Relatively recently, a variety of early potato Karatop was bred in Germany. Breeders sought to develop a unique variety, and they practically succeeded. This potato variety provides a stable and rich harvest in the early days. On the positive side, he has established himself among many summer residents.
Grade description
Many gardeners and gardeners, having heard about this plant, want to know a detailed description of the variety, photos, reviews about Karatop potatoes.
The fruits of the variety are medium-sized, have a round-oval, oval shape. The average mass of tubers is 65-100 g. The pulp is medium-grained, light yellow in color. The peel is smooth with a yellow tint, has a slight roughness.
Characteristics of the fruit and other characteristics of the variety
- Ripening period. This variety belongs to early ripening. The vegetative period of potatoes is 65 days. Harvest can already be on the 50th day after planting.
- Productivity Description of the early potato variety Karatop, photos and reviews indicate that the plant is characterized by a high yield. 1.5 months after planting, from 1 hectare you can collect more than 30 tons of potatoes. 2 months after planting (at the end of the ripening period), the yield can be 50 tons.
- The soil. This variety grows well in almost all types of soil. Additional care and nutrition is required for the plant if it grows on soils with a heavy grain size distribution.
- Watering. Reviews and description of the Karatop potato variety confirm that the plant does not tolerate drought well. Without artificial or natural irrigation, tubers form very slowly. At the end of the growing season, the quality of the crop is significantly reduced.
- Disease resistance. This plant is characterized by its resistance to various diseases affecting potatoes: potato cancer, glandular spotting, viruses Y and A, nematode, late blight. According to the description of the variety, photos and reviews, Karatop potato exhibits weak resistance to late blight of tubers.
- Appointment and taste. Karatop is actively used both in home cooking and in industrial. The shelf life of the variety is 97%.
- On a 5-point scale, the taste of potatoes is estimated at 4.7 points. During heat treatment, potatoes are well boiled. It can be used both for making mashed potatoes, chips, and for freezing.
Shoot characteristics
A potato bush of medium height, characterized by a high rate of development. The vegetation has a spreading or semi-spreading shape. Variety of intermediate type, semi-upright. The plant is characterized by the absence or weak anthocyanin color of the stem. The leaves are medium sized, intermediate. Tops of green shade, leaf edge with a barely noticeable wave. During flowering, a small amount of white color flowers is formed. About 25 medium-sized tubers are formed in one bush.
How to germinate seed?
Variety description, reviews and photos of Karatop potatoes are already known, but how to prepare the plant for planting? The main thing is to comply with the technology of germination of tubers. Remember that potatoes should be βwoken upβ in time after wintering. Only in this case will it give a good harvest.
Low yields can occur as a result of damage to the processes of the Colorado potato beetle. This pest begins to attack potatoes in late May. Strong, tender young shoots can be damaged. Therefore, root crops must be sprouted correctly and on time. Then, by the time these bugs appear, the potatoes will have time to grow and get stronger.
Germination of a plant occurs in the following sequence:
- Potatoes are taken from the store. Inspect the tubers for damage.
- Only healthy medium-sized potatoes are selected. Small and large tubers should not be used for planting. They are disinfected. The following components must be used: 10 g of copper sulfate, boric acid, magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate, 0.5 kg of ash, 2 g of potassium permanganate. All components should be thoroughly mixed and diluted with 10 liters of water. Selected tubers should be placed in this solution for approximately 30 minutes.
- Dry the disinfected potatoes in boxes. But remember, you cannot place more than 3 rows in each drawer. Boxes should be placed in a well-lit place. The air temperature in the room should be in the range of 15 0 C.
- A week before planting the tubers should be placed in a bucket of water with diluted sawdust. Wet potatoes should again be placed in boxes and wrapped with an unpressed film.
- The next day, boxes with seed potatoes are covered with sawdust before planting in open ground.
- During this time, the tubers will give good shoots sufficient for sowing.
Proper planting of potatoes
Description of the Karatop potato variety, photos and reviews indicate that the culture needs timely watering on dry days and proper hilling.
Plant care is very important, but special attention should be paid to planting it.
First of all, prepare the soil. It is better that the earth was dug up in the fall. When digging, compost, superphosphate and wood ash are added to the soil. These components must be added separately, after which the soil should be well loosened with a rake.
Many people think that manure is more efficient as a fertilizer. But this is not so. It contributes to the active release of nitrogen. Grown potatoes in such a soil will blacken during cooking.
One month before planting, tubers should be prepared in the manner described above.
Potatoes should be planted only when the topsoil is warmed to a depth of 12 cm. Planted potatoes in cold ground will not produce enough tubers.
The tubers should be placed to a depth of 20 cm. A mixture of humus and ash can be put in the hole, filling it with 5 cm. There should be a distance of more than 30 cm between the holes. Otherwise, the tubers will have little space and they will not give the desired growth. Between the rows there should be a distance of about 80 cm.
After planting, the ground is leveled with a rake and watered abundantly. The first sprouts can be seen after 10 days.
Reviews
It is amazing why this variety of potatoes is not very well known in our country. Most likely, there is not enough marketing promotion. Great variety. Potato Karatop has proven itself. With proper care, you can get a good early harvest.
But some summer residents do not recommend planting this variety of potatoes in arid regions. Otherwise, you will need to carefully water the plantings daily. The lack of moisture affects not only the quantity, but also the quality of the crop.
Conclusion
Many gardeners will be interested in Karatop potatoes. Description of the variety, photos of the early harvest will not leave indifferent summer residents. After all, this is a great way to get an early good potato crop.