Description of the variety
Cardinal potatoes are not afraid of sudden changes in temperature; they will fully develop even in strong winds and short-term frosts . Thanks to these qualities, potatoes have become widespread throughout the world.
The bush is tall, erect, with emerald-colored leaves. The foliage is dense, the leaves are large, long, with sharp ends. During flowering, the flowers acquire a burgundy-lilac hue. Care during the growing season is simple and comes down to standard agricultural techniques.
Origin and development
The Cardinal potato variety was developed in Holland. Scientists from the Netherlands have instilled in the crop high productivity, long shelf life and the ability to grow in arid and humid climates.
Reference . From Latin “cardinal” (“cardinalis”) is translated as “chief”.
Today the crop competes with many well-known potato varieties.
Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins
Tubers are distinguished by a high content of vitamins and minerals, organic acids. Fiber helps improve intestinal motility, and starch has a beneficial effect on the immune system.
Phosphorus, potassium and iron help strengthen human bone tissue and maintain it in normal condition throughout life. And the level of vitamin C contained in potato tubers is enough to meet your daily requirement.
Oxalic, malic and citric acids regulate the acid-base balance.
Reference . The variety does not cause allergies and can be used to feed children.
Ripening period
The culture is late-ripening. From the moment of planting to full ripening, 110-120 days pass. The growing season is long. The formation of tubers is not uniform: they are of different sizes, from small to medium.
Productivity
Productivity is high and reaches 300 c/ha. The culture is considered unpretentious and does not require special attention - it is enough to follow simple rules of agricultural technology. The variety is not bred on an industrial scale; it is grown for personal use.
One plant produces 6-11 tubers with a total weight of 3-4 kg.
Disease resistance
The variety is resistant to cancer, scab, rhizoctonia, and is not afraid of potato nematodes. This factor is decisive for most gardeners.
Characteristics of tubers, appearance
The shape of the tubers is oval-elongated, average weight 70-110 g, pink-red color. The taste is excellent, the color of the pulp is light amber. When heat treated, the flesh does not darken and the potatoes do not become overcooked, so they are used universally in households, added to winter salads, and made into fries and chips.
Keeping quality is high, the harvest is preserved almost completely when stored for 4 to 7 months in a cool, dry room.
The starch content in tubers does not exceed 16%.
The photos show Cardinal potatoes.
For which regions is it best suited?
Since the crop takes root in any climate, it can be grown in all regions. It shows high yields in the Moscow, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Kaluga regions. But most of the plantings occur in the Krasnodar Territory - due to its good resistance to hot summers.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of the variety:
- survival in any climate;
- high productivity;
- immunity to diseases;
- simple agricultural technology;
- drought resistance;
- excellent taste;
- long preservation of the crop;
- universal application.
The downside is the long growing season, which prevents farmers from growing potatoes in large quantities. Another drawback is the uneven formation of tubers.
What is the difference from other varieties
High resistance to major diseases dangerous to the nightshade family distinguishes the crop among potato varieties. Another important distinguishing feature of Cardinal is its adaptation to any climate, thanks to which it successfully grows and develops in different regions.
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Features of planting and growing
The culture is recommended for cultivation in open ground. The description of the variety and photo of the Cardinal potato indicate its ability to grow even in unfavorable conditions, but if the seed is prepared incorrectly, you can lose part of the harvest.
Pre-sowing preparation
After long-term storage, tubers intended for planting are carefully inspected for visible damage or changes in color. Only whole, light-colored specimens weighing no more than 100 g are selected for planting.
One month before sowing, the tubers are germinated in a bright room at a temperature of +15°C. Within a month, the sprouts reach 1.5-2 cm. By ensuring optimal temperature conditions during germination, the sprouts form strong and sprout quickly.
Greening of tubers occurs during the germination period. During this time, solanine, a toxic glycoside, accumulates in the skins, which changes color. Greened tubers remain healthy in the ground longer and are not damaged by rodents.
Reference . Unprepared sown potatoes are often damaged by rodents - field mice attack the plantings after a hungry winter.
Soil requirements
To obtain a rich harvest, the crop should be planted in light and fertile soil. In heavy soil, the yield will decrease noticeably.
To make the soil lighter, river sand is added as a loosening agent. Fertility is increased by adding humus and wood ash.
Double digging the soil in spring and autumn not only loosens the soil, but also destroys the larvae of pests living in the ground and prevents the spread of fungal spores.
Dates, scheme and rules of planting
Sowing work begins in early May. Prepare holes 10 cm deep and place a little wood ash at the bottom of each.
Planting pattern: 35 cm – distance between seedlings, 60-65 cm – row spacing. With a greater distance between seedlings, crop productivity increases.
Features of cultivation
Experienced gardeners advise beginning vegetable growers to plant Cardinal, since caring for it is extremely simple.
Watering mode
Water the crop as the top layer of soil dries out, but not more than once every 10 days . Increase the amount of watering only during flowering and tuber formation. Each seedling consumes 5-6 liters of water.
After watering, loosening is carried out to improve air exchange. In loose soil, oxygen penetrates faster to the root system.
To keep moisture in the beds longer, mulch using peat or straw. Mulching also protects plantings from pests.
Feeding
The first fertilizing is applied as soon as the seedlings grow to 15-20 cm. They are fertilized with nitrogen to accelerate the growth of green mass.
The second time is fed one week before flowering. Use organic matter, bird droppings in a ratio of 1:10 with water or a complex of minerals.
The third feeding is carried out during fruiting. The plant is fertilized with potassium elements. Since fruiting is extended, the crop can be fed twice, the second time using organic matter.
Important ! All fertilizing is applied to well-moistened soil.
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Weeding and hilling
For the full development of seedlings, weeds must be removed from the beds, since they take a lot of mineral elements from the soil. In addition, many pests live and reproduce in weeds.
Seedlings are planted at least twice a season. The hilling procedure involves raking the soil from the rows onto the plants. The higher the ridge, the more the tubers are protected from the penetration of pests and sunlight.
Disease and pest control
Due to the high resistance of the plant, potatoes are practically not affected by viral and fungal diseases. But since other crops besides potatoes grow on the site, preventive measures are carried out for all plants. Seedlings are sprayed twice a season with the contact fungicide “Fitosporin” to prevent fungal spores from developing.
During planting, the seed material is sprinkled with ash, which also disinfects it.
Cutworm butterflies are dangerous for seedlings. They cause great harm to plants by penetrating the stem. Gradually, pests move on to the tubers and stimulate the development of microorganisms that cause rotting. In the fight against parasitic butterflies, the insecticide “Decis” is used.
Reference . Daily inspection of seedlings will help to identify deviations from the norm and take the necessary measures in time.
Plant care rules
The amount of harvest depends on the quality of care
Cardinal potatoes are characterized as unpretentious, but they will need a little attention. The number and quality of the harvest depends on proper and timely care. Below is a description of how to care for potatoes.
Loosen the soil around the bushes. This is done only 2 times: before emergence and after. The first feeding is carried out using a hoe when the plant reaches a height of 14-17 cm. The second feeding is done 2-3 weeks after the first. The holes where potatoes are planted must be carefully weeded to remove weeds. The more often this happens, the better. If you notice the first wilting of the leaves, and the soil is also dry, the potatoes need to be watered urgently, and generously. If weather conditions have given heavy rainfall and well-moistened the soil, then you can add fertilizer in the form of bird droppings. It will also be useful to dilute the soil with mineral fertilizers in the form of wood ash. Basically, minerals are added immediately after fertilizing.
It must be remembered that nitrogen fertilizers must be applied very carefully and only in the early stages of ripening. If you add nitrogen in the late period, it will increase the growth of tops, which will negatively affect the number and quality of the harvest.
Harvest and storage
The harvest is harvested in the fall, in September. Due to the late ripening period, the crop is rarely planted in cold regions, since the first frosts are possible at this time.
After harvesting, the vegetables are left outside for two hours to dry. They are then carefully inspected for damage and placed in wooden boxes for storage.
Keeping quality of the variety
Vegetables are stored for a long time - 95% of the total mass retains its taste and presentation for 5-7 months. To do this, you will need a dry, dark and cool room. The optimal temperature is +2-6°C.
Plant care rules
The amount of harvest depends on the quality of care
Cardinal potatoes are characterized as unpretentious, but they will need a little attention. The number and quality of the harvest depends on proper and timely care. Below is a description of how to care for potatoes.
Loosen the soil around the bushes. This is done only 2 times: before emergence and after. The first feeding is carried out using a hoe when the plant reaches a height of 14-17 cm. The second feeding is done 2-3 weeks after the first. The holes where potatoes are planted must be carefully weeded to remove weeds. The more often this happens, the better. If you notice the first wilting of the leaves, and the soil is also dry, the potatoes need to be watered urgently, and generously. If weather conditions have given heavy rainfall and well-moistened the soil, then you can add fertilizer in the form of bird droppings. It will also be useful to dilute the soil with mineral fertilizers in the form of wood ash. Basically, minerals are added immediately after fertilizing.
It must be remembered that nitrogen fertilizers must be applied very carefully and only in the early stages of ripening. If you add nitrogen in the late period, it will increase the growth of tops, which will negatively affect the number and quality of the harvest.
Tips and reviews from gardeners
Experienced vegetable growers give the following tips to increase crop productivity:
- When the bird cherry blossoms, feel free to start planting potatoes. Bird cherry will not bloom if there is a threat of return frosts.
- If the seed is no more than 50-60 g, place 2-3 potatoes in each hole. Otherwise, there will be few stems, which will lead to a decrease in yield.
Potatoes are not grown industrially and are used only in households. Gardeners leave only positive reviews about it.
Anna, Kislovodsk: “I have been growing cardinal for two years. I read the characteristics of the variety on the Internet and decided to plant it in my garden. Care is very simple, I fertilized it only twice per season with mineral fertilizers, and the harvest was excellent all two years. Vegetables are delicious in any dish, I especially like boiled potatoes.”
Elena, Tver: “On my plot I grow several varieties, one of which is Cardinal. I like its keeping quality and preservation of all qualities. The yield of the crop is excellent; I collect at least 3-3.5 kg from one bush. The seedlings are resistant to temperature changes and do not get sick.”
Plant care rules
The amount of harvest depends on the quality of care
Cardinal potatoes are characterized as unpretentious, but they will need a little attention. The number and quality of the harvest depends on proper and timely care. Below is a description of how to care for potatoes.
Loosen the soil around the bushes. This is done only 2 times: before emergence and after. The first feeding is carried out using a hoe when the plant reaches a height of 14-17 cm. The second feeding is done 2-3 weeks after the first. The holes where potatoes are planted must be carefully weeded to remove weeds. The more often this happens, the better. If you notice the first wilting of the leaves, and the soil is also dry, the potatoes need to be watered urgently, and generously. If weather conditions have given heavy rainfall and well-moistened the soil, then you can add fertilizer in the form of bird droppings. It will also be useful to dilute the soil with mineral fertilizers in the form of wood ash. Basically, minerals are added immediately after fertilizing.
It must be remembered that nitrogen fertilizers must be applied very carefully and only in the early stages of ripening. If you add nitrogen in the late period, it will increase the growth of tops, which will negatively affect the number and quality of the harvest.
