Breeders from different countries have long been working on developing new types of vegetable crops, compiling a detailed description of the variety obtained by crossing. Ivan da Marya potatoes began to be planted in Russia back in the 80s of the last century. In many regions, this variety was given its own name - Ryabukha, Matryoshka, Little Red Riding Hood, Fox. The root crop was brought to the Soviet Union during Gorbachev's perestroika and was included in the Russian register of breeding achievements as Picasso.
Description of the variety
Ivan da Marya grows on any soil, but prefers light soils with little acidity. Potatoes owe their beautiful Russian names to their external characteristics. The late ripening variety has tall, erect bushes, under each of which up to 20 tubers are tied:
- elongated shape;
- with yellow skin;
- with pink spots;
- with small eyes.
One potato weighs about 100 grams, and the pulp contains almost 16 percent starch. It contains many vitamins and microelements such as iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and potassium. The tuber contains slightly less than 80 kcal. The root vegetable has a pleasant taste and softens during heat treatment.
The plant is not affected:
- potato cancer;
- nematodes;
- verticillium wilt.
Over 300 centners of potatoes are dug from one hectare in different regions of Russia. Root crops ripen 110–135 days after the sprouts emerge. The ripening period is influenced by:
- soil features;
- weather;
- agricultural technology.
As follows from the description, the Ivan-da-Marya potato tolerates drought well, the tubers are perfectly stored until the next harvest, used fried, boiled, baked, and used to prepare soups, borscht, and casseroles.
The flowers of the Ivan-da-Marya variety are not collected in brushes, have a white tint, and shimmer with a purple color. The smooth, attractive tubers are quickly sold out on the market and remain in the cellar until spring.
Gardeners and farmers enjoy growing Ivan da Shura, a variety that was bred by Kaluga breeders. The root crops of this variety ripen earlier than 4 months after the sprouts emerge. From 15 to 20 smooth, oval-shaped tubers are dug from the bush. The white pulp contains up to 17% starch and contains amino acids and vitamins.
The advantages of the variety include:
- yield over 750 centners per hectare;
- rapid ripening;
- delicate taste.
Potatoes are boiled and used to prepare various dishes. The crop is resistant to the main diseases of nightshades, is not afraid of drought, but is demanding on soil fertility.
Growing
Farmers plant Ivan da Marya potatoes to make a profit from sales, and summer residents prepare various dishes from them. Compliance with the rules of agricultural technology and careful care of the crop helps to reap an excellent harvest.
Preparing the site for the garden bed
Potatoes are grown on loams, sandy soils, fertile chernozems, and podzolic soils. The best predecessors for culture are:
- legumes;
- wheat and rye;
- beet.
In the fall, after harvesting, tops and weeds are removed from the potato plot. Manure and humus are evenly scattered on the ground. In the spring, the soil is dug up and the lumps are broken up with a rake. Tubers are planted starting at the end of April, when the soil warms up. The location for the Ivan da Marya variety needs to be changed regularly.
Germination of seeds
From the root crops dug up in the fall, select potatoes of the same size without spots or damage, up to 5 cm in diameter. To prepare for planting:
- The tubers are laid out for 2 weeks on a warm veranda or in a room.
- Root vegetables can be placed in a basket with their eyes up, sprinkled with wet peat or sawdust, and left in the container for 15 days.
- Potatoes are sent to a room where it is dry and the temperature is not lower than 15.
The finished seed is treated with potassium permanganate or by mixing a quarter cup of boric acid and 10 g of copper sulfate in a bucket of water. Ash helps protect tubers from diseases. A kilogram of this substance is dissolved in 10 liters of liquid and potatoes are placed in it for half an hour.
Now many companies produce special preparations that prevent the development of pests - Prestige, Force, Cruiser.
Planting methods
Most summer residents and gardeners dig holes, leaving 30 cm between them. A little ash and humus is placed in each hole, then the sprouted root crop is placed, and soil is poured.
Owners of suburban areas where there are uneven terrain are switching to a no-till planting method. The bed is divided into wide strips, transverse lines are marked at a distance of a meter. Tubers are placed every 20 cm, the holes are filled with soil from the rows.
Some gardeners claim that they get higher yields when potatoes are grown under straw, because when it begins to rot, earthworms crawl in, promoting the formation of vermicompost. The landing process includes:
- Loosening the soil, removing lumps, watering abundantly.
- Place tubers in trenches every 30 cm.
- Covering the holes with a half-meter layer of straw.
With this method of agricultural technology, the bushes do not need hilling and moistening. There is no need to fertilize the soil.
Features of care
Despite the fact that both potato varieties are undemanding to soil, tubers will need air to develop. A week after planting the seed, the soil begins to be loosened and weeded to remove weeds. When the stems rise by 20 cm, they begin to hill up the beds. Do this work after rain or watering.
If there is a risk of frost returning, the sprouts are immediately covered with soil from between the rows, forming a small mound near them. Even at a temperature of minus 1°, the leaves turn black and die. Potato yield decreases sharply. Hilling begins again after 3 weeks.
Feeding and watering
In order for the root crops to form better, a month after the sprouts emerge, a complex fertilizer is applied, which is obtained by mixing half a liter of mullein or bird droppings and 2 tablespoons of urea in a bucket of water. When the buds appear, start feeding the roots with ash and potassium sulfate.
During and after flowering, a solution prepared from nitrophoska and superphosphate is applied under each potato bush.
With a lack of moisture, the tops wither, the leaves dry out, and the tubers become smaller. The beds are watered abundantly during a long absence of rain, which has recently become a frequent occurrence. Water can be poured into the grooves between the rows or a drip irrigation system can be installed. In the middle zone, 3 waterings are usually enough; this must be done during the flowering period.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Ivan da Marya potato variety is not afraid of drought, is rarely affected by viruses, and is resistant to nematodes. Farmers value it for its excellent transportability, high commercial qualities and productivity. The beautiful oblong tubers are soft-cooked, have a delicate taste, and are suitable for boiling and frying, making soups and salads. A serious drawback of the variety is that it quickly degenerates.
Ivan da Shura potatoes ripen earlier, so the leaves do not suffer from fusarium. Its advantages include:
- resistance to drought and high temperatures;
- long-term storage;
- stable yield;
- powerful root system.
About 20 nutritious tubers with a pleasant taste and high starch content are dug from the bush. Unlike the Ivan da Marya variety, this potato does not degenerate. It is planted in one area for several years, collecting large root crops.
Pests and diseases
Ivan da Shura does not suffer from Alternaria blight, which is carried by various insects, and is not affected by viruses and potato cancer.The variety develops resistance to late blight if the tubers are sprayed with preparations containing copper before planting.
Helps prevent the development of root rot:
- moderate watering;
- hilling bushes;
- adding ash.
Spider mites and aphids like young potato leaves. They are loved by the Colorado potato beetle, from which they are saved using biological agents and insecticides.
The Ivan da Marya variety is rarely affected by viruses and potato cancer, however, damp and cold weather contributes to the development of fungal diseases. With late blight, the tops become covered with brown spots, which spread to the root crops.
The Ivan-da-Marya potato suffers from silver and common aphids, and from leaf curling. Prevention, which includes:
- planting healthy tubers;
- processing of seed material;
- removing weeds.
You cannot grow this variety in one place for several years in a row. When signs of late blight appear on potatoes, dissolve 25 g of Agat-25 in a bucket of water and spray the beds at least 2 times. Fertilizers containing potassium prevent leaf curling.
To combat scab, bushes are treated with insecticides such as Antrakol and Champion. To prevent disease, tubers are placed in a solution of copper sulfate or boric acid before planting.
To prevent nematodes from invading the garden bed, Bazamid is scattered on the ground. A harmless-looking striped insect causes enormous damage to potatoes. To destroy the Colorado potato beetle, many preparations are produced, which have to be constantly changed, since arthropods quickly get used to it. The most effective insecticides include Intavir, Karate, Arrivo, Mospilan, Regent.
Some summer residents fight the formidable potato pest using biological methods. To do this, they plant garlic between the rows, sow marigolds and calendula, and spray the leaves with wormwood infusion.
Harvest and storage
They begin to dig up Ivan da Marya potatoes 4 months after the sprouts emerge, when the tops dry out. Tubers with dents or cuts are used immediately and are not placed in the basement.
Before storing for long-term storage, root vegetables can be sprayed with copper sulfate. Potatoes do not rot or lose their taste at 2–4 degrees of heat. The tubers will last until the next harvest if they are placed in boxes, layered with dry wormwood or elderberry leaves.
Ivan da Shura digs up potato roots a couple of weeks earlier. They have excellent keeping quality and are stored until the beginning of summer.
