Gourmet potatoes

Many gardeners and farmers are attracted by potato varieties of unusual colors, which differ not only in an exotic color, but also in a composition useful for the human body. These varieties include Gourmet potatoes of Ukrainian selection.

Gourmet is a mid-early purple-fruited potato. It grows in many regions and is one of the dietary varieties recommended for diabetics and people with heart disease.

The variety forms a medium-sized compact bush that grows up to 60-70 cm in height. The plant is characterized by semi-erect powerful stems, weak spreading, moderate foliage, small emerald green leaves and a developed root system. During flowering, large snow-white flowers with black stamens appear on the bushes, which fall off very quickly.

12-14 tubers are formed under each bush. The tubers have an oval-round shape with a smooth and slightly shiny surface. The average mass of potatoes is from 80 to 110 g. The peel of the vegetable is dense, slightly reticulate, covered with a small number of small eyes. The color of the potato is one of the distinguishing features of this variety. The vegetable is covered with a dark purple skin with a pronounced glossy sheen.

It should be noted that the tubers are endowed with high transportability and long-term keeping quality. In a cool place, where there is no increased dampness, potatoes can be stored without loss of taste and marketability for up to 4-5 months. Many gardeners note that potatoes do not germinate even with dampness in the cellar or basement.

Potatoes have a very unusual taste. The blue-violet pulp with white blotches is characterized by high density, oily and lack of wateriness. During heat treatment, the pulp changes color: from purple-purple to almost black. When cooking, the vegetable does not crumble. The pulp contains more than 16% starch and a huge amount of antioxidants. When baked, the potatoes have a spicy nutty flavor.

Table potatoes can be boiled peeled, baked, and eaten raw (for salads). The variety is not very suitable for mashed potatoes, since the color of the finished dish will be too exotic.

Gourmet is a mid-early variety. From full germination of shoots to harvest, 90-100 days pass. Tubers spice together. The first digging can be done 45 days after full germination has begun. The mass harvest takes place in mid-August.

Ukrainian potatoes are not very productive. On average, up to 4 kg of tubers can be dug from 1 m2. On an industrial scale, the yield indicators will be 35-40 tons per hectare of plantations.

Planting is carried out in the first half of May. At this time, the soil should warm up to a depth of 8-10 cm. A healthy germinated tuber is at least 3 shoots about 2 cm long. The optimal pattern for planting is 30x60 cm.

Agricultural technology of the variety consists of standard measures: watering as needed, since potatoes equally do not like excessive moisture and prolonged drought, fertilization (nitrophoska, urea, potassium chloride, saltpeter and superphosphate), loosening the soil (the first is carried out 2 weeks after mass germination) , removal of weeds, hilling, stimulating root growth (twice a season), prevention of diseases and pest infestations, weeding of row spacings. You can mulch potato bushes with cut grass.

When choosing a place for planting, it is worth giving preference to areas with sandy loam, peaty, loamy and transitional soils. A characteristic feature is that potatoes can grow in lowlands, where there is high humidity, since such an environment is suitable for the culture. It is important that the soil is slightly acidic, moisture and air permeable.

Gourmet is a thermophilic variety that reacts poorly even to the slightest frost. For potatoes, open areas with abundant sunlight, but protected from the cold wind, are selected. This nightshade crop is capable of growing in partial shade.

The species has strong immunity to many diseases. Potatoes are resistant to common scab and cancer. A cold and damp climate contributes to the appearance of late blight. The nightshade culture is less resistant to fungal diseases and late blight. Compliance with crop rotation will become reliable protection against diseases for potatoes. Among the pests, it is worth noting the invasion of the Colorado potato beetle, bear and wireworm. Spraying with insecticides helps fight insects.