Content
Lyubava potatoes are well adapted to the Russian climate. Its value lies in its high yield, good taste of root crops and early ripening. Potatoes are planted in the spring, and the plants are cared for in the summer.
Origin story
Potato variety Lyubava was the result of a selection of Moscow and Novosibirsk specialists. Since 2000, tests have been carried out on the variety, which was included in the state register in 2003.
Description and characteristics
Lyubava potatoes are recommended for cultivation in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. The tubers have a table purpose.
Features of the Lyubava variety:
- early fruiting period;
- erect bushes of medium height;
- small open leaves with wavy edges;
- purple flowers;
- friendly ripening of tubers.
The Lyubava variety produces reddish, round-shaped tubers with rough skin. Average weight is from 110 to 210 g. The potato pulp is white, the taste is good. Starch content 11-17%. Product quality is assessed at a high level.
The yield of the variety ranges from 288 to 400 c/ha. Compared to the standard varieties Pushkinets and Beloyarsky early, Lyubava harvests 50-100 centners more from 1 hectare of potato plantings.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of growing and disadvantages of the Lyubava variety are given 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, loam and black soil. In clay soil, tubers develop slowly and are susceptible to rot.
The best predecessors for potatoes are beets, cabbage, cucumbers, and green manure. Planting the crop after tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and eggplants is not recommended.
Tubers are planted in April or May, depending on the weather conditions of the region. The soil should warm up well to a depth of 10 cm. Healthy tubers weighing about 80 g, without signs of rotting or damage, are selected for planting.
1.5 months before the start of work, potatoes of the Lyubava variety are kept in a bright place to stimulate the appearance of sprouts. When the sprouts reach a length of 1 cm, it is 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, root crops are deepened by 4-5 cm. Planting depth in light soil is 10 cm. 30 cm are left between tubers, rows are spaced every 70 cm.
Care
Before the emergence of seedlings, caring for the plantings consists of loosening the soil. This way the tubers will receive more oxygen necessary for active growth of the root system. During loosening, weeds are removed. It is better to carry out the procedure after watering or precipitation.
When the first buds appear, intensive watering of the potatoes begins. Moisture is added as the top layer of soil dries. It is necessary to constantly keep the soil moist.
Under each bush add 2-3 liters of warm, settled water. Lyubava potatoes are watered in the evening, when there is no direct exposure to the sun. After watering, loosen the soil 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 rows onto the potato bushes. For manual processing, forks are used; to simplify hilling, special equipment is used.
Hilling is performed twice per season:
- with a bush height of 15 cm;
- 2-3 weeks after the first treatment, before flowering begins.
Regular fertilizing ensures high productivity of the Lyubava variety. Treatment is carried out 2-3 times per season, taking into account the condition of the bushes.
The procedure for feeding Lyubava potatoes:
- when forming tops;
- during the budding period;
- 3 weeks before harvest.
The first feeding is necessary when the development of potatoes is slow. The need for fertilizer is indicated by 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 at 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 to fertilize is to use 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 low-quality planting material and tools.
To protect plantings from late blight and other fungal diseases, bushes are treated with Bordeaux mixture or other copper-based preparations. Mandatory preventive measures include careful selection of tubers for planting, digging up the soil, applying fertilizers and weeding.
Potatoes attract the Colorado potato beetle, nematode, and wireworm. Spraying with solutions of Sumi-Alpha or Karate preparations is effective against the Colorado potato beetle. Treatment is carried out when the first beetle larvae appear.
The nematode has the appearance of a worm no more than 1.3 mm long. The pest feeds on plant sap and causes the appearance of malignant tumors. Preventive measures help protect plantings from nematodes. Be sure to observe crop rotation and weed out weeds.
Harvesting
The Lyubava variety is harvested early. Potato harvesting begins 45-55 days after the emergence of seedlings in the garden.
Tubers are dug up when the potato tops have turned yellow and dried out. It is recommended to harvest no later than 3 weeks after the appearance of such signs. If you keep root vegetables in the ground, their taste and transportability will deteriorate.
Then the root vegetables are kept in a dark barn for 2 weeks. During this time, signs of disease will appear, which will allow the potatoes to be rejected. 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 work is carried out on the 45th day after germination of the crop, then the yield will be from 140 to 200 c/ha. When carrying out the second digging on day 55, 200-270 centners of potatoes are obtained from 1 hectare.
Conclusion
Potato Lyubava is a proven productive variety. It is valued for its early ripening, good taste and commercial qualities. Regular care of plantings helps to obtain a high yield: loosening, hilling, watering and fertilizing. Due to proper agricultural technology, the risk of developing diseases will be reduced.
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