Firewood potatoes: variety characteristics, taste, reviews

Description of the potato variety Firewood

The culture is classified as an early variety. From the moment of planting to the ripening of the tubers, 70 days pass. It is highly productive. Each bush is capable of producing up to 15 fruits. The variety is not included in the State Register.

Description of Firewood tubers:

• the peel is light brown;
• dark inclusions are clearly visible on the surface;
• the number of ocelli is small;
• in cross-section the fruits are light yellow and loose;
• the pulp is dense, slightly boiled;
• in appearance they resemble elongated wood logs;
• average weight 800 g.

Firewood potatoes began to be grown in the Altai Territory. Therefore, it is suitable for most regions of the Russian Federation, Belarus, and Ukraine. The variety is not afraid of windy weather, precipitation and large temperature changes.

The peculiarity of the Firewood potato is the size of the root crops. The variety is unpretentious in care. Even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation.

Description of the bush:

• erect, consists of several stems;
• average height 60 cm;
• spreading stems;
• flowers are white, produces few berries;
• large leaves of light green color.

Important!
Unscrupulous sellers often sell other varieties under the guise of Firewood potatoes, raising the cost of seed material. Plants from the Solanaceae family cannot be planted next to it. The crops have the same diseases, so there is a high risk of infecting potatoes with Firewood.

Tubers of the variety are light yellow in section

Planting and growing potatoes of the Drova variety

Firewood is quite unpretentious in care, and therefore even beginners can cope with the variety. It is only recommended to follow the few rules that do exist.

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Planting material must be prepared a month before planting. It is worth choosing those root vegetables that weigh no more than 100 g and inspect them for damage. If they exist, it is worth disposing of such potatoes. The rest should be laid out in a bright room at a temperature of at least 15 °C.

Be sure to germinate potatoes before planting

When the sprouts reach 2 cm, the material can be planted in open ground if the temperature outside is above zero. In this case, the sprouts that have formed during this time must be removed. Before planting, it is worth treating the potatoes with growth stimulants, which will protect the planting material from the development of fungus.

Soil requirements

The variety is unpretentious to the soil. The only condition is double digging: the first time after harvesting in the fall, and the second time before planting. Loose soil will allow potatoes to sprout quickly. Digging will also eliminate pests that can damage planting material.

Don't forget about proper crop rotation. Considering the fact that Drova potatoes are susceptible to fungal diseases, you should not plant them in the same place year after year. The best way out of the situation is to plant peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants in those beds where peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants were previously planted.

Important! It is important to choose the right place for planting; groundwater should not rise above 70 cm to the surface of the earth. Also, potatoes of this variety love the sun, and therefore the area should be open.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

You can start planting potatoes in April if the soil has already warmed up to 7 °C. Planting is carried out in sunny weather. It is worth preparing the holes in advance by filling them with a small amount of wood ash. The planting pattern must be followed: at least 30-35 cm of distance between seedlings is required, and the row spacing is 60-70 cm.

Potato planting scheme

Note! You should not plant plants belonging to the Solanaceae family next to potatoes. These crops have the same diseases, and therefore there is a possible risk of infection.

Characteristics of the potato variety Firewood

Drova potatoes have low taste qualities. Most often, the crop is used to feed farm animals. Stores well in the basement at a temperature of + 3-7 ° C until spring. Root vegetables are resistant to cracking. Easily withstands long-term transportation.

Characteristic:

1. The variety is frost-resistant. If the sprouts are damaged by the night return cold, it is quickly restored. Fruiting and ripening period are not affected by unfavorable climatic conditions.
2. Culture prefers light. In the shade, potatoes Firewood slows down the growing season. The tops become lighter and stretch out. Fewer tubers are formed, small specimens appear.
3. Drowa potatoes tolerate drought well. He perceives the drying out of the earth normally. If overwatered, rotting of the root system and stem may occur. This leads to the development of a fungal infection.

Productivity

The ripening period is on average 70 days. Productivity 450 c/ha. From one bush you can collect up to 15 specimens of high marketability. The amount of sunlight affects the yield. In a dark place, the tubers grow in smaller numbers and are light in weight.

Advantages and disadvantages

Firewood potatoes are valued for the large size of the tubers. Withstands long-term transportation well.

Potatoes Firewood gives stable high yields

pros

• large size;
• frost resistance;
• has high shelf life, retains its quality and presentation until spring;
• Firewood is not demanding on soil composition and agricultural technology;
• high productivity, independent of climatic conditions;
• drought-resistant, does not require watering;
• good transportability;
• grows well in unfavorable climatic conditions.

Minuses

• Firewood potatoes are not certified;
• the variety is difficult to find on sale;
• low taste;
• weak resistance to the development of fungal diseases.

Pros and cons of the variety

The advantage of the Firewood potato variety can be identified at first glance. However, potatoes have many more negative characteristics. Let's list the pros and cons of the variety.

pros

1. Potatoes reach large sizes;
2. They have excellent keeping quality;
3. Resistance of the Firewood variety to climatic conditions;
4. They do not require systematic saturation of the soil with minerals;
5. High yield of the variety;
6. Drought resistance;
7. Susceptibility to transportability.

Minuses

1. The potato variety has not been certified;
2. It is difficult to purchase seed material;
3. There are no unique taste qualities;
4. Lack of immunity to diseases.

Landing rules

The optimal planting time is early May. Choose a place that is dry and well lit. Do not plant near trees, otherwise the root system will destroy the tubers. Firewood potatoes prefer loose, slightly moist soil.

Rules for selecting seed:

• you need to buy in a specialized store; markets often sell a completely different variety;
• the tubers are chosen to be small in size, about the size of a chicken egg;
• There should be no damage or sores on whole seeds.

The holes are dug in advance, filled with wood ash. A distance of at least 30 cm is maintained between seedlings. The row spacing is 60 cm. When planting, the soil is fertilized with products containing potassium and phosphorus.

Important! Drova potatoes are susceptible to fungal diseases, so they cannot be planted in one place every year.

Landing rules:

1. Planting material is prepared a month in advance. Damaged specimens should not be used. The tubers are poured onto newspaper in a bright room. Temperature – not lower than + 15 °C. The sprouts should reach 2 cm.
2. Firewood potatoes are planted in open ground when the temperature reaches at least + 10 °C. The tubers are treated with a growth stimulator. The procedure helps protect the seeds from fungal development.
3. The depth of the holes in light soil is 10 cm, in heavy and dense soil it is 6 cm.

Before planting, the seed material is germinated

Harvesting and storage

Firewood potatoes are harvested after they ripen. The maturity of the fruit can be determined by the drying of the tops. The harvest is usually dug up in sunny weather.

After digging, the potatoes must be thoroughly dried (2 weeks). Next, the root crop is inspected for rotting or damage. Whole potatoes are placed in wooden boxes.

Potatoes Firewood is recommended to be stored in basements, the temperature of which reaches 4-7 degrees Celsius. Potatoes last well until spring, but then they may begin to rot.

Features of cultivation

To get a bountiful harvest, Drova potatoes must be properly cared for.

Basic rules of watering:

1. Carry out three times per season: at the moment of bud formation, during flowering and after it.
2. If the summer is dry, the frequency of the procedure is doubled. The plant requires watering when the foliage noticeably wilts.
3. Irrigation is recommended to be done by sprinkling. The water pressure ensures that the liquid is sprayed over the crop, getting onto the bush and into the root system.
4. The process is carried out in the morning so that the leaves have time to dry by evening. Otherwise, fungus will appear on the plant.

After watering, the potatoes are weeded and loosened. Firewood. Fungi and pests multiply in weeds. Therefore, the soil around the plant is regularly weeded. The beds can be covered with mulch using sawdust or straw.

Important! If the soil in which the Firewood potatoes are planted is moist, then watering is not necessary. The plant will need enough natural water content in the soil.

As soon as the first shoots appear, apply nitrogen fertilizers necessary to accelerate growth. At the time of tuber formation, the plant is helped by adding potassium and phosphorus to the soil.

Hilling is carried out three times only along the edges. You can't fill the center. The height of the ridge of 20 cm protects the Firewood potatoes from pests. Without hilling, the root system will not be able to form, and the tubers will not grow of sufficient size.

Two weeks before the expected harvest, cut off the foliage, leaving no more than 10 cm of the stem. On the same day it is burned to prevent bacterial spores from getting into the ground. The technical maturity of Firewood potatoes can be determined by the drying of the tops.

Important! To protect the crop from diseases, it should be planted after tomatoes, peppers or eggplants.

To increase productivity, weeds are regularly removed

How to properly care for the variety

Every gardener wants to get a rich harvest from his garden, but he needs to take proper care of it in order to get what he wants. First of all, you should pay attention to the need and correctness of watering, fertilizing and weeding.

Features of watering

Watering is carried out 3 times per season. This is often done during the formation of buds, during and after flowering. If the summer is dry, it is worth doubling the amount of watering. The signal for the need for this action is the withering of the leaves on the plant.

For your information! It is best to irrigate by sprinkling; water is sprayed under pressure over the plant, hitting the leaves and roots as if it were raining. This must be done in the morning so that by evening the foliage has time to dry, otherwise the appearance of fungus cannot be avoided.

Potatoes are watered three times per season.

Feeding and fertilizing

After the first shoots appear, it is worth adding nitrogen, which is contained in ammonium nitrate, to the substrate, this will speed up plant growth. When tubers begin to form, the plant should be helped by adding phosphorus and potassium to the soil.

Pests and diseases

The variety has low immunity to fungal diseases. When planting, the seeds are treated with special means that initially protect against infection. For prevention and treatment during the growing season, spraying is carried out:

• Ossikhom;
  Oxychom effectively fights fungi
• Fitosporin.
  Fitosporin is used for treatment and prevention

Firewood attacks potatoes:

1. Wireworm.
   Beetle larvae are dangerous. Worms live in the substrate. They feed on the root system of the crop and tubers. It causes damage in the second half of summer, when fruits begin to form. Adult wireworm larvae gnaw tunnels in tubers
2. Colorado beetle.
   Extremely prolific and voracious. Larvae and beetles, when multiplied en masse, are capable of destroying all foliage, stems and petioles. The most effective method of control is manual collection of beetles. Colorado potato beetles reduce crop yields and transmit viral diseases
3. Aphid.
   Damages foliage by sucking sap from it and causing curling. Firewood potatoes stop growing. Spreads viral infections that reduce yields. When attacked en masse, aphids negatively affect the quality of tubers

When planting, to repel insects, add the following to the hole:

• onion peel;
• mustard powder;
• wood ash.

Important! For preventative purposes, marigolds are planted between the beds. Their smell helps repel parasites.

Reviews from gardeners

The following reviews are left about purchasing seeds and growing potatoes:

Olga, Volgograd : “I bought potatoes second-hand, they said they were the old Drova variety. The tubers are long and large; it seemed tempting to grow such a miracle. They turned out to taste very bland and tasteless - this is only for livestock feed, nowhere else.”

Anton, Penza : “I saw photos on the Internet many times with the caption “Potato Firewood”, I was looking for something similar. There is nothing on the seed markets anywhere, some have never even heard of it. I bought it second hand, but in the end it turned out to be completely wrong. The neighbor said that the variety is more like Lapot, also old, but still not Drova.”

Sergey, Balashov : “I’ve always been wary of things like buying seeds or tubers from my own hands. I bought into the hype around this very Firewood, but in the end it turned out to be not Firewood at all, not even logs. The variety was good, but it’s not known whether it’s really the same one or just similar.”

Characteristics of Tiras potatoes

Colombo potatoes: description, cultivation and care of the variety

The variety is in demand due to its relative unpretentiousness. Table potatoes produce high yields even on insufficiently fertilized lands.

The bushes reach medium height. The elongated emerald foliage forms a jagged edge. Blooms with burgundy-lilac baskets. Potato stolons reach a length of 5-6 cm. An important characteristic of the Tiras variety is the rapid formation of evenly shaped root crops. The skin of the elongated oval tubers is pink. The eyes are located superficially.

Root crops reach up to 140 g in weight. The taste characteristics of the Tiras variety are rated at least 3.5 points out of 5. The pulp is white. Starch content does not exceed 15%.

Potatoes Kiranda (Chinese early Davydova, Chinese miracle)

Super early variety of Chinese selection.

Recommended for the southern and central regions, but has not passed state tests. Undemanding to soil, loves good watering and fertilizing, adapts well, and is drought-resistant. Resistance to diseases is above average.

The harvest can be harvested already on the 50-60th day after planting. The average yield is 120-250 c/ha; in the southern regions the harvest can be obtained twice per season.

The plants are medium-sized, vigorous but compact, with dark green leaves and large pale purple flowers.

The tubers are oval-round in shape, with a smooth yellow skin and light yellow pulp, with medium-sized eyes, an average weight of 150-250 g (the weight of some tubers can reach 900 g). Starch content – ​​12-17%.

The taste is excellent, table potatoes are universally used. Keeping quality is excellent, but may begin to sprout early in storage.

Diseases and parasites

The Tiras variety demonstrates high resistance to fruit rust, cancer, and common scab. The subspecies is moderately susceptible to damage by stem nematodes.

Powdery scab

The fungal disease affects the aboveground and underground parts of the plant. Affected tubers dry out or rot during storage. The disease develops on waterlogged soils. Fungal spores remain in the ground for up to 5 years.

Characteristics of symptoms:

• irregular white or brown growths on the roots;
• the formation of warts of various shapes and sizes on tubers;
• the presence of ulcers in the affected areas.

Crop rotation will help avoid the development of the disease. Planting material is carefully selected after storage and pickled.

Macrosporiasis

The disease develops before the flowering period begins. Infestation by the fungus leads to early wilting of the tops, which destroys up to 40% of the crop. The pathogen survives at temperatures of -25°C.

Characteristics of symptoms:

• brown or brown spots on the stem;
• yellow spots of small diameter appear on the leaves;
• round or angular necrotic areas form;
• Gray-brown fluff forms along the contour of the spots.

The seed material is treated with 1%. manganese solution or Bordeaux mixture. The required amount of potassium is added, which reduces the likelihood of disease. Once every two weeks, Tiras potato plantings are sprayed with a solution of phytosporin.

Wireworm

The larva of a click beetle with a rigid, elongated body is light yellow in color. It develops in the soil for 3-4 years and feeds on root crops.

Ways to protect the Tiras variety from pests:

• plow the ground before the onset of persistent frosts;
• remove millet and wheatgrass, on which beetles lay eggs;
• use traps to mechanically destroy click beetles;
• observe potato crop rotation.