Potatoes Black Prince

Those gardeners and farmers who like to experiment, try to grow exotic potato varieties, will certainly be interested in the mid-season Black Prince variety of folk selection.

Potatoes Black Prince is a representative of folk selection with an unknown origin history. The nightshade culture is a tall bush, stretching up to 80-100 cm in height. The potato bush is characterized by an erect central stem, moderate thickening of emerald-green foliage and a developed root system. The features of the bush are the spreading of the branches and the power of the stems. Under each bush, from 5 to 7 tubers ripen, and they are all large, identical, without small potatoes.

During the flowering period, large flowers of a pale blue color are formed on the bushes, collected in neat inflorescences. Bushes bloom in June.

The Black Prince represents a class of large-fruited potato varieties. Tubers weighing 70 to 170 grams ripen on a healthy bush. The shape of the potato is correct - oval or elongated-oval with a rough surface. Potatoes have a uniform exotic color - dark blue, sometimes blue with a purple tint. The rind of the tubers is of medium density, sparsely covered with small eyes, planted shallowly.

The dug potatoes easily endure long-term transportation, and are also endowed with long-term keeping quality, if the correct storage conditions are observed - + 3 ... 6 degrees and low humidity in the basement or cellar.

Potatoes are remembered for their pleasant, balanced taste. The snow-white pulp, diluted with pinkish blotches, is characterized by an oily, delicate and moderately dense structure without wateriness and mealy.

When cleaning and heat treatment, the pulp does not darken. Boiled tubers practically do not boil over, do not crumble, acquiring tenderness and sweetish taste. The pulp contains up to 16% starch, as well as a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals.

The dug potatoes are suitable for preparing completely different dishes - the tubers are boiled in their skins, added to soups and salads, stewed, baked, fried, and also tender mashed potatoes.

The Black Prince belongs to the mid-season varieties. The growing season lasts 85-90 days. The germination and ripening of root crops in the culture are friendly. The first digging can be done in 70-75 days (in July), and the mass harvest takes place at the beginning of August.

Table potatoes are not high yielding. On average, having provided the plant with proper care, 1 kg of dark blue tubers can be dug up per 1 m2. The maximum amount of potatoes dug from 1 hectare of plantations was about 100 centners.

Potatoes are planted from late April to early May. At this time, the temperature regime should be normalized - + 8 ... 10 degrees, it is enough to warm up the soil to a depth of 10 cm. As a planting material, choose medium specimens without damage with developed processes 1.5-2 cm long. It is recommended to plant tubers in the area where previously grew cucumbers, legumes, green manure and cauliflower. The correct scheme for planting is considered to be 30x70 cm.

When growing potatoes, it is recommended to water it as needed, apply top dressing three times during the growing season, loosen and weed the beds, ensuring air permeability and removing weeds, be sure to spud twice a season, as well as prevent diseases and pest infestations.

Potatoes are unpretentious in care, but very picky about the nutritional value and composition of the soil. It is comfortable to grow the Black Prince nightshade culture on black soil, sandy loam, fertile, sandy soils with neutral acidity, good air permeability, fluffiness and the ability to pass moisture.

This variety is an absolutely drought-resistant, thermophilic crop that tolerates heat, adapts to almost any climate, but reacts negatively to drafts and stagnant moisture, so the groundwater must be deep.

The nightshade crop has strong immunity, which provides resistance to a number of diseases - potato cancer, golden nematode, Alternaria, common scab and fusarium. The potato is susceptible to late blight of tubers and leaves, as well as to the black leg. Among the insects attacking potato bushes, it is worth noting the Colorado potato beetle and wireworm. Complex treatments with chemical and biological preparations will help get rid of pests.