Potato is a root crop loved by everyone in our country. There is an unthinkable amount of potato dishes. And all because it is not only a very tasty vegetable, but also quite inexpensive. Therefore, in many families, it is the basis of the diet.
If you decide to plant this root crop on your site, but still have not decided on the variety, then we offer you the Meteor potatoes. In this article we will not only tell you the advantages of this variety, but also share the features of planting the root crop in our area.
Description of potato "Meteor"
Root vegetables of this variety have rather high, semi-erect bushes, the type of which is intermediate. A bush with well-developed, juicy, green tops. During flowering, corollas of white flowers are formed. The peel of the Meteor potato is very thin, light brown in color. The eyes are quite small and not very deep. One bush gives about ten to twelve tubers weighing up to one hundred and fifty grams each. The pulp has a delicate taste and a sufficiently high starch content - from twelve to fifteen percent.
Grade Advantages
What are the benefits of Meteor potatoes? Of course, the main advantage of this variety is its early ripening. The first crop can be harvested already a month and a half after the appearance of the first seedlings. Full maturity occurs 2-2.5 months after germination. Potatoes of this variety are famous for their high productivity, reaching forty tons per hectare and more. Excellent shelf life of harvested tubers - up to 95% of stored potatoes after a long shelf life.
Another advantage of the variety is the absence of darkening when peeling the tubers, which makes it possible to use it not only for table purposes, but also for longer storage using vacuum packaging. An important plus for gardeners is the resistance of the variety to potato cancer, late blight and nematodes. This variety is slightly susceptible to infection by alternariosis and scab.
Reviews about the potato variety "Meteor"
Almost all gardeners growing this potato have only a good opinion about it. Most reviews say that Meteor potatoes, due to their resistance to diseases, allow them to grow with an environmentally friendly product. Indeed, constant chemical treatment of plants, which negatively affects human health, is not required at all. Absolutely all gardeners and summer residents who at least once tried this variety in planting were pleasantly surprised by the quickly received crop.
Features of planting and growing
Before planting potatoes, it is necessary to sprout tubers. Planting should be carried out only at the moment when the soil is stably heated to 8-10 degrees for several days. In our country, this period usually begins in late April. Potatoes, as a photophilous vegetable crop, are best planted in the southern part of the site. The more carefully you dig the soil before planting, the better yield you will receive both in quantity and quality. When digging up the soil, the best option is to add peat and manure. If you wish, you can fertilize the land with a ready-made fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus and iron.
The scheme for planting Meteor potatoes is quite simple: the depth of the tuber is not more than ten centimeters, the distance between future bushes is not less than forty centimeters. Watering must be done at least three times a month so that the earth is moistened to a depth of not less than half a meter. A week after planting, weeding and shallow cultivation should be done. If there is a possibility of late frosts, perform high hilling of bushes.