Nevsky potatoes have long earned the recognition of gardeners due to their high yield, ease of care and excellent taste. The strengths of garden culture are noted by numerous reviews from ordinary summer residents and large farms. To get a good return from root crops, it is recommended to learn in advance about the strengths of the variety and the characteristics of cultivation.
Description of the variety
The variety was developed more than 40 years ago and was the result of crossing the North-Western Research Institute of Agriculture. Some experts consider this crop to be the best result of the work of domestic selection.Today, the variety is grown in almost all Russian regions, starting from the Moscow region and ending with the Siberian territories.
Nevsky belongs to a variety of crops that show good yields even in difficult growing conditions. Experts compare the fruit yield of this type of potato with the best Dutch varieties. The description classifies the garden crop as an early species. The average ripening period is considered to be from 70 to 85 days.
Potato bushes are small in height and stand upright. The distinctive features of the variety are the presence of many branched stems.
During short flowering, the plant produces white inflorescences. The leaf blades are wide, dark green in color and have a glossy surface. Thanks to its large leaves, the plant has a good ability to tolerate prolonged lack of rainfall and drought. Due to the large surface of the green mass, sunlight is reflected, moisture remains in the soil for a long time and does not evaporate.
The fruits have a round shape and small eyes on the surface. The skin of the tuber is yellowish in color. When cut, the potato has a creamy flesh color. The starch content in tubers varies from 10 to 12%.
The weight of one potato ranges from 90 to 130 grams. One bush is capable of producing from 9 to 15 fruits with proper cultivation techniques. When grown on an industrial scale, from 1 hectare of plantings harvests from 380 to 500 centners of potatoes.
Growing
The Nevsky potato variety loves sandy loam and light soils and requires a deep arable layer. Preparing the soil for future cultivation begins in the fall, carefully plowing the soil and adding mineral fertilizers to the soil. Autumn soil enrichment can subsequently increase the yield of the variety by almost 2 times. The best predecessors for potatoes are:
- carrot;
- beet;
- cucumbers;
- onion;
- cabbage.
For planting, you should choose an open area, without shading from trees or houses. Lack of sunlight negatively affects crop yields.
Tubers require preliminary preparation before planting. Potatoes should not be planted in the ground immediately after being taken out of the cellar and should not be planted in unheated soil. To obtain a good yield, the tubers need warmth, so planting is carried out after there is no threat of return of frost.
The seeds are taken out of the cellar 3 weeks before planting and placed in a warmer, illuminated place for germination. In order to disinfect the tubers, it is recommended to treat them with potassium permanganate or another drug with a similar effect.
The holes are formed at a distance of 0.5 meters from each other, their depth should be about 20 cm. This planting scheme will allow the plant to grow freely and form root crops, and will also significantly simplify the hilling process in the future. Before immersing the tuber, a small amount of bird droppings or manure must be placed in each hole, which will provide the shoots with the necessary amount of nutrients.
Features of care
The characteristics of the variety emphasize the properties of undemanding conditions for care and cultivation. Standard agricultural technology is used for potatoes, which consists of timely weeding, hilling and watering the plant. Soil moistening is carried out when there is insufficient natural precipitation. It is recommended to provide additional watering of the soil during the flowering period and 14 days before the planned harvest.
Advantages and disadvantages
The potato variety has a whole set of undeniable advantages. Reviews from gardeners note the following positive qualities of garden crops:
- high yield rates;
- resistance to mechanical damage;
- excellent keeping quality, which reaches 95%;
- early period of maturation;
- unpretentiousness in cultivation, ability to adapt to difficult weather conditions;
- resistance to potato diseases;
- versatility of use;
- the ability not to darken when cut, to retain its shape during cooking.
Neva potatoes have good taste, which make them suitable for use in recipes for salads, soups, and fried dishes. The tubers are not very suitable for making purees due to their low starch content, but the variety is ideal for fried potatoes. The disadvantage of the variety is considered to be sensitivity to sprouts breaking off.
Pests and diseases
The variety has good resistance to major diseases of potato crops. A reduced resistance rate is observed in relation to scab and late blight.
The weak point of the variety is the lack of resistance to nematodes; if the danger is not detected in time, such an attack can destroy a significant part of the plantings. The difficulty lies in the inability to immediately determine the presence of a problem, since for a long time infected and healthy shoots do not differ. Over time, the worms attack the roots of the plant, which leads to its death.
Let us describe the main preventive measures to prevent diseases:
- selection for planting only healthy tubers without signs of defects and putrefactive lesions;
- compliance with the rules of crop rotation, that is, constant alternation of planting crops; potatoes are planted in their original place only after 3 years;
- complete removal of weeds and plant matter after harvesting.
At the first signs of the disease, the affected bushes are removed and burned. Modern chemicals are used to combat the Colorado potato beetle. To attract natural helpers to combat harmful insects, chamomile or tansy are planted among the rows of potatoes.
Harvest and storage
The first signs of wilting of potato tops begin to appear in mid-summer, which is the first sign that harvest time is approaching. In August, the bushes dry out, which signals the need to collect tubers. It is necessary to collect root crops before the soil cools, otherwise the storage quality is significantly reduced.
For work, choose sunny weather without precipitation. After digging, the tubers are placed on a flat area and thoroughly dried in the open air for 4 hours.
After this, a procedure is carried out for sorting and rejecting unsuitable tubers. Fruits with chips and damage cannot be stored, so they are put aside and used for table purposes first. It is recommended to select planting material immediately; healthy, small-sized tubers are suitable for this.
Potatoes are stored in a cool, dark place. Periodically during the storage period, the tubers are sorted and fruits with signs of beginning rotting are removed.
Reviews from gardeners
Alexander, 47 years old:
“For many years, the variety has remained among our favorites. It does not require complex care or watering, and over time the bushes themselves rid the area of weeds.The yield is stable regardless of weather conditions and on average we remove 10 tubers from a bush. Individual shoots form up to 15 potatoes and small root crops are rare.”
Maria, 33 years old:
“The taste of potatoes is important to us. Nevsky does not fail in this regard. The most delicious dishes are those that involve frying the product; the crust is thin and golden. A distinctive feature of tubers is their good ability for long-term storage.”
