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Among gardeners today, the German potato variety Natasha is very popular. It is not surprising, because it is unpretentious, but at the same time it gives an early large harvest. Knowing the characteristics of cultivation and the requirements of this variety, the person who chooses it will not be disappointed.
A bit of history
Potatoes Natasha appeared in our country relatively recently, but in such a short period it won the love of summer residents. The variety is the work of German breeders. How it appeared, and on the basis of what varieties, is not known thoroughly. The manufacturer is the German company Solana. It was produced at the beginning of the 21st century. Today the potato of this variety is included in the State Register, where it is listed as a highly productive, promising crop with an early ripening period. Has a dining function. Recommended for growing in the Middle Volga region.
Round beautiful potatoes Natasha
Main characteristics of the variety
As already noted, the Natasha potato variety, the characteristics of which will be described in detail, refers to crops with an early ripening period (70-80 days). The approximate yield per hectare is from 130 to 190 centners. From 6 to 16 potatoes are formed under one bush.
The bushes of this species are low in height, semi-erect, covered with large leaves with wavy edges. Depending on the growing conditions, their color can be from light green to deep green. Corollas do not have anthocyanin color characteristic of other potato varieties. If it is present, then from the back side and is practically invisible.
Low tops are light green or rich in color
Main characteristics and description of tubers
| Variety | Natasha |
|---|---|
| The form | Oval |
| Eyes | Small and insignificant |
| Weight of one tuber | 110-130 gr. |
| Peel color | Yellow |
| Pulp color | Dark yellow |
| Appointment | Table use, suitable for frying, boiling and other cooking |
| Reaction to heat treatment | In the process of cooking, it practically does not boil over, maintaining excellent taste |
| Amount of starch | 12-14% |
| Keeping quality | 0.93 |
| Marketability | Up to 93% |
Growing features
Subject to the rules of agricultural technology, even a novice gardener can easily harvest a good harvest. The principle of planting and further care of potatoes of the Natasha variety does not differ from the activities for the cultivation of other early varieties.
Landing
In order to acclimatize the planting material, it is removed from the storage place in 1.5 months to a room with a higher temperature regime. The potatoes are pre-sorted. For planting, medium-sized tubers are selected, on which there are no signs of disease and damage. For germination, warm, well-lit rooms are used. It is best to let the seeds lie in direct sunlight.
After tuber germination occurs, it is recommended to carry out treatment with stimulants, for example, Heteroauxin solution. Also, preventive treatment for diseases, for example, with Prestige, will not hurt.
Prepare the soil for planting in the fall. In the spring, if necessary, it is dug up again, cleaned of weeds and roots, and leveled. Each planting hole can be supplemented with an additional 5 tbsp. l. wood ash and 0.7 liters of humus.
Planting potatoes
Depending on the size of the site and the volume of planting material, the planting method is chosen: manual or mechanical. But in any case, a distance of 70 cm is maintained between the rows, and between the holes - 30-35. Planting depth depends on the type of soil and the size of the tubers.
After planting, the surface of the site should be leveled. A rake is used for small areas. For 10 days you can forget about potatoes.
Care
Potatoes Natasha favorably stands out among similar varieties for their excellent resistance to adverse weather conditions. This property and some measures of agricultural technology will help to form a good tasty harvest.
Before the first shoots appear, you should monitor the appearance of weeds on the site, regularly removing them. It is important to prevent the formation of a crust from the soil, blocking the access of oxygen to the soil, which will affect the speed and quality of seedlings.
If during the period of autumn soil preparation, as well as in the spring before planting, sufficient fertilization was applied, then during the growing period you can limit yourself to just two dressings. One of them may be foliar.
It is worth being careful with irrigation, the surplus will have a bad effect on the quality of the crop
The first hilling is carried out after the emergence of seedlings with complete covering of the tops with soil. This will help prevent moisture loss and weed growth. The second hilling is carried out even before the beginning of flowering.
You should not delay harvesting potatoes. If you first mow the tops and let the potatoes lie in the ground a little, then the coca will become coarser, and the flesh will become dense. It is worth harvesting on a clear, sunny day to dry the potatoes in direct sunlight.
After harvesting, it is recommended to store potatoes in a dry and dark room for several weeks, sort it out, removing diseased and damaged tubers. The potatoes are now ready for storage and can be stored in cellars or other storage facilities.
If you follow the simple rules of care, you will get an excellent harvest.
Pests and diseases
A feature of this variety is good immunity, which provides resistance to many diseases:
- cancerous lesions;
- cyst nematodes;
- rhizoctonia.
But, despite this, it is worth regularly examining the potato foliage for damage. If signs of disease are noticed, then treatment with insecticides and fungicides is carried out. The use of chemicals is prohibited 2-3 weeks before the harvest.
The most common pest for potatoes is the Colorado potato beetle. But special modern preparations will help to get rid of the pest infestation for the whole season with one treatment.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Among summer residents, Natasha's potatoes gained such popularity, thanks to a large list of parameters and properties of varietal crops, which can be called advantages:
- early harvest;
- excellent taste;
- versatility in use;
- good long-term storage properties;
- high level of fertility;
- unpretentiousness to the soil;
- ease of care;
- resistance to most diseases inherent in potatoes.
It is very difficult to highlight obvious flaws. First of all, like all varieties, Natasha varietal potatoes are prone to defeat by the Colorado potato beetle.
Potatoes are versatile in use, perfectly retains their taste and shape during any heat treatment
In a word, the described potato variety Natasha is a way to get a good harvest in your garden. If there is a choice about which early potatoes to buy for seeds, there is no need to hesitate. The plant is undemanding to soil type and will grow well with a minimum set of simple maintenance procedures.
