Potatoes Asterix

The potato variety Asterix was bred in Holland, and in Russia it was recognized in 1998 and included in the State Register. The variety has a late ripening period, is versatile and has an impressive number of advantages. It is successfully grown in the temperate climate of Siberia, as well as in the central regions of Russia. The growing season is 115-120 days.

Potatoes Asterix are cold-resistant, frost-resistant, easily recovering from frost. The variety is drought-resistant, can withstand the absence of watering for a long time, and is susceptible to excess moisture. In such cases, there is a risk of leaf decay and damage to the ovaries and buds. The culture prefers light fertile soils, it should be avoided for planting wetlands.

Potatoes of this variety are fruitful. Quite resistant to a large number of diseases, however, it has a reduced immunity to viral infections, in particular to the Y virus. There have been cases when this infection destroyed all plantings. To avoid this disease, the necessary preventive measures should be taken - sprayed with insecticides.

The shape of the potato bush Asterix is ​​spreading, up to 80 cm high, erect. The foliage is bright green in color, medium in size. The leaves are slightly corrugated, with pronounced veins. The plant has purple-red inflorescences with a yellow center, natural pollination. Asterix is ​​perfectly stored at a temperature of 5-7 ° C, retains its properties for a long time and is almost not damaged during transportation.

The tubers of this variety are oval, oblong, medium-sized. The weight of one potato is from 63 to 109 g. The color of the tubers is violet-pink, the flesh is yellow on the cut, the peel is rather thick, which is additional protection from damage. One potato bush is capable of forming up to 25 tubers. The starch content in these potatoes ranges from 14.4 to 16.6%.

Potatoes Asterix belongs to table varieties, has good taste characteristics, is suitable for boiling, cooking fries and chips. Potatoes do not boil during cooking, they retain their shape, and therefore it is good to serve them boiled to the table. The flesh of the potato does not darken on the cut.

Variety Asterix - late, the crop is harvested no earlier than 115-120 days. In a personal garden, you can try to dig earlier, but you can lose productivity.

Potatoes Asterix are high-yielding. Usually, an average of 13.7-21.7 tons per hectare is harvested. A record harvest was recorded in Tatarstan - 27.6 tons per hectare.

Before planting, potatoes are sorted and medium-sized tubers weighing no more than 50 g are selected. Some farmers choose potatoes for sprouting in a warm place a month before planting. Thus, the eyes begin to grow, the potatoes germinate faster. They plan to plant this variety in mid-May, when the soil warms up to + 8 ° C.

The site is usually prepared in the fall - they dig it up, apply organic fertilizers.In the spring, soil cultivation is carried out and saltpeter is introduced.

Features of planting potatoes:

• the distance between the rows should be 70 cm;

• keep 30 cm between potatoes;

• the depth of the furrows is 15-20 cm.

If you did not apply mineral fertilizers before plowing, pour potash-phosphorus fertilizers directly into the furrows or holes at the rate of 1 tablespoon per tuber, also add wood ash.

The first harrowing is carried out a week after planting, and the second - 10 days after the first. This activity will significantly weaken the growth of weeds and saturate the soil with oxygen. After the first shoots appear, hilling is carried out. Re-huddle after 20 days. Hilling can increase the yield several times. Weeding of potatoes is carried out regularly, it is especially important to do this before hilling.

- Watering

Potatoes Asterix loves moderate watering, so 3-4 times are enough for him in the season. Water the potatoes a week after planting. Then - during the formation of flowers, and the last time it is watered after flowering.

- Top dressing

Two dressings are carried out per season.

Mineral dressing - dilute superphosphate according to the instructions with water, and water the potato plantings.

Organic fertilizing - make a solution of mullein in a ratio of 1 to 1. Let it brew for two weeks and then dilute again 1 to 10 with water, irrigate the potatoes and loosen the soil.

- Cleaning

Harvested 120 days after planting - this is the end of August or September. Digging potatoes in dry, sunny weather. The crop after the bulkhead and rejection is lowered into the basement. Store at a temperature of + 6 ° C, until May, potatoes do not lose their qualities and properties.

The Asterix variety is quite resistant to all diseases, and is almost not affected by most of them. Its main enemy is the Y virus. This is an incurable disease in which the plantings can completely die. If you notice signs of this disease - necrosis on the leaves, mosaic coloring of the tops, then it is important to immediately destroy the affected areas. Also carry out such preventive work.

1. Treat plantings with insecticides against aphids, the main vector of the virus.

2. Kill all affected potatoes, tops and weeds.

3. Carry out a crop rotation, plant after potatoes those crops that are immune to this disease.

Summing up, it can be noted that Asterix is ​​quite suitable for novice gardeners. The culture is unpretentious, gives a consistently high yield and has high taste.