Characteristics of Lorkh potatoes

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Among agricultural crops, potatoes are one of the most common types of vegetables. Lorkh potatoes have the title of the oldest domestic variety that has been preserved over a century.

Characteristics of Lorkh potatoes

Farmers appreciate this species for its excellent taste and long shelf life. Also, the high yield of the variety allows you to beat off the cost of the product in the first months of sales.

Characteristic

The Lorkh potato was introduced in Russia by the scientist A.G. Lorkh in 1922 on the basis of an experimental agricultural station in the village of Korenevo. For some time, the variety was considered lost until it was restored on the basis of the A.G. Lorkha.

Lorkh potatoes are classified as medium-late species. Ripening lasts 120 days after planting. The yield of one bush is 15-25 tubers. Good taste allows you to set a high price in the market.

Scientists have focused on the adaptation of the plant to different climates, so that the variety will take root in all regions of the CIS. The general characteristics of potatoes have the following parameters:

• the bush has a height of up to 80 cm with many shoots;
• leaves are medium in size, slightly dissected, completely covers the bush;
• flowering has a light purple hue, does not form berries;
• tubers are elongated and weigh 100-110 g;
• there are a few eyes on the skin of potatoes, the texture is smooth;
• the flesh is white and soft in texture.

Lorkha potatoes are used in cooking as a type C product. The variety is prone to cracking during heat treatment, therefore, it is most often used for mashed potatoes and soups. Also, this species is the leader in starch content - up to 20% in one tuber, which allows it to be used in light industry.

Advantages of the species

The description of the Lorkha potato has many positive qualities. These include:

1. High taste, thanks to which the potatoes have received an elite status.
2. Subject to storage standards, tubers remain fresh for a long time and are not subject to decay.
3. The variety adapts well to unfavorable conditions.
4. Resistance to rhizoctonia and viral diseases.

Also, the variety has an average protection against late blight of the root system and foliage. All these advantages allow you to grow a good harvest in any type of soil.

Disadvantages of culture

Despite the careful work of the scientists of the Institute. A.G. Lorkha, the characteristic of the variety still has a number of negative qualities. They are:

1. There is a high susceptibility to diseases such as tuber cancer and scab.
2. Lack of moisture affects the taste of potatoes.

When planting potatoes, these disadvantages should be taken into account. Disease prevention and watering in dry regions should be followed.

Features of planting potatoes

Planting should be carried out no earlier than May.Some farmers recommend planting potatoes in the middle of the third month of spring. The soil temperature at a depth of 12 cm should be at least 7 ° C. Otherwise, the growth of the bushes will slow down significantly.

Where to plant

Lorch potatoes require a lot of sunlight, so the beds should be placed in an open area. In shady places, the stems will begin to drag along the ground and weaken considerably. This will lead to a small harvest.

Seed material of this species is capable of germinating in almost any soil. However, for best results, loamy soil will work. Tubers develop well in loose and moist soil; in denser soil, potatoes will be small. Despite the love for water, the moisture level should also be controlled - excess liquid will lead to root rot.

The beds should be placed in a sunny place.

An important role is played by the crops that were planted on the site earlier. For growing potatoes, the land is suitable where they grew:

• legumes;
• roots;
• cucumbers.

Do not use areas for planting where tomatoes or sunflowers have been planted. They are prone to accumulation of bacterial pathogens that pose a danger to tubers.

The soil on which oats previously grew is also suitable. This culture disinfects the soil and destroys the fungus. The oat crop is used as an organic fertilizer when digging in the spring.

How to prepare the ground

Land preparation should begin in October, before frost. To do this, you need to carry out the following set of actions:

1. Remove the remnants of past plants.
2. Loosen the soil superficially to avoid dry soil.
3. After fourteen days, dig up the area at a depth of 25 cm and apply organic fertilizer.

Such preparation will help get rid of harmful insects that are in the upper layer of the soil. Large clods should not be separated, this will trap the snow and allow the soil to be saturated with water by the spring.

In the spring, the site should be dug up again. Farmers recommend doing it two weeks after the snow melts, when the top layer of the earth dries up a little. This time, the digging should be 10 cm deep.

Also, a month before planting, the soil should be artificially enriched with nitrogen. This will improve the taste of the tubers and help the potatoes to efficiently use moisture in the ground.

Preparing tubers for planting

Good quality seed is the basis for a good harvest.

Tubers should be carefully selected for growing potatoes. They must be the same size and weigh up to 75 kg. You should also select potatoes without external damage.

It is advisable to germinate the tubers before planting, this will allow you to harvest ten days earlier. Germination is carried out a month before planting and has the following algorithm of actions:

1. The seed is washed and soaked in a weak potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.
2. The tubers are laid out in wooden boxes and kept at a temperature of 11 ° C.
3. The potatoes should be sprinkled with warm water from time to time.

There should be good air circulation in the room with the sprouting tubers. Check the potatoes every day for spoilage or rot and turn them over. Seed material with sprouts of at least 1.5 cm is suitable for planting.

Planting tubers

This variety has a tall bush, so the planting methods differ from other species. First of all, it changes the distance between the bushes - from 20 cm it should be increased to 40 cm. Otherwise, the foliage will grow too densely and the lower shoots will not receive enough sunlight.

There are three ways to plant Lorkh potatoes. They depend on the type of soil:

1. In loamy soil, the hole method is used. Pits are dug to a depth of 10 cm, a tuber and fertilizer are laid, after which the hole is covered with earth.
2. In sandy soil, the trenching method is used.In November, when preparing the soil, trenches are dug 25 cm deep, into which raw cake is laid. It helps to retain moisture in the ground.
3. If groundwater flows too close to the surface in the soil, then the method of planting on the ridges is used. For this, special elevations are erected using a walk-behind tractor. Wells are formed at the top of the ridge.

Experienced farmers recommend sprouting seed into the ground. This will strengthen future stems.

Bush care

Plants are easy to care for

Lorkh potatoes do not require special care, but there are some rules for growing this variety. For a plentiful and high-quality harvest, you should follow the watering norms, huddle bushes and artificially fertilize the soil.

Watering

Lorkh potatoes do not tolerate heat and lack of moisture. Lack of water will lead to shredding of the tubers, and even a high yield of the variety will not cover the cost of growing it. In the southern regions, it is recommended to install an automatic irrigation system. If it is not possible to automate the water supply, then you should strictly adhere to the soil irrigation schedule.

Watering should be done every 10 days at the rate of 4 liters per bush. Potatoes are watered in the early or in the evening; during the period of solar activity, the bushes do not absorb water well. Regardless of the timing, the plant must be watered:

• after the appearance of the first shoots;
• before the formation of ovaries;
• during active flowering;
• after shedding the buds.

For watering, use a regular garden hose with a spray nozzle. This will maximize the irrigation of the bush and the soil near it.

If the variety is grown in hot climates, then the soil must be loosened after watering. This will break up the hard earth layer that forms after water hits the soil. Thus, the circulation of oxygen in the soil is improved. Next, it is recommended to mulch with dry grass. It retains moisture in the soil longer and interferes with the growth of harmful crops.

Hilling bushes

Hilling potatoes is an integral part of caring for them.

This procedure improves gas exchange in the soil and the absorption of moisture by the tubers. Also, hilling increases the temperature of the soil, which will protect the sprouts from possible cold weather.

During the period of active growth, hilling of bushes should be carried out at least twice. The first procedure is carried out when the shoots reach a height of 17 cm. It is recommended to sprinkle the potatoes after irrigation, in the early or in the evening. The procedure is repeated fourteen days later.

Fertilizer

The soil does not always have all the necessary mineral components for good plant growth. Throughout the cultivation, potatoes need additional complexes of nutrients. These include:

1. Ash and bone meal - a handful when planting on 600 g of compost.
2. Animal manure - before hilling 1 liter of solution. It is prepared using droppings and water in a 1 to 15 ratio.
3. Nitrogen fertilizing - 30 g per 10 l of water during the period of active flowering.

With a shortage of elements such as potassium and phosphorus, the potato takes on an elongated oval shape. The pulp itself may become watery and lose its marketability.

Prevention of pests and diseases

Lorkh potatoes have good immunity to many diseases. However, this species is vulnerable to scab and cancer. Also, harmful insects can reduce the quality and quantity of the crop. To avoid such problems, it is necessary to carry out preventive actions:

1. Potato cancer can be prevented by treating the tubers with boric acid before planting.
2. Manganese and copper are effective against scab. Also, this disease prefers arid regions, so follow the watering regimen.
3. The Colorado potato beetle does not tolerate the presence of ash in the soil, use this component when planting.
4. Medvedka will be scared away by Aktar's solution, which should be used to process the seed.

Harmful insects are primarily attracted by fertilizer of animal origin. If a bear or wireworm was found on the plots, reduce the use of this type of feeding.

In turn, green manure mineral components have a beneficial effect on the soil and inhibit bacterial diseases. With the correct ratio of fertilizers, plants will receive all the necessary nutrients, and diseases cannot develop due to an unfavorable environment.

Conclusion

The Lorkh potato is an established variety among agricultural crops. The description of this type meets high standards and takes the product to an elite level.

Farmers prefer Lorkh potatoes because they are easy to care for and yield a good harvest. This tuberous species adapts well to adverse conditions and is immune to many diseases.