Content
Potatoes are considered an integral part of the diet for daily consumption. Description of the Banba potato variety, photos and reviews indicate the promising capabilities of the crop. The variety is grown both for commercial purposes and for home use. It is beneficial to grow it in any type of soil, because the plant is resistant to many diseases.
Description of the Banba potato variety
Dutch and Irish scientists obtained high-quality Banba potatoes through selective trials of crossing nightshade varieties. During the experiments, potato seeds of Estima and Sleni were used. The variety is young and appeared on the Russian market several years ago. In a short period of time, it managed to gain popularity among gardeners and gardeners due to its taste and unpretentious agricultural cultivation techniques.
Domestic production of the variety is planned for 2018-2019, so planting material will be imported from Europe for several more years. Mature bushes reach 50-60 cm in height.The foliage is dark green, the stem turns yellow closer to the base of the roots. The leaf has a regular shape and is slightly corrugated; the flowers are white and have a long flowering period. In terms of fruiting time, it belongs to the mid-early varieties.
The variety produces a high-quality and tasty harvest. The tubers are smooth, oval or round-flat in shape. Banba potatoes are resistant to mechanical damage. Commercial yield is 90-95% of all potatoes. The tubers have from 5 to 12 shallow eyes. There are elongated tubers. The peel is thin, dark yellow or light brown. The pulp, which is high in starch, is pale yellow in color.
Taste qualities of Banba potatoes
Tasters give 4.9 points for the taste of the Banba potato variety on a five-point scale, which emphasizes the quality of the tubers. The potatoes taste without bitterness, although the dry matter is present in 20% content. The flesh is crispy and difficult to cut. The variety is great for frying, French fries, and chips. After heat treatment, the tubers do not fall apart, sometimes the skin cracks, but the taste does not deteriorate.
Flowers and sprouts contain alkaloids, so they are used in traditional medicine only in fresh form. Mashed potatoes are used for diet, heart disease, and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. The raw Banba variety is used for compresses for sore throat, leg pain, and gastritis.
Pros and cons of the variety
Based on reviews and characteristics of the Banba potato variety, gardeners note the following disadvantages:
- Tubers growing in the sun quickly turn green and are not suitable for consumption;
- low resistance to late blight of tubers;
- does not tolerate frost well.
Advantages of Banba potatoes:
- drought resistance;
- immunity to late blight of foliage, scab;
- good taste;
- universal use of tubers;
- long shelf life;
- transportability over long distances;
- not damaged during harvesting;
- nutritious tubers, the presence of vitamins C, B6;
- marketable harvest.
Planting and caring for Banba potatoes
Irish varieties adapt quite well to all types of soil and growing conditions. In any climatic zone of Russia, the Banba potato quickly adapts and in any case will produce a large harvest. However, to obtain a high-quality and large harvest, agrotechnical rules for planting potatoes must be followed.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
In certain regions of the country, soil quality leaves much to be desired, so acidic, saline or neutral soils must be fertilized frequently. Otherwise, the potatoes will not develop well. Banba grows well on loam and black soil. The seating area should be well lit by the sun or partial shade will do. The landing site must be fenced. Young bushes are very weak and may not withstand the winds. To prevent the variety from degenerating, you need to change the planting location every 3-4 years.
In the fall, the soil is dug up along with superphosphates, which will begin to act only in the spring. Before planting, the soil is dug up deeply and disinfected: sprayed with a highly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or chemicals. To prevent the solution from scorching the ground and spreading evenly, it is necessary to harrow the soil.Depending on the planting pattern, they make rows, holes, or plant them under a bayonet shovel. The distance between the rows is 30-40 cm, per 1 square. m plant 5-6 Banba potato bushes.
Preparation of planting material
The preparation of the material begins with an inspection of the purchased tubers. Damaged, soft, wrinkled or dried out potatoes are not suitable. To plant, tubers of the Banba variety must be germinated. The rapid appearance of sprouts occurs under constant artificial light. A pallet or box with potatoes is installed in a greenhouse or ordinary room. The eyes should be directed upward. Tubers are sprayed with growth stimulants for 2-3 days.
At low temperatures, potatoes are sprinkled with clay, sand, and the cracks are filled with paper. Germination is done a week before planting. Planting material is ready for planting when the sprouts reach 3-5 cm. For planting, do not take large Banba potatoes; you can take medium or small tubers with a large number of eyes. Without equipment, you can lay the potatoes on sheets of newspaper and cover them with sawdust. In such conditions, spraying is carried out once a day, because sawdust will retain moisture for a long time.
Landing rules
The landing time is selected approximately. The end of May or the beginning of June is suitable, when the soil and air have a constant positive temperature of + 15-20 ° C. However, late planting reduces the yield. Complex fertilizer made from wood ash, onion peels and a small amount of manure is added to dug holes or beds. Only dry slaked lime and compost are added to acidic soils.
The depth of the row and pit is made small - 20-30 cm, because when digging deeply, the soil must be loose on all sides for potatoes. This will not hinder the development of sprouts.The potatoes are planted with their sprouts up at a distance of 25-30 cm. Next, they are sprinkled with soil and the soil is harrowed to level the area.
Watering and fertilizing
Watering begins after 3-4 days of planting. The sprouts have time to acclimatize and begin to grow. In the first month, water 2-3 times a week and monitor the condition of the soil. The soil should not be dry, cracked or waterlogged. After the appearance of young stems, Banba potatoes cannot be filled with water, so watering is reduced to 2 times a week. It is enough to water an adult plant once a week, although in dry weather the number of waterings is increased.
Fertilizing is done when planting, then every 2-3 weeks. Potatoes are additionally fertilized with growth stimulants during the first few waterings. At the time of flowering, the Banba variety is fed with phosphates and a saltpeter solution. Nitrogen supplements have a good effect on the growth of tubers, so a small amount of the substance is added to the soil a week after flowering. A month before harvest, add a small amount of mullein or compost to the soil.
Loosening and weeding
The soil is loosened before each watering and when there is noticeable stagnation of the soil. Next, if necessary, raise the soil for improved oxygen supply to the root crops. Before hilling it is necessary to carry out weeding and loosening. For weeding, use a garden rake or hoe, which will not damage the young Banba potato variety. After acid rain, it is necessary to water the potatoes and loosen the soil. Weeding is done every 2-3 weeks; residual roots are removed during watering. weed.
Hilling
Potatoes of the Banba variety are hilled when the plant stems reach 15-20 cm. Initially, hilling is done for each bush.2 weeks before flowering, potatoes are hilled in a row. Mulching is done with hay, large or small sawdust. When mulching, watering is carried out once a week - the moisture lasts a long time. Then, with each feeding with dry fertilizer, the bushes are lightly hilled.
Diseases and pests
According to the photos provided by the gardeners and the description of the variety, the Banba potato is under attack:
- Colorado potato beetle;
- caterpillars;
- slugs.
As a preventive measure, the Banba variety is sprayed with Colorado and Tornado chemicals, and Colorado beetles are removed manually. For slugs, use copper sulfate, sulfur or dust. Having immunity to common and powdery scab, potatoes are extremely unstable to late blight of tubers. The appearance of fungal disease is prevented by:
- processing potatoes before planting;
- early planting date;
- crop rotation;
- planting without thickening;
- treatment of adult potatoes of the Banba variety with fungicides;
- in-depth weeding.
Potato yield
Up to 5-6 kg is collected from the bush after proper care is provided during cultivation. The average weight of commercial potatoes is approximately 100-150 g. The maximum yield from 10 acres is 180-210 kg. Root crops develop quickly and are ready for harvesting after 80-85 days; the first digging is done on 60-70 days. Marketability of the crop is 96-98%, keeping quality is 95%.
Harvesting and storage
Potatoes are dug up in early or mid-August. It is not recommended to delay harvesting - the potato skin becomes thick and rough to the touch. Before storing, the crop is allowed to rest and dry in the sun for 3-4 days. The tubers are sorted into those suitable for consumption, sale and waste. Potatoes of the Banba variety are stored in a dry and dark place at a temperature of 0 to + 3-5 ° C.The shelf life will increase if, after sorting, the tubers are treated with a weak solution of manganese and the potatoes are sprinkled with sand.
Conclusion
Description of the Banba potato variety, photos and reviews, as well as compliance with agrotechnical care rules will help you get a high-quality and tasty harvest. The Banba variety is reliable when grown. Many gardeners and gardeners recommend potatoes for sale.