Description of the variety Zhukovsky
The Zhukovsky variety has been known to gardeners since the early 90s, when it was included in the register. The bred type of potato absorbed the best qualities of the species. It turned out to be adapted to different soils and climatic conditions. Suitable for cultivation in the central regions, North-West, North Caucasus, Volga regions, the Urals and Siberia, the Far East. The variety belongs to the universal or salad variety.
Late or early
Zhukovsky potatoes are early ripening varieties. Ripens in the summer-autumn period and is not stored for long. You can dig up new potatoes after 40 days. A fully ripened vegetable is obtained in 50-60 days.
The bushes grow medium in size, stem, slightly spreading. It blooms for a long time, the flowers are light lilac.
Characteristics of tubers
Root vegetables have a beautiful presentation, pinkish, translucent, smooth skin, white pulp. The texture is dense and pleasant. Size is medium or large, 100-150 g. Shape – oval. The eyes are small, pink, sharp, but noticeable.
After heat treatment, the pulp becomes soft, sweetish, and does not darken after cooking and peeling. The texture does not fall apart, dense, slightly watery. The tubers do not get soft after cooking and keep their shape.
Taste qualities
Potatoes are valued as universal. It is suitable for mashing, baking and frying, baking, soups, making crispy potatoes. After cooking, the potatoes retain their presentation. The potatoes taste sweetish, slightly watery, not dry or mealy.
Productivity
From each bush you can collect up to 10-15 tubers. Depending on the care and planting material, the variety can be productive or moderately productive. You can harvest up to 500 kg per hectare.
Ripening time
Zhukovsky is an early ripening variety. The first tubers can be dug up already in mid-July, of course, if the potatoes are planted in early May. Fully mature root crops are dug up in late August-early September.
Disease resistance
The variety was bred to be resistant to various diseases. Zhukovsky has high resistance to cancer, nematode, scab, mosaic virus, bacteriosis and rhizoctonia. But susceptible to late blight. To prevent the spread of the disease, it is recommended to cut down the tops at the end of July.
Description of fruits
The root vegetables look pretty neat. They have pink skin that is smooth and thin. Potatoes with a pronounced red hue are also acceptable. The approximate weight of the tuber is 150-170 grams, the shape is uneven. During cooking, it does not lose its structure and does not become overcooked. The eyes are small, there are few of them, scattered over the entire surface. The pulp is white; if you cut the root vegetable, it will not darken. A positive feature is that potatoes are resistant to various damages. It does not lose its product characteristics even when transported over long distances.
According to its cooking characteristics, Zhukovsky belongs to types A/B (salad, universal).
As for nutritional value, potatoes contain about 15% starch, a lot of vitamins and other useful elements. Experts call the root vegetables of this variety a complete source of protein and minerals. The calorie content is not the highest, and it contains very little fat and cholesterol.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Zhukovsky potato variety
The Zhukovsky variety is the most common type of potato in the middle zone. It is popular due to its advantages:
- resistance to drought and bad weather;
- endurance to many diseases;
- excellent taste, presentation;
- storage duration;
- earlier maturation;
- long fruiting;
- high yield.
But there are several disadvantages.
- The variety is susceptible to late blight.
- If the soil is too wet, the tubers may rot a little.
Features of the variety
Zhukovsky potatoes (variety description and photos are presented in the article for informational purposes) appeared in 1993 thanks to domestic breeders. Agronomists wanted to develop a variety with an early ripening period, good taste, excellent yield and resistance to various external conditions.
As a result, the Zhukovsky variety was developed, which became an excellent result of the work of Russian scientists.
Landing of Zhukovsky
Landing is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to prepare the beds in time. Sprouted tubers produce quick and friendly shoots.
Soil preparation
This is one of the types of potatoes that is not at all demanding on the quality of the soil. But you shouldn’t try to grow it in all types of soil. Dry, clayey, heavy soils or too wet, swampy soils are not suitable for cultivation. Potatoes grow poorly in depleted, acidic soils. The tubers will grow, but they will be small and tasteless. The most suitable option is light, loamy or sandy soils, moderately moist. They must be fertilized with organic matter.
Prepare your beds for planting in the fall:
- dig up, remove the remains of previous crops, remove weeds;
- add wood ash and rotted compost, 20-30 buckets per 10 square meters. m;
- loosen;
- can be covered with non-woven material.
In spring, be sure to loosen the soil again and apply nitrogen fertilizers.
The best predecessors for the Zhukovsky potato variety are legumes, cabbage, cucumbers and various green manures.
Germination of tubers
To ensure smooth germination, start germinating the tubers in advance. This should be done a month before planting. If you expect to plant potatoes at the end of April, then start germinating at the end of March.
Select only healthy, whole and large tubers. The quality of the harvest depends on the quality of planting material. Remove sprouts larger than 5 cm. Place the potatoes in a single layer in a bright, warm room. Ventilate the room often. Make sure the air is not too dry.
When the sprouts reach a size of 1 cm, and the peel turns a little green, which will protect the tubers from rodents and pests, you can start planting. Before doing this, inspect for poor-quality, thin sprouts. Such specimens will not produce high-quality fruits.
To speed up germination, place the planting material in damp sawdust or humus, moisten it periodically, and place it under diffused light. Sprouts appear in a couple of weeks. See how to properly prepare potatoes for planting.
When and how to plant a variety
It is better to plant tubers by hand, deepening each one into a special hole. Before planting, carefully roll all tubers in ash to disinfect. Prestige, Maxim and Bordeaux mixture also work well. They accelerate the development of the root system and disinfect against diseases and pests.
The already developed scheme for planting potatoes is as follows: the rows are arranged 70 cm apart and 30-40 cm are left between the bushes so that you can calmly walk and care for the vegetables. With such a planting, every sq. m holds up to 6-7 pieces of root vegetables. Dig holes no more than 6-7 cm deep so that the potatoes sprout quickly and amicably.
The optimal temperature for planting is heated soil to +7-10 degrees.
Planting and growing the Zhukovsky potato variety
The technology for growing the Zhukovsky variety is absolutely no different from growing other crop varieties.
Crop rotation
It is not recommended to plant potatoes in one area for several years in a row.
Did you know? La Bonnotte is the name of the world's most expensive potato variety. Its tubers are so tender that they are collected exclusively by hand. A kilogram of this exquisite variety costs 500 euros.
Ideal predecessors: cucumbers, cabbage, legumes.
Soil requirements
The variety is absolutely unpretentious to the soil, which is why it is grown throughout Russia. But the harvest in each region is different: in areas with clay soil, as well as depleted and acidic soil, it will be quite poor (the tubers are small and have a worse taste), and it will be more often attacked by diseases.
But on light loamy or sandy soil fed with organic matter, the variety will give high yields.
If there is no suitable soil in your region, there is no need to despair. With proper soil cultivation, you can achieve a very good harvest. To do this, starting in the fall, the earth is dug up (25 cm of the top layer is removed), ash and compost are added. Weeds must be removed. In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, the soil is plowed and leveled.
Preparation of planting material
For planting, last year's harvest is used: it is carefully sorted, removing soft, small (less than 80 g), rotten, injured and moldy fruits.
The sorted seed material is prepared for germination. It is put into boxes and taken out to a warm room for a week and a half. It is better to cover the boxes with paper so that diffused light reaches the potatoes. Periodically it is moistened and turned over.
When sprouts about 10 mm long appear in the eyes, the tubers can be planted. They are pre-treated with insecticides and disinfected with potassium permanganate.
Step-by-step landing instructions
Landing is carried out as follows:
- In the garden bed, grooves are dug at a distance of 0.7 m from one another.
- Holes are dug in the grooves at intervals of 0.3 m.
- Organic fertilizers are poured into the hole.
- Tubers are placed on top of the fertilizers and sprinkled with soil.
Important! In cold regions, the bed is covered with film or agrofibre to protect the crops from frost.
Growing methods
Since Zhukovsky potatoes are not demanding on soil and care, it is easy to experiment with them. Experienced gardeners recommend the following growing methods:
- planting in a barrel or box without a bottom. This method will help plant potatoes before the soil warms up. The very first layer is formed from sawdust, long-rotting branches, cardboard, humus, and rotted manure. It is moistened with a solution of ash and superphosphate. Such a nutrient layer will not only provide the necessary substances for the root crop, but will also warm the bed. Then a layer of soil is covered. The planting plan is the same as usual, but you can plant it a little more compactly.
- under the straw. They make ordinary beds for potatoes, but the planted potatoes are not covered with earth, but covered with straw. The straw needs to be properly moistened. To protect the plantings from weeds, the beds are covered with an opaque film. When sprouts appear, holes are made for them, but the film is not removed.
- on a warm bed with a slide. A trench is dug in the ground, at the bottom of which large and long-rotting material, such as logs, large branches, and vegetables, is placed. Then it is covered with straw, the next layer comes from tops, leaves, small branches, and unnecessary vegetables. We lay the straw again. The next layer will be made of humus, manure or compost. Next, add a heap of fertile soil. Potatoes can be planted on both sides.
There are other ways to plant potatoes; we recommend that you look at what planting methods are used to increase potato yields.
Landing
Seed potatoes are usually prepared for cultivation. The tubers are carefully crushed, separating healthy individuals from sick ones, and germinated.
You should not take root crops that are too small (less than 80 grams) for planting, or material that is too soft in structure.
You should not cut the tubers for hanging planting material, as this will negatively affect the characteristics of the variety during cultivation.
After this, the tubers are placed for germination. For this purpose, use boxes, bags, or simply lay out the material in bulk under the film. The temperature should be kept at a level from +4 to +20, lighting should be diffused. To do this, cover the potatoes with a white cloth, paper or newspapers. If germination takes place indoors, it is important to carry out periodic moistening and turning, as well as disinfection with potassium permanganate (once a week).
When sprouts about a centimeter long appear on the tubers, you can start planting. When planting by hand, you can reduce the ripening period of the variety by immersing the tubers in peat or wet sawdust. A week before planting, it is worth digging up the soil. The composition of the soil is not important. Planted at medium length and with medium density, cover the plantings with agrofibre. You can place garlic or onion peels at the bottom of the holes to repel parasites.
Features of care
Zhukovsky is also easy to care for. It is important to hill it regularly, water it as needed and remove weeds. Feeding is practically not needed.
Watering
Moderate watering is required. Usually the weather conditions are sufficient. But if it’s a hot and dry year, then Zhukovsky potatoes need to be watered every week. It is advisable to organize drip irrigation. Here are some ready-made options:
Hilling
Hilling plays an important role in growing potatoes. You need to start immediately after germination. Cover them with earth so that they are not visible. This stimulates the development of the root system and protects from bad weather. Then, when the sprouts grow 10-15 cm, hill them a second time. When the stems grow a little more and elongate, additional hilling will help stimulate the formation of new tubers.
Hilling should also be done after watering or the day after rain to retain moisture in the soil. Look at the rules for hilling potatoes.
The best time for hilling is morning or evening; the sun is too bright in the middle of the day.
Feeding
Potatoes respond well to fertilizing. You need to fertilize 2-3 times per season. Apply the first portion after germination. A solution of wood ash, bird droppings or compost is suitable. Pour half a bucket under the bush. Next you need to hill up the potatoes. Ready-made potash fertilizers and superphosphates are also suitable. By the way, there is a detailed article about when and what to feed potatoes.
The second time is fed during flowering.
And the third during fruit setting. At this time, it is more important to apply potassium fertilizers. But there is no need to overdo it with fertilizing.
If the soils are initially fertile and a lot of nutrients were added during preparation, then additional fertilizing is not needed.
Loosening and killing weeds
Loosening and removing weeds is an important part of care. These procedures help saturate the soil with oxygen, which promotes the development of roots and fruits. They also protect against pests and diseases.
Reviews of Zhukovsky potatoes
As a rule, gardeners speak positively about the Zhukovsky variety, because it is really profitable to grow, both on a small and large scale.
Ekaterina Karaseva : “Of the early potato varieties, I prefer the Zhukovsky variety. It ripens quickly, produces a large harvest, and there are no problems with it - the main thing is to wait until it ripens. Because once I collected it ahead of schedule, and it was stored very poorly.”
Petr Savchenko : “This is not the first year I have been planting Zhukovsky potatoes, but only together with other varieties. It is unpretentious and quickly produces a harvest. Always goes first for food. And I put later varieties into storage. The main problem I encountered was the Colorado potato beetle, but if you choose the right insecticide, there will be no difficulties.”
Olesya Petrova : “Despite the cold climate and relatively cool summer this year, the Zhukovsky potato variety pleased us with a large harvest. True, I spent a lot of time on care, but it was worth it. Now I will plant every year. It’s very tasty and lasts a long time, so I recommend it to everyone.”
Diseases and pests
Zhukovsky is resistant to most dangerous diseases. But it can be affected by late blight and the main potato pest, the Colorado potato beetle.
The best way to fight is prevention. Plant only tested and uninfected material. To protect yourself from late blight, perform crop rotation more often. It is also recommended to mow the tops of potatoes a couple of weeks before harvesting.
Late blight of potatoes
You can determine what ails potatoes in an article about potato diseases with photos, descriptions and treatment options.
You can fight the beetle using traditional methods and chemicals. The first include the following measures:
- collecting beetles by hand;
- dusting with cornmeal. It swells in the insect's stomach and causes its death. The number of pests is reduced;
- sprinkling with plaster, ash, tobacco, cement. All these substances are extremely unpleasant for beetles. Plus the larvae die.
You can also use insecticides, but this must be done before flowering, and especially not during fruit formation.
Potatoes Zhukovsky: how to care for seedlings
During the growing season, Zhukovsky potatoes require the same care as other varieties. All these measures will have a very good effect on potato yields and taste. It is recommended to loosen the soil so that air can reach the roots and an earthen crust does not form. In case of severe drought, “Zhukovsky” will not refuse additional moisture - you can water it, but not overdo it, so as not to create a favorable microclimate for the development of various diseases.
It is also recommended to hill up the potatoes, 2 times per season is enough, this is required in order to protect the potatoes from temperature changes, support the tops and for greater supply of nutrients and moisture to the roots. If desired, you can also fertilize the potatoes; the plant responds positively to both organic and mineral fertilizers.
Harvest storage
Zhukovsky is well stored all winter in a cool, dark room. For long wintering, a temperature of +3-5 degrees is suitable.
After harvesting, place the potatoes outdoors or in a dark, well-ventilated area. Turn the fruit over every couple of days so that it is thoroughly dried on all sides. Choose a dry, warm day to harvest. Then you won’t have to dry the potatoes for a long time and clean them from lumps of earth.
Harvesting and storage of the variety
You should dig potatoes when the tops have completely dried out and fallen off. This usually happens at the end of July. Zhukovsky potatoes are harvested 60 days after pollen. Moreover, they are temporary, the root crops are fully formed, the procedure protects them from late blight. Harvesting is carried out mechanically or manually. You should not delay digging up the fruits; they may become overripe.
Vegetables are stored in a place where the air temperature is no more than +5 degrees. Potato tubers can be stored for approximately 6-7 months. According to experienced gardeners, if you dig up vegetables that are not fully ripe, they will last longer. Before placing potatoes in boxes, you should sort out rotten, damaged specimens and dispose of them. You should not store unusable potatoes nearby, this provokes rotting of healthy specimens.
