Among vegetable crops, potatoes are deservedly popular all over the world. It is called the second bread. It is hard to imagine a diet without potatoes. Gardeners successfully grow it. The cultivation technology of this vegetable crop is simple. Potato is a fairly unpretentious plant, and you can achieve good harvests subject to certain agricultural practices.
How to choose planting material?
Each gardener approaches this in a different way. Describing culture alone is not enough. Most often, the opinions of experienced vegetable growers influence the choice. Planting potatoes are distinguished by a variety of varieties of foreign and domestic selection.
Many of them have high productivity and excellent taste. They can be divided into groups by maturity. These are late, middle and early potatoes. However, when choosing planting material, many advantages are taken into account. An important role is played by plant resistance. The quality and size of the future crop depend on this. There are many favorite varieties of potatoes that are popular among gardeners. They are distinguished by a combination of good yield, excellent taste and disease resistance. Among them is the roco potato.
Grade characteristics
Dutch vegetables are popular all over the world. Among them, the Roko potato variety, which was included in the state register of the Russian Federation in 2002, occupies a worthy place. It differs in average ripening, being mid-season.
The growing season is from 100 to 115 days. In this case, weather conditions make their adjustments in the duration of the growing season.
Grade Advantages
It should be noted high productivity, which reaches 350-400 centners per hectare. From one bush, 12 to 15 tubers are harvested. And this is not the limit. In favorable years, individual farms received crops of up to 600 centners per hectare. The table variety of Roco potatoes is distinguished by good taste. The dense tuber pulp does not change color after heat treatment. In addition, the Dutchman has an excellent presentation and a long shelf life. It is easy to transport. This variety is ideal for farmers who cultivate potatoes for retail. This is a pretty lucrative variety.
In addition to nutritional and commercial value, it should be noted other advantages that have potato "Roco". The characterization of the variety will be incomplete without a description of its inherent resistance to disease. It is not affected by potato cancer, golden potato nematode, Y virus. This variety is relatively resistant to late blight of tubers, to leaf curl.
Description
Potato planting "Rocco" is easy to distinguish by external signs. Its smooth tubers have an oval shape, small eyes, a reddish peel and creamy flesh. The weight of the tuber is from 115 to 120 grams. On the plantation, the plant is also easy to find. This is an upright medium-sized bush. Dark green, slightly wavy leaves of an open type are small in size.
The plant is distinguished by a rare bright purple flowering. But often it is completely absent.
Growing Features
Rocco potatoes will require minimal care. The characterization of the variety confirms this statement. Resistance to diseases simplifies its cultivation. For the normal development of tubers, a sufficiently loose soil will be required. They are planted in pre-prepared soil. Cultivate the site. Crop rotation should be considered. Perennial grasses, winter crops, grains and legumes will be the best predecessors.
Sowing dates
In different areas at a certain time planted potatoes "Rocco". The characteristic of the variety marks its resistance to adverse weather conditions. However, the main criterion in determining the timing of sowing is the soil temperature. For this variety, it must be at least fourteen degrees. This parameter is slightly higher than for other analogues. In most areas, sowing dates are in early May.
Landing
Rocco potatoes are planted in rows. At the same time, between them withstand a distance equal to sixty centimeters.
When planting, wood ash is added to each well. Between the holes should be at least thirty-five centimeters. A few weeks before planting, the tubers are germinated in the light. At the same time, damaged planting material is rejected. Tubers of large sizes are cut, processing the place of cut with ash. Presowing treatment is carried out by spraying with Bordeaux liquid. Planting potatoes are deepened into the ground by eight or ten centimeters. By this time, the tubers have small, well-formed sprouts.
Care
Agricultural technology is simple. The sites are thoroughly cleared of weeds. Conduct regular loosening of the soil. If possible, fertilize. The need for hilling is a feature of this type of potato. Reviews from gardeners who share their experiences of growing rococo confirm that tuber formation is fairly close to the surface of the soil. Under each bush twelve large enough tubers are formed. Gardeners offer to carry out the hilling of plants in several terms, so as not to lose part of the crop. This agrotechnical technique begins before the flowering of potatoes. When it reaches a height of ten centimeters, you can spend the first hilling. In this case, the seedlings are completely covered with soil. Thus, the potato will be protected from damage by unexpected spring frosts, as well as from the main pest - the Colorado potato beetle. It should be noted that this event is carried out after precipitation. The second stage is during the flowering period. During this period, the formation of tubers begins.
Rocco potato is resistant to many diseases. The characteristics of the variety suggest that preventive measures are practically not required. However, plant leaves may be affected by late blight. As a preventive measure, a potato plantation is sprayed with special preparations intended to combat this disease. Potato plantings can also be damaged by the Colorado potato beetle. When larvae appear on plants, potatoes are sprayed with special preparations.
Harvesting and storage
After a hundred days, you can dig up the tubers.
By this time, the bushes are completely dry. In dry weather, they begin to harvest. Potatoes are extracted from the ground. They dry well. After that, it is sorted, discarding the damaged one. Before being stored for a week, the tubers are kept in a dry room without access to light. Rocco potatoes are well stored for a long time.