The Zhukovsky potato variety is unpretentious in leaving, its cultivation does not cause trouble, it is a pleasure. With the right approach and the regular conduct of all necessary procedures, the yield of the variety is significantly increased. Already in the first summer months, gardeners eat delicious new potatoes. The article reveals recommendations for growing and caring for the crop.
History of selection and distribution
At the end of the 20th century, by crossing two varieties, breeders managed to develop an early Zhukovsky cultivar resistant to disease and drought. It was intended to grow it in regions with a temperate climate, but excellent results were shown in any climatic conditions.
The variety is adapted to various types of soils. It is recommended to grow in the Far East, Northwest, West Siberian, Central, Ural, Volga-Vyatka, Lower Volga, Central Black Earth, Middle Volga, North Caucasus regions. The variety was entered in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1993.
Description and specifications
Potato "Zhukovsky" is considered one of the most popular among vegetable growers. It is distinguished by average yield indicators, but it is preferred, due to the fact that it has many advantages.
A variety is characterized by the following criteria:
- Bush. Semi-spreading bush with numerous strongly branched shoots. Large, dark green foliage with grooved veins. It blooms evenly and abundantly, not for long. Inflorescences are small, do not form fruits. Pinkish-purple flowers with a white tint on the tips of the petals.
- Tubers. Root crops are distinguished by a neat, round shape of medium or small size. The peel is thin, pink, the surface is smooth. Eyes in a small amount. From one bush collect up to 12 potatoes. The pulp is dense, white, watery. The mass of tubers varies from 100 to 120 grams. Shelf life is 90-92%. Root crops do not lose attractiveness when transported over long distances.
- Nutritional value. A feature of the variety is the content of many vitamins, organic acids, protein, bioflavonoids. Potatoes are also rich in minerals: phosphorus, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium. A little starch in potatoes - up to 12%. Low calorie variety.
- High resistance to diseases. Zhukovsky potatoes practically do not suffer from potato diseases. He has good health, does not succumb to scab ordinary, golden nematode, potato cancer. It is characterized by moderate resistance to late blight.
- Taste qualities. It is used for cooking, frying, cooking in a uniform, deep-fried. During heat treatment does not lose shape. Root vegetables are tasty and slightly sweet.
Potato Characteristics | |
Grade name | Zhukovsky early |
general characteristics | a table variety that guarantees excellent taste, the safety of presentation in transport, unpretentiousness |
Ripening period | 60-70 days |
The mass of commodity tubers | 100-120 g |
Starch content | 10-12% |
Skin color | pink |
Pulp color | white |
The number of tubers in the bush | 10-12 |
Productivity | 400-450 kg / ha |
Keeping | 90-92% |
Disease resistance | resistant to all diseases |
Consumer qualities | more often young potatoes are boiled, baked, chips are made from it |
Growing Features | does not require special care, germinates even in poorly warmed soil, does not form berries |
The value and disadvantages of Zhukovsky potatoes
Gardeners appreciate the variety for many positive points. It also has shortcomings, but they are quite insignificant, but it is important to know about them before proceeding with landing:
pros | Minuses |
| The disadvantage of the variety "Zhukovsky" is the deterioration of taste in case of untimely harvesting, as well as the fact that frequent rains can cause damage to potatoes by late blight. |
Preparation for landing
The cultivation of Zhukovsky potatoes is no different from the cultivation of other early varieties, but has some points that should be taken into account. The following points play a role here.
Soil preparation
Despite the fact that the variety is unpretentious to the soil, in order to obtain high yields, it is not recommended to grow the crop in moist clay areas, as well as in places where depleted and acidic soils. In a dense, poor organic soil, the tubers will grow small and tasteless. In addition, they will often suffer from diseases. It is better to give preference to sandy soils and light loam, fertilized with organic matter.
The soil for potatoes is prepared in advance from the fall. Dig the soil to a depth of 25 cm, bring ash and rotted compost (100-40 meters 35-40 buckets). In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are additionally required. Then the soil is loosened and leveled. It is advisable to plant Zhukovsky potatoes on the ground, where cucumbers, cabbage, legumes, and siderates previously grew.
Tuber germination
For germination, potatoes are taken from the storage site 15-20 days before planting. Early varieties are planted around the third decade of April, and seed crops begin to germinate at the end of March.
Germination Procedure:
- Carefully inspect the tubers for planting, discard potatoes with damaged peels, wet or dry rot, and an irregular shape. If the potato has already sprouted in the basement and its sprouts exceed 5 cm, they are removed.
- So that potatoes do not take up much space, experienced gardeners recommend using low boxes of about 10 cm for germination, filling them with planting material, and placing them on top of each other. If there is enough space in the room, the tubers are scattered on the floor in one layer.
- The room should be light, and the air temperature should not exceed + 5-10 degrees. Zhukovsky potatoes have enough of this temperature. The room must be periodically ventilated, humidify the air. If the sprouts are strong and have grown to 1 cm, and the skin has turned green, the tubers are ready for planting. Potatoes with thin sprouts are not suitable for planting.
It is possible to reduce germination time as follows: sprinkle potatoes in boxes with wet sawdust or humus, sometimes sprinkle with warm water. Leave potatoes in the light, but not in the sun. This method allows you to get strong sprouts with roots after 15 days. They are planted by hand - this warns against damage to the roots.
Landing
Before planting, tubers are treated with wood ash at the rate of 400 g of ash per 50 kilograms of potato. The use of special drugs is allowed, such as Bordeaux fluid, Maxim, Prestige. The procedure helps to accelerate the development of the root system and protect potatoes from pests and diseases during the formation period.
The Zhukovsky potato variety is planted in rows, leaving a distance of 25-30 cm between tubers and 60-70 cm between rows. With this planting, 5-6 bushes are easily placed. The depth of laying potatoes in the soil is not more than 6 cm. It is advisable to plant when the soil warms up to a temperature of + 5-6 degrees.
Cultivation methods
Depending on soil types and environmental conditions, the optimal method for growing potatoes is selected. The most common are such methods of planting Zhukovsky potatoes:
Flat landing | Ridge landing | Trench landing |
Tubers are laid in holes, covered with earth, leveled with a rake. Lay potatoes 8 cm deep. | This method is suitable for the regions of Siberia, where there are cooling, flooding. Tubers are laid in the soil by 5 cm, after germination they are spudded so that the sprout is completely covered with soil. When the sprout appears again above the ground, they are re-cultivated. This procedure is carried out until the height of the sprout reaches 15 cm. | A method of growing for arid regions is intended. Dig a trench to a depth of 10 cm, fertilize. Tubers are sprouted up and sprinkled with earth. The surface of the earth is mulched - this helps to retain moisture in the soil. |
Care Features
For Zhukovsky potatoes, the basis is the timely planting of tubers and harvesting. 5-7 days after planting, the soil is loosened, removing weeds, and also supplying the soil with oxygen. Loosening is carried out in order to prevent the attack of pests such as bears, Colorado potato beetle.
Early varieties are resistant to drought, they are enough moisture in spring soil. There is no need to water the plants additionally, only in exceptional cases, for example, if there is intense heat for a long time. Perform the procedure early in the morning.
Potato bushes do not need additional fertilizing. When preparing the site, organic fertilizers are applied in the form of any manure.
How to deal with pests and diseases?
The value of the Zhukovsky variety is that it is highly resistant to such diseases: potato cancer, risoctnosis, alternariosis, golden nematode. But the most susceptible to potato late blight. Despite the strong immunity, the gardener should know that if the plant becomes sick, he may have determining symptoms. They can attack potatoes and Colorado beetles.
The table shows the symptoms and methods of controlling pests and diseases.
Disease / pest | Symptoms | Ways to fight |
Potato cancer | It is accompanied by the formation of dark growths, similar in appearance to cauliflower. | Avoiding the development of the disease on other plants will help get rid of the affected bushes and tillage. For prophylactic purposes, Benomil is used. |
Golden nematode | A parasitic worm that multiplies on the roots of a plant, and as a result of its vital activity forms bald spots on it. | The fight is carried out through the use of chemicals. The most popular chemical is Bazudun. For prevention: before planting, potatoes are treated with potassium permanganate solution, observing crop rotation. |
Alternariosis | Brown and dark brown spots appear on the leaves, due to which they subsequently dry and fall away. | The disease is incurable, but includes prevention. They cultivate the land before planting, observing crop rotation. In this case, a solution of potassium permanganate or preparations with a copper content helps. |
Late blight | Select healthy root crops from infected potatoes immediately before planting. This will significantly reduce the risk of late blight. This problem is also solved by early ripening of the crop, if the tops are removed 7-10 days before the harvest. | |
Colorado beetle | Destroys the leaves of the plant. Very voracious pest. It has a high survival rate in different conditions, quickly gets used to toxic chemicals. | It is difficult to get rid of it, due to its high fecundity. It is recommended to avoid such addiction by using different active substances. The fight against the beetle begins in early spring and ends in late autumn. Methods of struggle:
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Harvesting and storage
Potato "Zhukovsky" ripens 60 days after planting. The variety is highly resistant to mechanical damage, so that harvesting by automatic devices is permissible.
Potatoes are stored in a dark room at a temperature of + 2-5 degrees. When the temperature rises, the potato will begin to germinate, when it drops, it will freeze, deteriorate, and taste will deteriorate. It is better to spread the roots in wooden boxes or bags. Read more about proper storage of potatoes - read here.
Reviews gardeners and farmers
It is impossible to hear something bad about Zhukovsky potatoes. Gardeners and farmers respond positively to the variety.
Tamara, 44, a housewife. Our family loves young, sweet and tender potatoes. For ourselves, we personally plant the Zhukovsky variety annually. It pleases with good productivity, externally beautiful tubers - a pinkish peel, a rounded shape, a large mass. When cooking, potatoes do not boil and do not lose color. We don’t leave potatoes for storage, he manages to lie a maximum until the end of the year.
Artem, 36 years old, gardener. My parents trust only the precocious variety of potatoes - Zhukovsky. I did not like this variety. He has good taste, but at a young age, while small tubers. Then the potato becomes larger and its qualities are lost. The roots spread to the sides, and you have to look for potatoes throughout the garden. I did not like the fact that the Colorado potato beetle constantly attacks him, the plant is affected by late blight. We have to regularly process.
Gennady, 50 years old, farmer.Zhukovsky potato is actually a very early variety. Already at the end of the first summer month, our family feast on fresh potatoes that taste good. Potatoes are boiled quickly enough, but at the same time they do not lose their shape, color and aroma. The skin of the potato is thin, easy to clean.
Although the potato is early, it also tolerates storage. In our cellar at a temperature of +4 degrees the whole winter period lies. I did not notice any difficulties when landing and leaving. Water the plants, as there is time, if possible, we wind and weed. Tight with the Colorado beetles, but to fight them is quite real. We get a stable crop, collecting 8-10 tubers from the bush.
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Zhukovsky potato is an early variety that is harvested at the end of June to treat yourself to young tubers. Many gardeners prefer this particular variety, because it is unpretentious in care, does not require time-consuming, and endures many diseases.
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