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In recent years, the attitude towards potato cultivation has changed somewhat compared to the past. After all, now it is not difficult to buy it in stores or in the market. And it is quite inexpensive. Therefore, very few people want to spend a lot of time and effort in order to then get a meager harvest and still buy potatoes on the market. But there are varieties that, even in unfavorable years, with minimal care, are capable of giving quite decent yields. And if you plant them using a variety of new technologies that facilitate agricultural labor, you can get an excellent harvest with little or no effort. Slavyanka potatoes are one of such varieties.
Description of the variety
The Slavyanka variety was bred in Ukraine by a group of breeders from the Kirovograd Institute of the UAAS using virus-free seed material. The variety was registered in the State Register of Russia in 2009 and since then has begun its triumphant march across Russia. Recommendations for growing Slavyanka potatoes were limited to the Central Black Earth Region, but despite this fact, potatoes of this variety are grown in almost all regions of Russia. Well, in Ukraine, it is one of the most popular and widespread varieties.
Potato bushes grow quite large, medium spreading. There are not very many stems, but they branch well and are densely leafy. The leaves themselves are dark green, rather large, dissected, with clearly visible veins. The leaves have barely noticeable pubescence, the edges of the leaves are slightly wavy. The Slavyanka potato blooms with small violet-blue inflorescences with white spots at the ends. The flowering itself, although abundant, does not last long. The number of berries formed is small.
Variety characteristics
The potato variety Slavyanka belongs to late-ripening. From the time of planting tubers in the ground until the time of harvest, 120-140 days can pass.
The most outstanding feature of the Slavyanka variety is its yield. According to the manufacturer, on average, you can count on 250-300 centners per hectare. The maximum yield, subject to all agronomic methods of cultivation, can be 400 centners per hectare. In addition, importantly, the potato yield is not strongly determined by weather conditions. Under any circumstances, there will certainly be a crop, but its amount depends on the care.
The great advantage of the variety is the high degree of crop preservation. It can be stored for a long time and its taste and market characteristics do not change at the same time.
The variety is characterized by high resistance to many diseases: potato crayfish, golden cyst nematode, wrinkled mosaic, leaf curling, black leg. But the resistance to late blight of the aerial part and tubers is quite average.
Fruit characteristics
The tubers of the Slavyanka potato variety grow very large. There are practically no small ones. They are oblong-oval in shape. The color is violet - pink. The characteristics of the tubers are as follows.
- The weight of one tuber varies from 90 to 175 grams.
- The eyes are small and shallow, very convenient for peeling potatoes.
- The skin is smooth, thin, evenly colored.
- Creamy pulp.
- The starch content in tubers is low - from 11 to 13%.
- The taste is characterized as very good.
- Marketability - 88-99%.
- Keeping quality is 95%.
- Tubers contain a large amount of B vitamins, amino acids, proteins.
Slavyanka potato tubers have a very neat, even shape, ideal for sale. Potatoes are poorly boiled, tubers retain their shape after heat treatment. Due to their low starch content, this potato is ideal for making french fries and chips. It can also be used for baking and stuffing.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Slavyanka potato variety has numerous advantages that allow it to be very popular not only among ordinary gardeners, but also among farmers.
- Excellent productivity;
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High taste of tubers;
- Amicable maturation;
- Resistance to major diseases;
- Unpretentiousness to the vagaries of the weather;
- Good keeping quality;
- Good commercial qualities.
At the same time, this variety has a drawback - it is unstable to mechanical damage. And if the cut tubers go into storage, they will quickly start to rot. And since the technical conditions of harvesting do not always allow us to do without mechanical damage, it is necessary to carefully sort out the tubers of this variety before storing them.
Growing features
The Slavyanka variety is unpretentious and can easily adapt to changes in weather conditions and to almost any soil. But it is an intensive type of variety, therefore, in order to get record yields, it needs regular and increased feeding.
It must be planted in warm soil with a distance of 35 cm between bushes. The width of the row spacing should preferably be at least 70-75 cm. For irrigation, it is ideal to use drip irrigation, however, the Slavyanka variety is characterized by resistance to short-term drought.
Given the increased sensitivity of the variety to mechanical damage, it is necessary to dig out the tubers with great care. Tubers are stored almost until spring, without losing their qualities.
Consumer reviews
Slavyanka potatoes are deservedly popular and evidence of this is positive reviews and descriptions of this variety with a photo.
Conclusion
The Slavyanka variety has many fans both in Ukraine and in Russia. And despite the many new varieties being developed, it will still be popular for a long time.
Slavyanka is not the worst cheap potato, nothing special. There is no taste of potatoes