Gardeners who grow vegetables throughout the country, both for themselves and for sale, are mainly interested in early-growing, unpretentious and disease-resistant varieties. One of such varieties is rightfully considered the result of domestic selection - “Zhukovsky early” (potato). Reviews about it are more often positive, it is quite resistant to diseases, and also has a good yield.
The main characteristics of the variety
This potato was specially bred by domestic breeders for cultivation in a temperate climate and relatively short summers. The Zhukovsky potato variety is distinguished not only by high productivity, but also by the large size of tubers. On average, they reach a mass of 130-150 grams, but are also found larger. Their surface is almost smooth, light pink in color, with brighter eyes. At the cut, the tuber is white, has excellent taste.
Planting seed potato "Zhukovsky" when the threat of night frost has passed. As a rule, this is the end of April - the beginning of May. The tubers sprout quite quickly, and after just a couple of weeks turn into shaped bushes of bright green color. Since this variety refers to early ripening, the crop is usually harvested 2 months after planting. Potatoes are characterized by a high level of drought tolerance and cold resistance.
Shrubs do not grow very tall, get unbranched. But the "Zhukovsky" blossoms quite abundantly. Its corollas are pink-violet, the berries of this variety are absent.
What do tubers look like?
About 10 are formed under each of the bushes. The Zhukovsky tubers are large (100-150 g), smooth, oval in shape, light pink, sometimes beige in color with brighter eyes. With very poor watering, yields can be lower, and under favorable conditions, above average.
This potato variety, although pink, its tubers are not too intense in color. Its flesh is almost perfectly white, as a rule, without inclusions of other shades. Due to the shape and size of tubers, this variety has excellent consumer qualities, which makes it easy to market if necessary.
Landing
It is carried out depending on the weather, usually in the middle of spring. “Zhukovsky early” seed potatoes sprout well, so amateur gardeners do not need to purchase it. It is enough to put last year's tubers in a box in several rows and hold them at room temperature for 7 to 10 days (a copy with a sprout of at least 1 cm is considered ready for planting). The potatoes are covered with paper or light cloth on top. In this case, the tubers must be periodically moistened and gently inverted.
It is possible to carry out germination in the greenhouse. Then the tubers are left in bulk at a temperature of 4 to 20 degrees. Leaving them literally for a week in ambient light and high humidity, you can proceed directly to the landing.
The density of the bushes in this variety should be average, as well as depth. Despite the fact that the Zhukovsky early potato variety is considered resistant to disease, it is better to process planting material from parasites.
Care
By right, one of the best early ripening varieties is considered to be “Zhukovsky early” potatoes. Reviews of gardeners indicate a high yield even in a limited planting area and minimal maintenance. As a rule, it does not require additional processing in the growth process, it is enough to water it correctly, to spud it several times and to prevent the appearance of parasites. It is undoubtedly resistant to most diseases. This applies, in particular, to rhizoctoniosis and scab. However, parasites, such as the Colorado potato beetle, bear and wireworm, still have to fight, although the nematode bypasses this species.
Basically, the care of the variety is reduced to timely moistening and loosening of the soil, as well as to the destruction of weeds.
Watering
Despite its drought tolerance, as a rule, requires additional moisture and early Zhukovsky potatoes. Reviews indicate that in the event of a rainy summer, watering should be abandoned. A feature of the variety is intolerance to excess moisture. To dry the soil during overflow or heavy rainfall, it must be loosened. With sufficient moisture to the ground, shrubs should certainly be earthed. This will allow you to get the maximum yield.
If frequent watering is not possible, then in the conditions of a dry summer, earthing is better to refuse. This will save maximum moisture in the soil. In the case of significant overflow, in order to avoid rotting of tubers, it is necessary to organize drainage on the beds.
The low yield of potatoes of this variety can indicate either an extremely low or a very high level of moisture in the soil. In both the first and second cases, the tubers may be too small or not form in principle. To increase their number, feeding will not hurt. But the main attention should still be paid to loosening the soil. It must be started before germination.
Diseases and parasites
Growing their own vegetables in a suburban area, gardeners quite often choose “Zhukovsky early” potatoes for planting. A description of its properties suggests that in this case a high yield can be obtained even under unfavorable circumstances. The variety is bred resistant to most characteristic for nightshade diseases. Therefore, the main attention of gardeners should be given to the destruction of weeds and insects that feed on both plant leaves and tubers directly.
The Colorado potato beetle belongs to the first category that can affect the potato harvest. It is possible to deal with adult insects and larvae both chemically and mechanically. In the first case, shrubs are periodically treated with special solutions. In the second, beetles are simply collected and destroyed.
Another enemy of most tuberous vegetables is the bear. This exceptionally smart and hardy insect sometimes has a huge appetite. It is not easy to deal with it, since mechanical destruction is unlikely, and the bear is resistant to many chemicals.
Consumer qualities of tubers
Those who want to get a good harvest of the “second bread” without any particular hassle should definitely pay attention to the “Zhukovsky early” potatoes. Reviews of gardeners confirm the ability to grow 150-200 kg on each hundredths of even not very fertile land with moderate watering and minimal maintenance.
Large smooth tubers with a few eyes are very easy to clean. Potatoes of this variety are brewed quickly enough. At the same time, it has excellent taste. Suitable for frying, does not fall apart during processing.
When properly stored in moderate humidity and temperature, it can remain healthy and tasty throughout the winter, until mid-spring.
Those who want to grow a good harvest of excellent early potatoes on their own plot can be recommended to pay attention to the Zhukovsky variety. Its large smooth tubers can be dug already on the 60th day from the moment of planting. It is unpretentious and resistant to disease, while it has excellent taste.