Among all potato varieties Mid-season crops are especially popular. This demand is due to the fact that tubers can be planted at a convenient time for gardeners. At the same time, harvesting occurs before the onset of autumn cold weather. These varieties include Yankee potatoes. Despite the fact that this culture is a Belarusian selection, it has gained success in cultivation in Russia. We will explain in detail why this variety is so popular and how it is grown in this article.
Description of the variety
Yankee potatoes are a high-yielding, mid-season table crop.The ripening period of tubers is 90–100 days. Under each bush, about 10 large fruits are usually formed, with a small amount of non-marketable fines. The total yield of the variety is about 630 kg per 1 ha.
What makes this variety different from similar crops is that it has a well-developed root system. Therefore, Yankee potatoes can grow in almost all types of soil.
The description of the variety clearly indicates that the bush of the plant is erect. Its stems are moderately branched. The leaves are medium sized, dark green in color. Inflorescences are white or pale purple.
Characteristics of tubers:
- shape - oval;
- the skin is smooth, rich yellow in color;
- eyes - small;
- pulp - beige-cream color;
- starch content - 18%;
- weight - 80–105 g.
Yankee root vegetables contain a large amount of nutrients and vitamins. They are well used in preparing soups, side dishes, casseroles, and baked goods.
Growing
As practice has shown, the Yankee variety can grow on any soil. In addition, the plant does not require good lighting. However, reviews from gardeners indicate that the best yield indicators of the variety were still observed on fertile, loose soils.
Potatoes are planted in the spring. The optimal time is May, when the ground temperature is 10 degrees.
Planting pattern:
- 10–15 days before the intended planting of the tubers, the plants are pulled out of the cellar, removed from rot and germinated in the sun.
- While the planting material is being prepared, the field is carefully dug up, cleared of weeds and disinfected.
- As soon as warm weather sets in, holes 10 cm deep are formed in the soil.In this case, it is necessary to maintain a distance of 35 cm in the row and 70 cm between the rows.
- First, humus with wood ash is placed and dug into the prepared recesses.
- After this manipulation, potatoes are placed in the holes.
Having sprinkled the planting material with soil, it is recommended to water it well using the air-drop method.
Features of care
The first potato shoots appear 2 weeks after planting. From this moment on, the plant needs to create favorable conditions for further growth. Usually, potato agricultural technology Yankee includes the same rules that apply to all types of nightshade tuber crops. However, if they are not followed, this potato will likely experience a reduction in yield.
Let's consider the features of care:
- Irrigation. The Yankee potato variety is undemanding to soil moisture. But the plant still needs frequent watering during the appearance of the first shoots and at the time of flowering.
- Weeding. Weeds shade the root crop bushes and take away nutrients from them. To reduce this negative impact, they must be removed before the root system develops.
- Feeding. When the soil is severely depleted of nutrients, it is recommended to fertilize it with organic matter and mineral complexes.
- Hilling. Rolling the soil to the lower parts of the potatoes is carried out in 2 stages. The first hilling should be carried out 2 weeks after the seedlings emerge, the second before the tops close.
- Preventative work. To avoid the development of nightshade diseases, you should regularly monitor the appearance of the plant. At the first signs of deformation of foliage or inflorescences, it is necessary to use special preparations for processing potatoes.
When growing the Yankee variety, do not forget about pests.Insect infestation can also reduce the quality and quantity of root crop yields.
Advantages and disadvantages
The peculiarities of the Yanka variety are that it has surpassed its fellows in the number of positive qualities.
The main advantages of the variety are:
- high productivity;
- taste qualities of fruits;
- presentation of root crops;
- resistance to changes in weather conditions;
- undemanding to soils;
- the ability to maintain its appearance when digging;
- low amount of waste;
- long storage.
Thanks to these qualities, the variety has gained great popularity among entrepreneurs who sell potatoes on the market.
But, despite such advantages, the Yankee root vegetable has weak immunity to some nightshade diseases. Which is its only drawback.
Pests and diseases
According to the State Register, the Yanka potato crop is endowed with good resistance to diseases such as:
- cancer;
- nematode;
- striped mosaic.
However, as the characteristics of the variety say, the plant is often affected by the following diseases:
- scab;
- anthracnose;
- late blight;
- Alternaria blight.
Each disease can lead to irreparable consequences, including complete destruction of the crop. To prevent their development, gardeners advise disinfecting the soil and tubers with special preparations before planting.
According to the originators, Janka potatoes have good resistance to insect pests. Therefore, to combat them, you can eliminate chemicals and use folk remedies.
Harvest and storage
The duration of storage of the Yanka variety is affected by the harvest date and the rules for its implementation. If tubers are removed at an unripe stage, their underdeveloped skin will undergo mechanical deformation.Overripe fruits lose their presentation and taste. Therefore, the optimal time for digging the variety is considered to be the end of August, the beginning of September.
Harvesting is done using a shovel or pitchfork. After digging up all the tubers, they are given time to dry in the sun. Then, after sorting the potatoes, they are transported for further storage.
Potatoes are stored in the underground or cellar. The ideal basement temperature is considered to be +2–3 degrees. But at the same time, air humidity should not be less than 80%.
As practice has shown, the Yanka variety is ideal for beginning vegetable growers. Without special skills in agrotechnical work and care, every gardener can get the desired yield result. It is worth noting that if storage rules are observed, potatoes do not lose their marketable and tasteful quality until the next season.
