Potatoes Cast Iron

Gardeners who cultivate different types of crops do not always have the time to pay full attention to each one. Therefore, they choose the least whimsical plants to care for. As for the potatoes, Chugunka has become just such an undemanding variety. Its second name is Chugunok.

Chugunka is a plant of folk selection. It is not registered in the State Register; therefore, the time of withdrawal and the author are still unknown. According to the assumptions of breeders, Sineglazka and Vasilek served as parental varieties for Chugunka.

Summer residents have known Chugunka for several years already. The potato got its name due to the dark color of the tubers. The culture is optimal for growing by novice summer residents, due to the following features:

• very early ripening;

• good taste;

• undemanding care;

• the ability to grow in different soils;

• drought tolerance;

• immunity to various ailments;

• beautiful appearance of tubers, unusual color.

It is disappointing that Chugunka is a low-yielding variety, besides, it quickly degenerates, it is necessary to monitor the renewal of the seed. Another disadvantage is susceptibility to late blight.

The bushes of Chugunka are quite high - up to a meter, but on poor lands they grow by only 50 centimeters. Plants are erect, strong, roots are very well developed. Stems are strongly leafy, dark green plates with a wavy edge and pronounced venation. Flower corollas are large but compact. The flowers collected in them have a delicate purple tint, the middle is painted in a bright yellow color scheme.

From 6 to 11 root crops ripen under the bush. The blue-violet fruits are all even, beautiful, have an attractive glossy tint, in rare cases are covered with pale dots. There are very few eyes, but their color is very bright, deep blue. Potato weight - 100-130 grams. The flesh is white or creamy and looks very contrasting with the skin. Quite often, a purple ring is visible on the pulp. This is a feature of the variety, not a disease.

The cast iron contains from 13 to 17% starch, so it boils down relatively well. Most often, potatoes are used for mashed potatoes, and it turns out to be airy, tender, attractively light. In general, summer residents are satisfied with the taste of potatoes, marking it as excellent, rich. An additional bonus is the absence of darkening of the pulp. In addition, this variety is one of the healthiest.

The cast iron fully ripens in 70-75 days. The harvested crop has excellent keeping quality, reaching 95%. Despite the fact that the potatoes belong to the early group, under proper conditions they will lie until spring.

The amount of the given crop is one of the disadvantages of this potato variety. On poor soils, an average of only 100 centners are harvested per hectare. On fertile land, the yield can be doubled.

A cast iron pot will grow normally only in regions with a temperate climate. She takes root well in the southern zones. But for gardeners of the northern lands, such potatoes are categorically not recommended.

It is necessary to start preparing for the cultivation of Chugunka one month in advance.Tubers must undergo pre-sowing treatment and be germinated at the time of planting. Planting scheme for root crops - 30x60 centimeters. It is optimal to disembark in early May.

Potatoes need minimal care. There is practically no need to water it. If there is weekly rainfall, this is enough for development. In the case of a dry summer, three waterings are carried out: 14 days after planting, with the appearance of flowers and after they fall. But if the season, on the contrary, with constant precipitation, then wood ash will have to be put on the ground. Otherwise, the fungus will quickly develop.

The cast iron gratefully responds to potash fertilizing. But in general, this variety can only be fertilized once a season. They choose a mineral complex or organic matter. If organic matter is taken, then it is most often a mullein.

Once every 7-10 days, the soil is inspected for the presence of weeds. And also potatoes love looseness, so several times during the season the soil will have to be loosened. The hilling procedure is carried out twice, this is necessary so that the fruits are not saturated with solanine from the sun's rays and do not become bitter.

A cast iron is as comfortable as possible on light soil, but many other types of soils are also suitable for it, including loam. Swampy wet land will be completely prohibited. So that the potatoes do not require additional feeding during growth, organic matter is introduced into the soil in the fall, and mineral compositions in the spring.

Potatoes Potatoes should be planted in lighted areas. The shade is unacceptable, as is the cold wind. Plants cope excellently with drought, they do not like abundance of water. They tolerate heat without problems, but they do not tolerate cold.