The Krepysh potato was included in the state register in 2005 as an early-ripening variety, bred specifically for cultivation in the central regions of Russia. Over the course of several years, potatoes spread throughout the entire domestic territory and covered the CIS countries. The popularity of this variety was brought by a lot of positive characteristics, including high yield and the possibility of use for both domestic and industrial purposes. Today, Krepysh plantings are found everywhere in summer cottages and garden plots.
Description of the variety
The early-ripening potato variety Krepysh reaches commercial maturity within 80 days from the date of planting.From a hectare you can get up to 400 centners of yellow, oval-shaped root vegetables. One bush is capable of producing 15 tubers. The weight of the potato reaches 120 grams. Rare eyes are located at medium depth.
Intended for table use. High taste qualities allow for any heat treatment. Does not change color and does not crumble during cooking. The creamy pulp contains approximately 12% starch. It has proven itself excellent when fried and is successfully used for making French fries and chips.
Erect bushes of intermediate development type grow to medium height. The dark green leaves are also medium in size and slightly wavy at the edges. The plantings are decorated with bright purple, red-tinged, large flowers.
Growing
Krepysh potatoes are planted in May in a well-lit place that is not subject to stagnant moisture. Ideally, its predecessors are legumes, grains, perennials or flax. There should be about 60 centimeters between plants, the row spacing should be at least 35 centimeters.
In the fall, the soil should be dug deeply and fertilized well.
Before planting, the seeds and the area must be prepared:
- Germinate, green, treat seed material to prevent common diseases.
- Spray with growth regulator.
- Dig the area to a shallow depth and loosen the top layer of soil.
- In case of high soil moisture, potatoes are planted on ridges or ridges.
- To speed up the germination of seed material and to avoid its rotting, you need to wait until the soil warms up around the clock to at least +8 °C.
- Post-planting mulching of the soil brings good results.
For ultra-early harvest, there are three planting methods:
- Wait for warm weather to set in.
- Cover the crops with special materials. The best of them is considered to be spunbond, which can withstand air temperatures down to -5 degrees and allows air to pass through.
- Prepare ridge embankments in the autumn, then they will quickly warm up after the snow cover melts.
Features of care
Proper care of potatoes of the Krepysh variety includes
The characteristics of Krepysh potatoes dictate a certain growing technology:
- Two weeks after planting, the row spacing is loosened, before which it is recommended to fertilize with soluble fertilizers, bird droppings or manure.
- When the soils are heavy, loosening is carried out immediately after emergence and continues until flowering. The amount of loosening is determined by the condition of the soil and the presence of weeds. Since the Krepysh potato can develop at a depth of up to 20 centimeters, insufficient hilling can cause a decrease in the yield and quality of tuber crops.
- The rows should be hilled in one direction.
- Potatoes only need irrigation during the period of bud setting and flowering.
- A season requires three fertilizings with organic and mineral fertilizers, without high nitrogen content. It is better to use copper-containing preparations.
On fertilized and loosened soil, weeds rise at double speed, taking away beneficial substances from young potato sprouts. Therefore, regular weeding during this period is mandatory. When the tops cover the entire area and bloom, the weeds will no longer cause damage to the root crops.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Krepysh potato variety has many advantages:
- One plant produces up to 15 tubers, possibly more.
- Stable yield indicators. From one hectare - 3 centners.
- Early ripeness.The first digging can be done already two months after emergence.
- Possibility of growing in any soil due to good adaptation and germination.
- Drought resistance. Plants do not need constant watering, but it is best to monitor the condition of the soil.
- Not susceptible to sudden temperature changes.
- Excellent, unique taste. Rating on a five-point scale - 4.7.
- Transportability. The variety can be transported over any distance and stored in the cellar for a long time. If all the rules are followed, the tubers retain their characteristics until the next harvest.
- Keeping quality - up to 97%.
- Resistance to potato diseases such as cancer, nematode, rictonia, scab.
The description of the shortcomings includes: - Vulnerability to late blight.
- The need for frequent hilling.
- Low starch content.
- Dependence on recharges.
Pests and diseases
This variety is sometimes susceptible to late blight, which becomes noticeable immediately after emergence. Dark spots on the leaves are later found on tubers. To prevent this disease, plants should be sprayed with contact fungicides during the tuber formation phase. The tops remaining after harvesting must be burned immediately to prevent the appearance of late blight in the next season.
Diseases of nightshades such as Fusarium or Verticillium wilt and Alternaria may also occur.
Among insect pests, the Colorado potato beetle should be distinguished, the fight against which is carried out by all currently known methods.
Harvest and storage
The fortress is ready to begin harvesting 45 days after the sprouts emerge.You need to wait about two more weeks before the potatoes are fully harvested, this will increase the scale of the harvest. Grown potatoes are removed from the site, with the exception of plants that will be stored in order to provide seed material for the next year. Such root crops are dug up at the end of June - beginning of July, trying to avoid damage.
There are two harvesting methods available:
- Traditional. In this case, the bushes are completely removed from the soil.
- Protracted. In this case, the largest tubers are separated from the plant, and the small ones are left to ripen for two to three weeks. This option allows you to double the yield.
To store Krepysh potatoes, prepare a dry, dark, ventilated room.
The technology for harvesting tuber crops in the form of a stream allows you to dig, sort and store the crop in one day.
The vacated area can be reused and grown beans, corn, peppers, tomatoes, and early cucumbers.
