Scarb potatoes

Skarb potatoes, like all other products of Belarusian breeders, deserve only commendable reviews. Therefore, gardeners who grow this variety invariably post approving annotations, listing the many advantages of mid-season potatoes. This includes its unpretentiousness, productivity, beauty and abundance of tubers obtained with a large weight, resistance to diseases and the ability to delight farmers on any type of soil. In Belarus, he is a permanent leader in the number of hectares allotted for his planting.

The author, deserving constant praise and presenting a real treasure to the agricultural workers, is the RUE "Scientific and Production Center of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Bashkortostan for Potato and Vegetable Growing". Its worldwide fame is due to its numerous successful varieties of potatoes and other crops. The center, which is located in the Minsk region, relatively recently presented the Scarb potatoes to farmers, which are rightfully ranked among the best varieties of our time. This is a real gem among other excellent varieties of Belarusian selection.

About two decades ago, it was patented in Belarus, a little later it was included in the Russian State Register. Currently, it is grown not only in the central, but also in the southern and northern regions of the Russian Federation, in Moldova and Ukraine. "Scarb" is a word from the Belarusian language, but in everyday life the colloquial name "Scrub" is sometimes found. It is synonymous, but the transcription is incorrect.

The basic characteristic is suitability for growing in the central regions of Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. Other undoubted advantages:

• the leader of the sown areas in Belarus, which already speaks volumes;
• a universal variety (in other sources - table), it can be used in any culinary delights without the slightest fear;
• up to 14 large tubers can be harvested from a bush;
• excellent taste of root crops, a lot of valuable components that are preserved under heat exposure;
• even and dense peel, providing keeping quality of almost 100%;
• passed all scientific tests and was highly appreciated.

You can add high resistance to scab, cancer and nematodes, rot, viruses. However, the likelihood of an attack by the Colorado potato beetle and wireworm remains, as, indeed, in other valuable varieties of potatoes. Drought tolerance, the ability to grow on any type of soil and amazing yields are undeniable arguments in favor of choosing this variety. In Russia, its zoning was carried out by scientists in the Ivanovo and Moscow, Pskov regions. The conclusion is made about suitability for cultivation in the North-West, Volgo-Vyatka and even Ural regions.

The semi-erect stems of an intermediate type plant reach a height of 55-60 cm, while maintaining strength and resistance to weathering, but not acquiring an anthocyanin coloration even at the start of fruiting. Leaves, dark green in color, are small in size, can be even or slightly wavy at the edges, abundantly covering the bush.

Small white corollas are collected in a decorative inflorescence, but flowering is short and the ability to form berries is weak. The tubers are oval, but they can also be rounded, of excellent shape, with a smooth yellow skin, a few shallow eyes and yellow (butter-colored) pulp. Weight - from 94 to 138 g, there are usually 10-14 tubers in a hole. The amount of starch, depending on the growing conditions, is 11-17%, there are many valuable components (vitamins, micro- and macroelements), and they are preserved during processing.

The universal purpose, pleasant aroma, lack of bitterness and sweetish pleasant aftertaste provide the gardener with unlimited use of Scarb in the preparation of ordinary dishes and culinary delights. This variety can be safely used in all directions:

• stew and cook as part of first courses, side dishes, roast and potato sauces;
• boil mashed potatoes, fry in a pan and in oil (french fries);
• make delicious chips and semi-finished products for freezing in a single version and as part of vegetable mixtures for the winter;
• prepare delicious and winter salads.

Fans of Skarb believe that the score of 3.9 on a five-point scale is clearly underestimated. This is also evidenced by the reviews of those who have just started cultivating this potato variety and had the opportunity to compare it with other popular species.

The dates can shift, but not too dramatically, depending on the climatic conditions of growing. The need to warm up the soil may mean postponing planting dates, which means that harvesting may be later or earlier. Mid-season potatoes ripen in 100-110 days, and here it is important not to miss the moment. The tops are mowed three days before harvesting. Overripe potatoes, which have been in the ground for too long, lose keeping quality and taste, presentable appearance.

High performance is one of the main advantages worth mentioning. From each hectare, you can remove up to 253-411 centners (maximum 508 centners), which is enough to more than justify the costs and get a considerable profit when selling. This amount will be enough for the owners of small plots for a large family for the whole winter.

Seed material is purchased from nurseries or stores with a proven track record, or harvested when sorting the resulting crop. For this, medium-sized tubers are suitable, which are stored in a cool dark place. After a dormant period, they are taken out to a warm and bright room and germination begins until the sprouts reach 3 cm. Organic matter is introduced into the holes, planting bushes at a distance of 30-35 cm and leaving a row spacing of 60-70 cm (standard scheme).

If the seedlings are protracted, do not worry: in due time they will go amicably and actively, the squat bush will be covered with leaves and give layering. High hilling is carried out after emergence, usually before bud formation. Watering is carried out moderately: the variety normally tolerates the lack of water, but reacts negatively to waterlogging. You can improve the yield with mineral fertilizers and organic matter (a solution of chicken manure is suitable, but in moderation).

It is necessary to carry out permanent monitoring of the potato plantation and carry out spraying at the first sign of the appearance of a disease or pest. In return for these simple steps, you will get a high yield and delicious potatoes.