Characteristics of Impala potatoes
The Impala potato is the result of the work of Dutch breeders. It is distinguished by its productivity, high taste of tubers and ease of care.
Characteristics of Impala potatoes
Due to its unpretentiousness, the Impala potato variety is grown all over the world. In order to get good yields from a minimum piece of land, you need to know the rules of agricultural technology of the variety, as well as the peculiarities of preparing planting material in the spring.
Features of the variety
Impala potatoes are an early variety.
From the appearance of the first shoots to the technical maturity of the tubers, no more than 60-65 days pass. This allows you to get two crops in one season, in a southern climate.
Dignity
In order to make it easier for the gardener to decide on the choice of the Impala potato variety, you need to consider all its pros and cons. Judging by the reviews, the variety is in great demand and is grown everywhere.
The undoubted advantages of Impala potatoes are:
- large tubers weighing 100-130 g, which is quite rare for early varieties;
- the skin is thin, but strong - it allows the potatoes to be well stored all winter and even until the new harvest;
- each tuber has from 9 to 15 eyes, which makes it possible to divide it into parts before planting;
- the taste is very high.
Even with poor watering and not significant hilling, 5-8 tubers are formed on the bush, and if all the requirements for growing conditions have been met, then the yield will be 12-18 potatoes of a fairly large size. The description of the tubers is typical of Dutch varieties.
disadvantages
The Impala variety also has some disadvantages:
- shoots are very tall and lush, so it is recommended to mow them 3-4 days before harvesting;
- the tops are a favorite delicacy of the Colorado beetles, so the bush must be sprayed regularly;
- does not bloom amicably, therefore there may be problems with pollination and collection of seed;
- susceptible to cancer of nightshades, bronzing of leaves and phomosis.
Due to the high content of starch in the tubers, potatoes do not boil well and are not friable, but they are ideal for frying and preparing salads. It is also worth noting the fact that the pale yellow color of the tuber core does not change during heat treatment, which cannot be said about other varieties with a starch content of 15-17%.
Planting potatoes
The Impala variety can be planted as tubers or seedlings. Although the first option is more familiar to summer residents, seed potato cultivation has its undeniable advantages. Seeds are not carriers of late blight and other equally dangerous diseases that infest tubers in the ground.
Soil preparation
Good soil will increase crop yields
It is necessary to plant early potatoes in the soil prepared with high canopy productivity.
To do this, the site is sown with green manure in September-October, and after the emergence of shoots, they dig up the ground half a bayonet.For these purposes, you can use mustard, wheat, barley, alfalfa, rye, rapeseed, colza, etc. It is also possible to dig the earth with the introduction of rotted manure.
In the spring, the soil is loosened deeply with a pitchfork or dug up with a shovel to a shallow depth. Potatoes prefer light, drained soil. Therefore, all earth lumps must be broken.
Since most of the gardens are infected with late blight pathogens, the soil must be disinfected before planting. There are several options:
- Formalin treatment. 250 ml of this drug is diluted in 10 liters of water and the soil is shed with it 1-1.5 months before the start of field work. Formalin is used 4%.
- Bleaching powder. In the fall, before the onset of frost, this substance is scattered over the surface of the earth. For 1 m², at least 100 g of bleach is required.
- Fitosporin. This biologically active preparation is introduced into the soil during the spring preparation of the soil. It is used at the rate of 6-7 ml per 10 liters of water. This volume is sufficient for 1 m².
- "Trichodermin". It is introduced into the ground just before planting. For 10 liters of water, 10 g of this powder is taken. The solution is poured over the beds.
- "Glyocladin". It is also a biological agent for controlling pathogens. Granules of this substance are embedded in the ground by 0.5 - 1 cm. The procedure is performed 3-4 weeks before planting the tubers.
- "Gamair". For preventive purposes, the land is treated with a 5% solution of this drug. Do this just before planting.
Properly prepared soil is the key to a good harvest. It is also necessary to follow the rules of crop rotation. You cannot plant potatoes in one place for several years in a row. These are the predecessors.
Planting potatoes
Early potatoes are planted in mid-April, weather permitting. The soil should warm up at least 10 cm deep. Planting material is taken in the fall and stored separately from the rest of the crop.
Before planting, the tubers must be awakened. To do this, at the end of February they are laid out in a cool, well-lit place. Sprinkle the tubers on top with sawdust and periodically spray them with water from a spray bottle.
The depth of the hole depends on the density of the soil. In loose soils, tubers can be planted to a depth of 10-15 cm, but in loam more than 6 cm. Potatoes are planted both in holes and in trenches. It all depends on the preferences of the gardener.
Potato care
Plants need to be watered regularly
The early Impala produces excellent yields when well cared for. Although the plant is unpretentious, it needs timely feeding and watering.
For the formation of large tubers, it is necessary to huddle the bushes, it also helps the tops not to disintegrate to the sides. The first time the procedure is carried out when the height of the shoots reaches 12-15 cm. The ground is shoveled with a hoe to the base of the stems, forming a cone. I huddle the culture again before flowering. This is easiest to do after rain or watering.
Watering
The yield of crops depends on the moisture content of the soil. If the summer is too dry, and the watering rules are not followed, then the tubers are poorly formed, grow small and crooked. Their taste also suffers greatly.
The ripening period of potatoes is significantly reduced if abundant watering is started during the formation of flowers at the tops of flowers. Until this moment, the plant is not watered. After budding and until harvesting, the soil should be kept moist and loosened after each watering. The crust that forms on the soil surface after the evaporation of water impedes the natural ventilation of the soil and disrupts the development of tubers.
Water the culture in the evening or in cloudy weather. Some summer residents practice irrigation watering using sprayers. With such watering, much less water is spent, but moisture that gets on the tops can cause late blight.
Fertilizer
With the right feeding, you can not only increase productivity, but also slightly speed up the ripening process. In order for the plant to form large and even tubers, it is recommended to feed it.
If fertilizers were not applied in autumn and spring or green manures were sown, then feeding during the growing season is simply necessary. Before flowering, the bushes are watered with infusion of mullein or bird droppings. To do this, fresh feces are soaked in a container in a ratio of 1: 5 with water. After 2 weeks, 0.5 l of the slurry is dissolved in a bucket of water and poured strictly at the root. You can also add wood ash to the soil when hilling.
In the fall, during the digging of the earth, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are introduced at 1 kg per hundred square meters. In the spring, urea and ammonium nitrate are sealed in the same way. The main thing is to maintain concentration and not overdo it with feeding. The lack of potassium fertilizer provokes the development of leaf bronzing, a disease that affects the tops and affects the growth of the entire plant.
Pest control
The characteristics of the variety indicate that it is often attacked by pests. In order for insects not to damage the shoots and tubers of the plant, it is necessary to carry out treatment with pesticides.
The main crop pests are:
- Colorado beetle;
- wireworm;
- bear.
It is not advisable to spray an adult plant at a time when the pest has already made itself felt. The drug is washed off by rains and the procedure must be repeated. Moreover, it is not safe for health. Therefore, it is better to carry out processing before planting.
In the description of most preparations for pest control of nightshades, it is indicated that tubers can be processed in several ways before planting:
- Soak. Tubers are placed in a container with a solution prepared according to the instructions and left for 2-3 hours. After they are dried and planted in the holes.
- Spraying. Cellophane or tarpaulin is laid on the ground, and tubers are laid on top in one row. Spray the potatoes evenly with a spray bottle. Next, the tubers need to be turned over and the procedure repeated.
- Dusting. If the description of the drug speaks of dry use, then the powder is mixed with sifted wood ash and the tubers are evenly powdered. Ash simplifies the process.
The fight against the bear should be given special attention, since on soils enriched with manure, this insect alone can destroy up to 20 potato bushes. In addition to treating tubers, it is recommended to spread poisonous baits for them around the site.
Conclusion
The Impala variety has excellent characteristics. With proper care, it can give a bountiful early harvest. Also, the quality of the tubers and their taste are excellent reviews.
Impala is a typical representative of Dutch potato varieties, but, despite this plant, it takes root well in our climate. And in the southern regions it can even give two crops per season.