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It is difficult to imagine traditional human nutrition without potatoes. You can prepare many delicious dishes from it, so almost every gardener grows it on his plot. In many countries, the Dutch variety Asterix has become popular and widespread. This is a versatile potato that has many positive qualities. To get a complete picture of it, let’s read its description, features, photos and reviews.
Origin
The Asterix potato was bred by Dutch breeders of the private company HZPC B.V. Holland, which is a world leader in the breeding and production of new varieties.
In 1998 it was included in the State Register of Russia. Seed potatoes began to be actively imported into the country and sold. It became possible to cultivate Asterix in the Central, Siberian and Far Eastern regions. There are not many varieties that can be grown in these areas, so it is highly valued by gardeners.
Characteristic
Asterix potatoes are an elite and versatile variety that has a late ripening period. From the appearance of the first shoots to harvest, 105–115 days pass.
Appearance of bushes
The bushes of this potato variety are medium spreading, erect and tall. The stems are ribbed and can grow up to 80 cm. The leaves are rich green in color and can be either medium or large. The edges are smooth, without teeth or waviness.
Each Asterix bush produces simple inflorescences. They consist of red-purple flowers with a yellow center. Pollination occurs naturally. Berries are not always formed in small quantities and fall off quickly. But their presence or absence does not affect the size of the crop.
Description of tubers
Potatoes of the Asterix variety are medium in size and oval, slightly elongated in shape. The weight of the tubers can reach 80-120 g. One plant produces an average of 10 to 12 potatoes. The dense pinkish-violet shell reliably protects the potatoes from mechanical damage. A small number of eyes can be seen on the smooth peel.
The pulp is tender, bright yellow in color, and has an excellent taste. Asterix, like almost all late varieties, contains a large amount of starch - from 15 to 17%.
Advantages
To give a complete picture of potatoes, let us note its main advantages:
- It has high marketability, from 80 to 90%, which allows the vegetable to be grown on an industrial scale.
- During heat treatment and cleaning, the pulp does not darken or crumble. Mashed potatoes from it are tender and aromatic, and the chips are crispy.
- Brings a good and stable harvest.
- During transportation and impacts, the tubers do not wrinkle or get damaged, as they have a dense skin.
- Potatoes are stored well in cellars at a temperature of 6-7°C. It remains elastic, retains its taste and does not decrease in weight.
- The variety tolerates lack of moisture and dry weather well.Therefore, it is suitable for summer residents who rarely visit their garden plots.
- Asterix has good immunity to cancer, fomosis, leaf curl, golden nematode, late blight of green mass and tubers.
This variety of potato belongs to the table because it can decorate both everyday and holiday tables. You can prepare many hearty and beautiful dishes from it.
Flaws
Asterix has no significant disadvantages. Its main enemy is the Y virus, to which the plant is vulnerable. If the potatoes are infected with it, then most likely the plantings will die. To prevent this, prevention should be carried out. Young bushes need to be treated with insecticides. By destroying the pests that carry this virus, you can save the vegetable.
Another disadvantage is that Asterix potatoes have a high cost and require special attention.
Productivity and ripening time
Asterix has a long ripening period, the growing season is 105-115 days. For personal use, the tubers can be dug up a little earlier, but then the harvest will be smaller.
This is a high-yielding variety. On average, you can harvest 17-20 tons of potatoes from one hectare. The maximum yield was recorded in Tatarstan, where it amounted to 27 t/ha.
Agricultural technology
To harvest a guaranteed harvest, you need to comply with the requirements for growing potatoes. This is an agrotechnical point that needs special attention.
Sowing work should be carried out at the end of April or at the beginning of May, depending on climatic conditions.
Site selection and processing
This is a light-loving crop, so potato plantings should be located in open and sunny places. In the shade, its foliage will turn yellow, the tops will stretch, flowering will be weak, and the harvest will be low. If the area is in a lowland, grooves should be made around it so that excess water does not accumulate on it.
Asterix can grow in any type of soil. In the fall, the garden needs to be dug up and removed. weeds and rhizomes. The area does not need to be leveled and the clods do not need to be broken up. In the spring you need to plow the land again. Before this, it is advisable to scatter rotted manure and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers over the area. Or add them later, directly into the holes.
Potatoes of the Asterix variety are recommended to be planted in areas where perennial grasses, flax, various leguminous or winter crops grew.
Tuber preparation
For planting, it is better to choose medium-sized tubers, weighing 40-50 g. The more eyes it has, the better the harvest will be.
A month before planting, Asterix seed potatoes need to be prepared. First, they are sorted, healthy tubers are left for planting, and rotten and diseased tubers are thrown away. For germination and gardening, the selected potatoes are placed in a warm room. To do this, lay it out on the floor or in boxes in 1-2 layers and place it in sunlight. Such potatoes are less susceptible to diseases. When the sprouts grow to 5-10 mm, you can start planting.
Landing rules
When planting Dutch Asterix potatoes, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- There should be at least 70 cm between the rows. To ensure that the bushes are well lit, they are formed from south to north.
- Tubers are planted at a distance of 30-35 cm from each other. This will make it easier to hill up the bushes.
- If no mineral fertilizers were added to the soil during plowing, 1 tbsp should be poured into each hole. l. phosphorus-potassium mixture. You can also add ash and onion peels there.
- It is recommended to plant tubers at a depth of 7 to 10 cm.
If the gardener adheres to these simple recommendations, the potatoes will live up to his expectations.
Features of care
In the process of growing potatoes, Asterix carries out the following activities:
- Harrowing. It is carried out several times throughout the growing season. The first is a week after planting the tubers. This saturates the soil with air and helps get rid of weeds.
- Hilling. The first hilling is carried out after the sprouts grow to 16-20 cm. The second hilling is after a month. This event increases productivity by a third. If late frosts come in the spring, the seedlings are completely covered with soil.
- Mineral feeding. To do this, potato bushes are watered with superphosphate dissolved in water. It develops and strengthens the root system, thereby accelerating the growth of tubers.
- Application of organic fertilizers. Manure is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1. Leave for 15 days. Before watering, the resulting solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10. After this, the soil is loosened.
- Watering. The Asterix potato variety does not require frequent watering. In arid regions, plantings are watered three times: after sprouts appear, during budding and after the plant has flowered.
If you regularly take care of the plant, at the end of the season you can get a high yield of elite potatoes.
Diseases and pests
Potatoes of the Asterix variety have good immunity to cancer, fomosis, leaf curl, late blight of green mass and tubers. It is also not affected by cyst and golden nematodes, which parasitize the root system of nightshade crops.
This variety is vulnerable to virus Y, which is considered the most dangerous for all potato varieties. If the virus affects the plant, then most likely it will die. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out prevention, which consists of the following:
- Weeds and plant remains of potatoes remaining after harvesting must be destroyed. They may be infected.
- Bushes of this variety must be treated with insecticides against aphids and leafhoppers, as they are carriers of the virus.
- Proper alternation of planting Asterix with crops resistant to the Y virus will secure the site.
Potatoes can also be affected by the Colorado potato beetle. It can be collected manually or the plantings can be treated with special preparations to destroy it.
Reviews from gardeners
Conclusion
The Asterix variety is worthy of attention, since it has more positive aspects than negative ones. It is recommended to be planted by experienced summer residents and gardeners, as it requires special care. Since potatoes tolerate transportation well and can be stored for a long time, they can be grown on an industrial scale. And dishes made from it will decorate any table and delight you with excellent taste and delicate aroma.
