Characteristics of the Farmer potato variety
Every gardener dreams of having a variety in his collection that ripens very early and makes it possible to eat boiled young potatoes in June. These early varieties include the Farmer potato.
Characteristics of the Farmer potato variety
This variety has excellent consumer qualities, formed as a result of long-term folk selection. The variety is not included in the State Register of the Russian Federation, but is very popular with gardeners.
Description of potato variety Farmer
The Farmer potato variety has a very early ripening period. The growing season is 50-60 days, but with high quality planting material and favorable climatic conditions, the first harvest can be obtained in 40 days.
Medium-sized, compact bush. Leaves are bright green with carved veins and a slightly wavy edge. White flowers are collected in small inflorescences.
Each plant forms 10-15 oval-elongated potatoes weighing from 90 to 110 g. Tubers are of approximately the same size, few small ones are formed. The skin is thin, light brown. The eyes are shallow. The pulp is light yellow. The starch contains a moderate amount (9-12%), which allows the use of potatoes for the preparation of various dishes, including diet food.
Advantages and disadvantages
The yield of table potatoes of the Farmer variety depends on many factors: seed quality, soil characteristics, observance of crop rotation, agricultural technology. On average, more than 20 t / ha are harvested. A description of its merits will convince you of the need for breeding in a summer cottage, in a farm. Main advantages:
- very early ripening periods, the ability to get the first harvest in May or June (depending on the region and planting dates);
- excellent taste;
- suitable for growing in regions with different climatic conditions;
- resistance to degeneration: seeds can be used for 5-6 years without renewal, while the plants will not lose their varietal characteristics;
- good keeping quality: subject to strict adherence to the temperature regime (about 2 ° C), 90% of the tubers retain their commercial qualities;
- immunity to a large number of potato diseases: golden nematode, potato cancer, viruses and fungi.
The Farmer's Potato is a variety that has practically no drawbacks. A feature is the demand for fertility and systematic soil moisture.
Potato cultivation
The farmer is planted in soil warmed up to a temperature of 10 ° C. The most favorable conditions for the development of culture are warm, but not hot weather (15-20 ° C), frequent but not heavy rains.
The practice of multiplying this variety by growing seedlings from seeds is common.Both planting tubers and obtaining seedlings will lead to the desired result, subject to certain rules.
Growing seedlings from seeds
The use of seeds for growing potatoes allows you to preserve genetic information, improve the characteristics of the variety. Seed material is purchased from reliable suppliers or harvested independently from berries formed on the strongest bushes after flowering.
How the seeds are prepared for sowing:
- soaked in water for 2-3 days (you can add growth stimulants), simultaneously harden; for this, during the day, the container with seeds is kept at room temperature, placed in the refrigerator overnight;
- hatched seeds are laid out on a damp cloth and kept warm for several days so that the roots grow;
- sowing material is planted in containers with loose moist soil: they are laid out on the surface and sprinkled with a small layer of sand or light soil;
- cover the tray with film or glass, create a mini-greenhouse, which is left in a warm place, ventilated once a day and slightly moistened as it dries;
- after the appearance of the first shoots, you need to take care of good lighting so that the seedlings do not stretch out, protect them from drafts and root rot.
Young shoots need to be handled carefully as the root system is very weak. In order to prevent damage to small plants by diseases, for example, black leg, preventive measures are taken in a timely manner (soil pickling, plant thinning, airing, etc.), seedlings are treated with antifungal or antibacterial drugs.
Planting seedlings in open ground
After frost, seedlings can be planted
Before planting potato seedlings in open ground, they carry out a pick. With the appearance of two or three true leaves, each plant is placed in a separate cup or pot with a drainage hole. For the full development of the root system, the soil must be very light and loose. Growers recommend using a mixture of 1 part soil and 4 parts peat.
Seedlings can be transplanted to the garden bed with the cessation of night frosts. How to do it correctly:
- dig a hole 10 cm deep, sprinkle it with humus, water it with a small amount of water; the plants are placed in the ground so that three leaves remain above the ground, then they are covered with a film until they are consolidated in the soil;
- water the seedlings often, but do not allow stagnation of water; after watering, they must loosen and destroy weeds;
- hilling is carried out twice a season.
In the first year, it is not possible to get a large harvest from the seedlings (potatoes grow the size of a hen's egg), but in subsequent years the farm will be provided with high-quality planting material. According to potato growers, the propagation of a crop by seeds is a very laborious process that requires strict adherence to technology. But excellent varietal qualities, elite potatoes are an important result.
Planting tubers
The garden bed is prepared in the fall: it is dug up and fertilized. Vegetable growers recommend not leaving the planting of this culture in one place for more than 2-3 years, and not placing them next to the beds of other nightshades. Humus, peat, wood ash are added to the soil before planting.
The pre-planting preparation of tubers of this variety, germination and dressing, has no peculiarities. The farmer's planting holes are placed at a distance of 60 cm, it is enough to leave 20-25 cm between the bushes. To save valuable planting material, you can cut the tubers into pieces, while the knife is moistened in a saturated solution of potassium permanganate.
Potato care
A high-quality and early harvest of this potato variety can be obtained by creating favorable conditions for the development of the culture.
Watering and hilling
Potatoes The farmer feels great in low summer temperatures. The early ripening period allows you to bypass the July heat.The culture is demanding on moisture. It is not recommended to allow the soil to dry out. It is necessary to water the plants in a timely manner, especially during the period of tuber formation. According to vegetable growers, the use of a drip irrigation system is effective.
At least two times you need to huddle potatoes, pouring high ridges. In this case, the soil is necessarily loosened and weeds are destroyed. Mulching with cut grass or straw helps to retain moisture and inhibits the growth of weeds.
Fertilizer
Top dressing of this variety of potatoes is carried out according to the general rules. During the season, you need to fertilize at least two to three times. The first time is fertilized a couple of weeks after the appearance of aerial shoots, then during flowering and tying tubers.
The plant responds to organic and inorganic fertilizers. Gardeners use mineral and complex fertilizers: urea, superphosphate, potassium sulfate, ash, ammophos, etc. A good result is given by diluted manure or bird droppings, herbal infusion. Foliar dressing is also carried out.
Treatment against diseases and pests
The culture is resistant to many diseases. Early harvest time is saved from late blight. When the first signs of this disease appear, it is recommended to dig up the tubers. Preventive measures help - correct crop rotation, soil preparation and treatment of planting material with fungicides.
The main pests of potatoes, especially in the south, are the Colorado potato beetle. With a large number of beetles, when mechanical methods of control do not help, the beds are treated with insecticides several times per season.
Conclusion
Knowledge of the Farmer's growing technology will help provide the family with high quality early potatoes. With a little effort, you can cultivate elite potatoes in your garden for several years.
The shortened ripening time will allow you to get two harvests of this crop per summer. This result can be achieved in regions with different climates and weather conditions.