Content
The Black Prince potato is one of the varieties with a high content of anthocyanins. The color of the skin of its tubers is dark purple, which fully justifies the name. This type of crop is characterized by high taste and average yield. Therefore, it is not suitable for industrial cultivation, but, judging by reviews from gardeners, it shows stable productivity with regular irrigation and good soil fertility.
Black Prince is in many ways similar to the varieties Negro, Violet Viking, Chinese Truffle
History of origin
It was not possible to establish who is the originator of this variety. There is an opinion that the Black Prince appeared thanks to the efforts of Dutch and Israeli breeders. This species is not included in the State Register of Russia, since an application for variety testing was not submitted for it, so it has not become widespread. However, if you wish, you can buy planting material in private collections.
Description of the Black Prince potato variety with photo
These potatoes can be distinguished not only by taste, but also by appearance. But for this you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristic features of the Black Prince.
Bush
This variety is characterized by medium and tall bushes, 60-70 cm in height. Each of them includes no more than four shoots, which are initially upright, and subsequently slightly deviate to the sides. The leaves of the Black Prince are small, 7 cm long, light green in color. The edges of the plates are slightly wavy. The leaves are mainly located in the upper part of the shoots.
The Black Prince's flowers are red-violet. Their corollas are small, with a diameter of no more than 0.7 cm. The inflorescences consist of 5-6 buds.
The root system of this potato includes a small number of shoots. No more than seven tubers are formed under each bush. However, there are few small potatoes.
The flowering period of the Black Prince lasts 2-3 weeks
Tubers
The Black Prince has smooth, elongated tubers. Their average weight is 70-170 g, and their length reaches 12 cm. The peel of the fruit is smooth, even, the depth of the eyes is average. Potatoes have a uniform blue-violet hue. However, during heat treatment the color intensity is lost.
The potato pulp is white and has a dense consistency. It does not darken when exposed to air. The boiliness level is average. The starch content in potatoes is 12-16%.
Characteristics of the Black Prince potato
To understand how productive a variety is, you need to familiarize yourself with its characteristics.This information will also allow you to find out what growing conditions are best for the Black Prince.
Taste qualities
According to reviews, these potatoes are characterized by excellent taste. Its pulp is medium mealy and retains its consistency and color during cooking.
Black Prince is suitable for:
- puree;
- first and second courses;
- boiling peeled tubers and in their “uniform”;
- baking;
- stuffing.
Ripening time
The Black Prince belongs to the category of mid-early types of culture. The duration of the growing season is 75-90 days. Therefore, harvesting can be done in mid or late August, depending on the climate of the region.
Productivity
The Black Prince cannot boast of high productivity. The productivity of this type of crop is 3-4 kg per 1 sq. m. Therefore, the variety is recommended to be grown as an addition to other types of crops, and not as the main one.
Where is it grown?
The Black Prince easily adapts to different climatic conditions. Therefore, it can be grown in any region of the country. It develops well at low air humidity and does not suffer from temperature changes.
No berry formation was observed in this potato.
Disease resistance
The Black Prince has high natural immunity. It is resistant to common scab, fusarium, alternaria, cancer, and golden nematode. However, these potatoes can suffer from late blight and blackleg. Therefore, it is recommended not to ignore preventive treatments.
Pros and cons of the variety
The Black Prince has both advantages and disadvantages.In order for its cultivation to fully meet expectations, it is recommended to study the strengths and weaknesses of this potato in advance.
The yield of marketable tubers for the species is 84-95%
The main advantages of the Black Prince:
- excellent taste;
- quick adaptation to any climatic conditions;
- marketable condition;
- high content of useful components;
- the harvested crop is well stored;
- suitable for transportation;
- versatility of application;
- fruit evenness;
- high natural immunity;
- Possibility of growing on different types of soil.
Flaws:
- long process of cooking potatoes;
- low yield;
- susceptibility to late blight;
- needs regular feeding.
Landing rules
To successfully grow this potato, it is necessary to plant it taking into account its basic requirements. For the Black Prince, it is recommended to choose a sunny, open area, well lit throughout the day. Moreover, the soil can be sandy loam, loamy, chernozem with a neutral acidity level.
The site for the Black Prince needs to be prepared in the fall. It needs to be dug up and 10 kg of humus added to each square. m. It is also additionally recommended to add 200 g of wood ash for the same area size. With the arrival of spring, the area needs to be loosened to a depth of 10-15 cm to enrich the soil with oxygen.
Black Prince tubers also need preparation before planting. Three weeks before the procedure, it is recommended to bring them into a warm room with a temperature of +15 ° C and spread them out in one layer. They need to be turned over periodically to ensure uniform germination.
At the time of planting, the length of the sprouts should be 1.5 cm
For sandy soil, the recommended method of planting is in trenches; on sandy and loamy soil, in holes. The distance between tubers should be 30-35 cm, and in rows - 60 cm. The optimal planting depth is 10 cm. In wet areas, it is recommended to plant Black Prince potatoes in ridges. Their height should be 25-30 cm. This eliminates the possibility of rotting of the potato root system. The distance between the ridges should be 70-75 cm.
How to care
The black prince is one of the species that requires increased attention from the gardener, but all the effort spent is fully repaid by the taste of the harvested crop. These potatoes require regular watering in the absence of seasonal rains. Moistening should be carried out in the evening, soaking the soil to a depth of 10 cm.
Ten days after planting, it is necessary to loosen the soil in the area to a depth of 2 cm. This will preserve oxygen access to the potato roots. It is also recommended to carry out weeding regularly throughout the season. And when the sprouts reach a height of 15 cm, the bushes need to be hilled. It is recommended to repeat this procedure 14-16 days after the previous one.
The Black Prince needs regular feeding. Fertilizers should be applied for the first time ten days after germination. At this time, chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10 is recommended. In the absence of organic matter, you can use urea at the rate of 30 g per 10 liters of water. Subsequent feeding should be carried out at the stage of bud emergence and after flowering.
The best option for the Black Prince is drip irrigation
This potato is not very susceptible to the Colorado potato beetle, but if planted close to other types of crops, damage may occur. Therefore, when the first signs of the pest and the vital activity of its larvae appear, you need to spray the bushes with an insecticide. If necessary, repeat the procedure, alternating medications.
Harvest and storage
You can start harvesting Black Prince potatoes from mid-August. A characteristic sign of tuber ripening is a sharp wilting of the shoots. Collection is recommended in the morning in dry weather. After digging, the tubers should be left on the site for two hours, and only then moved indoors. After a month, the crop needs to be sorted out, sorting out seedlings and small tubers. And then it can be moved to the basement.
Optimal storage conditions: temperature +3-4 °C and humidity about 75%. The shelf life of this type is 95-97%.
Conclusion
Black Prince potatoes are a unique type of crop that is suitable for private cultivation. But it cannot be the main variety due to its low yield. However, the taste of the Black Prince completely compensates for this shortcoming. But to obtain high-quality tubers, it is necessary to organize proper watering and fertilizing, taking into account the stage of development of the bushes.
Reviews from gardeners about the Black Prince potato variety
