barn. During this time, signs of disease will appear, which will allow the potatoes to be discarded. Healthy tubers are stored in a cool dry place.
The yield of the Lyubava variety depends on the period of digging up the potatoes. If the work is carried out 45 days after the germination of the crop, then the yield will be from 140 to 200 c / ha. When carrying out the second digging on the 55th day, 200-270 centners of potatoes are obtained from 1 hectare.
Conclusion
The Lyubava potatoes are a proven fruitful variety. It is appreciated for its early ripening, good taste and marketability. Regular planting maintenance helps to get a high yield: loosening, hilling, watering and feeding. Due to the correct agricultural technology, the risk of developing diseases will decrease.
