Early potatoes “Bullfinch”: characteristics and description of the variety

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Snegir variety is the result of joint breeding work by specialists from the Leningrad Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture "Belogorka" and the Institute of General Genetics named after. N. I. Vavilova. In 2001, the variety was registered in the State Register of the Russian Federation.

Did you know? Potatoes activate the brain and resist stress.

The variety is characterized by the following indicators:

1. Early table variety, ripening period - 45–50 days.
2. Average yield - from one hectare of planting you can harvest from 180 to 270 centners of vegetables.
3. High keeping quality.
4. Good resistance to most fungal diseases.
5. The bush produces up to 15 root crops.
6. High taste qualities. Culinarily, it is best suited for soups, salads, and also for frying.

The tuber is characterized by:

1. Oval shape, small size and light weight - from 50 to 90 g.
2. The skin is pink, the flesh is white.
3. The starch content is about 15%, with possible slight deviations (depending on the soil) up or down.
4. A small number of small superficial ocelli.

The bush is low-growing, the stem is erect, with slight spreading. The leaves are large, smooth, the edges are slightly wavy. The flower is red-violet, small.

Necessary growing conditions

To grow a decent harvest, it is necessary to create growing conditions:

• For planting, choose a well-lit place, sheltered from drafts.
• They begin to prepare the soil in the fall, dig up, remove weeds and their roots, stones, and apply organic fertilizers. In the spring, the soil is dug up again and mineral fertilizers are applied.
• The planting site is chosen after growing cucumber, pumpkin, legumes and cereals, zucchini, and corn.
• Before planting, drainage is laid in the soil.
• Select areas with light, loose, airy soil.
• Seed material is treated with a manganese solution before being transferred to the soil.
• Two weeks before planting potatoes, the tubers are taken to a lighted place to form sprouts.

Important! It is not recommended to plant potatoes in the same place for three years.

Planting and growing potato varieties Snegir

There are no special difficulties in planting and growing Bullfinch, however, there are some features inherent to this variety, which will be discussed below.

Optimal planting dates

The best time for planting is May, however, there are no exact dates for planting, it all depends on the specific region and weather conditions. Usually Bullfinch is planted in the first ten days of May, but in cold and late spring planting work can be carried out in the last ten days of May. The determining factor is the soil temperature, it must be at least +8°C.

Did you know? In Alaska during the gold rush of 1897

–
1898
Due to
the widespread disease of scurvy, potatoes were valued higher than gold.

Crop rotation rules

Changing garden crops in the same area or crop rotation is an extremely important and necessary agrotechnical technique for obtaining a good harvest. Growing the same crops in one place for several years in a row depletes the soil, allowing pathogens of a wide variety of diseases to accumulate in it.

To avoid the occurrence of such negative phenomena, crop rotation is carried out on the site. A good result will be obtained by planting Bullfinch in the place where cucumbers, corn and legumes previously grew. But planting in a place where peppers and tomatoes were previously cultivated should be avoided - these vegetables have common diseases.

Important! It is recommended to return potatoes to the old bed no earlier than after 4 years.

Soil requirements

The Bullfinch variety is characterized by high demands on soil. It must have high aeration, the ability to pass moisture well, fertility and lightness. To give the soil such properties, certain work is carried out, which consists of the following:

1. In the fall, the area is dug up using a spade, without breaking up the clods of soil.
2. Before spring digging, as an option, surface application of mineral fertilizers is possible - the fertilizer is simply scattered over the surface of the soil and then embedded 20–25 cm into the soil during digging (ploughing, loosening).
3. In spring, the soil is loosened or dug up again (if the soil is heavy or clayey).
4. Spring fertilizers can also be applied when digging or directly into the holes (grooves), but more on that below.

Option for spring surface feeding: per 1 m² of soil a combination of 10 kg of humus, 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of potassium sulfate, 40 g of superphosphate, 450 g of dolomite flour.

Preparation of planting material

The future harvest largely depends on the quality preparation of planting tubers, so special attention should be paid to preparatory work.

Important! For early potato varieties (which include Bullfinch), it is recommended to apply more spring mineral fertilizers, as they are absorbed faster and provide adequate nutrition to the plant with a short growing period.

Preparing tubers for planting includes:

1. Sorting and rejecting potatoes damaged and affected by diseases (pests).
2. 15–20 days before planting, move the boxes with planting material for germination to a warm place (optimally with a temperature of +12°C), with good lighting. Small potatoes, about the size of a chicken egg, with small (2–3 cm) thick sprouts and tubers are best suited for planting.
3. Immediately before planting in the ground, treat potatoes with agents that increase resistance to diseases: to counteract black scab and common scab - “Fitosporin” or “Maxim”, to improve immunity - “Zircon” or “Immunocytophyte”.

Landing technology

When planting a Bullfinch, the standard scheme is usually followed:

1. The distance between tubers is 0.25–0.30 m.
2. The distance between rows is 0.7 m.
3. The depth of grooves (holes in light soils) in the southern regions is no deeper than 10 cm, in the northern regions - up to 15 cm.
4. Mineral fertilizers are added to the hole (groove) with planting material before filling it with soil - 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska or 15–20 g of Kemira Potato complex fertilizer.

Video: planting potatoes

Landing Features

Seed preparation is carried out from late April to early May. Tubers for planting must be of high quality; they must be purchased either through official representatives or in other trusted places. Unscrupulous sellers sometimes sell low-quality contaminated fruits or offer a completely different variety under the guise of Bullfinch.

In addition to selected planting material, the composition of the soil affects the quantity and quality of the future harvest. The bullfinch grows well and bears a lot of fruit in fertile, breathable soil. Before planting, the soil is fertilized with organic fertilizers: ash, mullein, dug up and leveled. Then, from the beginning of May, the planting process begins:

• tubers are treated with the preparations “Zircon”, “Immunocytophyte”, “Fitosporin”. Since Bullfinch sometimes contract diseases, pre-treatment reduces this likelihood;
• dig small holes in the ground with a diameter of 30 cm. The distance between adjacent holes should be at least 20 cm, and between adjacent rows - at least 40 cm. The variety does not tolerate dense planting and if there is not enough space, tuberization proceeds worse;
• When planting, potassium fertilizers are added to the holes; they support the plant’s immunity and protect against nematodes. Sometimes, for the same purpose, ash is added to the ground, about a handful for each planted tuber;
• The hole is buried and watered with cool water.

Attention! The maximum depth for planting fruits should not exceed 10 cm. If you bury the potatoes when planting, the tops will take a very long time to sprout.

Caring for the variety after planting

Post-planting care for potatoes of this variety is usual, it consists of fertilizing, watering, weeding and hilling. Let us consider these agricultural techniques in detail.

Important! The use of organic fertilizers increases crop yield by 30

–
50%.

Top dressing

The first fertilizing is applied after the first hilling using a complex of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium supplements. Organic fertilizers with mullein and bird droppings, which are used in liquid form and infused throughout the day, are very effective:

1. For mullein: 1 part manure to 10 parts water.
2. For bird droppings: 1 part dry droppings to 15 parts water.

Fertilizing is usually done after watering.

Watering rules

To get a rich harvest, it is enough to water the Bullfinch three times a season:

1. The first watering is after the sprouts rise 10–15 cm above the ground. The water consumption rate is 3 liters per bush.
2. The second watering is after the plant begins to bloom. The water consumption rate is 6 liters per bush.
3. The third watering is before the end of flowering. The water consumption rate is 6 liters per bush.

Important! It is better to water in the morning, after hilling, watering “at the root”, excluding moisture from getting on the greenery of the bush.

Water for irrigation is used exclusively warm, pre-settled and heated in the sun. It is necessary to water in doses, waiting until the poured part of the water is properly absorbed into the ground and goes to the roots, and does not spread over the surface. An important condition for proper watering is to prevent the soil from drying out during the formation of buds, as well as during the period of flowering and tuber setting.

Weeding

Using this method of agricultural technology allows you to perform the following tasks:

1. Clear the area adjacent to the bushes of the plant from weeds, which allows the soil to give up its valuable substances exclusively to the potatoes, without spraying them on the weeds.
2. Fluff the soil and thereby create favorable conditions for the tubers to grow.
3. Improve the air conductivity or aeration of the soil, thereby ensuring proper access of air and moisture to the tubers.

Important! If the tops begin to spread too much

-
the second hilling can be carried out earlier than usual.
Weeding is carried out twice per season:

1. The first weeding is approximately 20–28 days after planting the potatoes. Condition: the sprouts of the crop must rise above the ground by 2–4 cm.
2. The second weeding is before the potatoes bloom, when the bushes rise to a height of 10–12 cm above the ground.

Ideally, this is a combination of weeding and hilling.

Hilling

An agrotechnical technique that should never be neglected. Hilling or rolling has an important purpose:

1. Keeping the tops from sticking to the ground.
2. Loosening the soil, thereby improving its air conductivity.

Find out why you need to hill up potatoes.

Valding is carried out twice during the season:

• when the tops rise by 10–12 cm;
• at the beginning of the flowering period. At this time, the variety begins to actively form and form tubers, so it is important to loosen the soil, improve its air conductivity, and form a compact bush from the branches of the plant.

How to grow

Inventory

If the Bullfinch variety is grown on a personal plot or summer cottage, then it is enough to have a shovel, a hoe, a rake and a couple of buckets. When growing in relatively large areas, you can use:

• Attachments for a walk-behind tractor or mini-tractor (seeder, cultivator, hiller, etc.).
• Potato planters and harvesting units. However, this is practiced less frequently, since the Snegir variety is not intended for industrial breeding.

Preparation

The soil

For early potatoes, the site is prepared in the fall:

1. It is plowed up (with the formation wrapped around) or dug up to the fullest extent without breaking the lumps (they are needed for snow retention in winter).
2. When digging, organic fertilizers are applied:
   peat;
3. compost;
4. humus or fresh manure.
5. Organic matter is evenly scattered around the site so that it mixes with the soil when plowing or digging.

In the spring the area is loosened again:

1. It is dug up half a bayonet or disked using special plowing equipment.
2. Then it is harrowed or leveled with a rake. At this stage, you can again add organic matter, but only rotted one - fresh manure is unacceptable. It is also useful to add wood ash or bone meal (a glass at the root of each bush when planting).

Planting material

Seeds are selected in the fall during harvesting. For sowing, medium-sized tubers are selected, no smaller than a chicken egg. Only potatoes that do not show signs of disease or mechanical damage are selected. About a month and a half before planting, the potatoes should be sprouted.

To do this, it is placed in a warm (at least +14-15 degrees) and well-lit room. At this stage, seed tubers are additionally inspected and those damaged or diseased during storage are rejected. When the potatoes produce their first sprouts, they are ready for planting. Those tubers that have not begun to grow are rejected and disposed of.

Attention! Additionally, before planting, the tubers can be treated with preparations such as “Prestige”, “Heteroauxin” or similar. This will accelerate growth and protect the plants during the first stage of the growing season.

Landing times in different regions

It is worth planting Bullfinch when the soil warms up to +6-8 degrees at a depth of 10 cm. This time comes in each region (and even each locality) individually, but you should focus on the following data:

Scheme

Potatoes Snegir are planted according to the standard scheme:

• Between rows - about 70 cm.
• Between bushes in a row - 30-35 cm.

Important! Tubers are planted to a depth of 6-7 cm. Do not go deeper - this will slow down growth.

Care

Hilling

The first hilling is carried out when the tops are about 10-12 cm high. Hilling can be done manually or by plowing the rows or using a hiller on a walk-behind tractor.

If there is a threat of frost, hilling can be done even earlier, but this measure may slow down the growth of the stems. Subsequent hillings (1-2) are carried out during the summer after 15-20 days.

Watering

If there is no drought, the Bullfinch variety does not need additional irrigation. If there has been no rain for a long time, then several waterings are carried out:

1. One and a half to two weeks after the potatoes have sprouted.
2. When buds set.
3. During flowering.

Water the potatoes at sunset. If drip irrigation is used, the time of watering does not matter.

Loosening

The first loosening is carried out 3-4 days after the potatoes are planted. The soil is loosened shallowly so as not to touch the tubers or sprouts. Loosening should be done with a rake with sharp tips to break up the crust on the soil and destroy the germs of weeds.

Advice During growth, it is worth loosening regularly, once every 10-12 days. In addition, it is better to combine loosening with weeding.

Top dressing

With sufficient autumn and spring feeding, the Bullfinch variety does not need additional fertilizer. If it was not possible to apply fertilizer in advance, or the plants are not developing well, you can feed the potatoes with an infusion of mullein or bird droppings.

You can also use mineral fertilizers, except nitrogen ones - they excessively enhance the growth of tops. The best choice is nitrophoska and complex fertilizers in the dosage specified by the manufacturer. If there is less than a month left before ripening, fertilizing should not be carried out under any circumstances.

Diseases and pests

The Snegir potato variety has average resistance to the following diseases that affect potatoes:

1. The causative agent of potato cancer.
2. Alternaria blight.
3. Fusarium.
4. Verticillium.
5. Common scab.

The likelihood of the variety being affected by rhizoctonia and ring rot is low. Late blight affects exclusively tops; Bullfinch tubers have high resistance to this disease. Of the harmful insects, the greatest danger to the Bullfinch is the Colorado potato beetle and the golden potato cyst nematode.

Did you know? Potato chips were invented by accident

-
In 1853, potatoes were mistakenly overcooked in the oven.
Let's consider methods of control and measures to prevent the most dangerous diseases and pests for the variety:

1. The causative agent of potato cancer. Pathogenic fungus. Symptoms of the disease: the appearance of tubercles on the tubers near the eyes, growing over time and transforming into large brown growths with a knobby surface. The disease affects above-ground and underground parts of the crop, including the tuber, and the entire crop spoils. Control measures: burning or throwing into a meter-long hole, followed by covering the affected bushes with bleach along with tops and tubers. Prevention measures: compliance with crop rotation rules; exclusion of planting nightshade crops next to potatoes.
2. Alternaria blight. Fungal disease. Symptoms: the appearance of dark spots on the stems and leaves, slowing of growth, mottled spots and cessation of tuber formation. Control measures: treatment of planting (according to instructions) with “Baktofit”, “Integral”, “Ridomir Gold”. Preventive measures: treatment of planting material with the above drugs; soil disinfection; exclusion of mechanical damage to potatoes; timely rejection of affected potatoes.
3. Fusarium. Fungal disease. Symptoms: wilting of the lower leaves, the remaining leaves becoming watery, the formation of light green and yellowish spots on the leaf blades. Control measures: culling and destruction of affected plants; use (according to the instructions) of the drugs “Benefis”, “Winner”, “Fitosporin”, “Sporobacterin”. Preventive measures: liming the soil with chalk and dolomite flour.
4. Verticillium. Fungal disease. Symptoms: twisting of seedlings into a spiral; drying and withering of leaves from bottom to top; darkening, drying and falling of leaves and flowers. Control measures: careful removal and destruction of the affected bush; watering plants with fungicides - “Fundazol”, “Previkur”, “Vitaros”; treatment of plantings with a solution of chamomile and charcoal. Prevention measures: compliance with crop rotation rules; timely replenishment of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
5. Common scab. Infectious disease. Symptoms: destruction of the integrity of the surface of the fruit skin; the appearance of shapeless spots, as well as medium-sized ulcers and warts with a dry shell. Control measures: use of physiologically acidic fertilizers (manganese sulfate, ammonium sulfate). Preventive measures: when planting, carefully reject affected potatoes, regularly water the soil.
6. Colorado beetle. Control measures: if the planting area is small, manually collect and burn. If it is impossible to do this, spray with biological agents (“Agrovertin”, “Bikol”, “Colorado”, “Karbofos”, “Regent”), and also treat the bushes with folk remedies - a solution of birch tar (100 g of tar per 10 liters of water).
7. Golden potato cyst nematode. Worm. Signs of damage: stopping the development of the plant, inhibition of its growth, weak flowering. Low yield. Since the destruction of developed nematodes is very difficult, the main method of control is prevention: treatment with insecticides, timely removal of weeds.

Advantages and disadvantages of culture

Among the undoubted advantages of the variety, to which Rosara owes its popularity among gardeners, the following can be noted:

• The presence of genetically determined immunity against such dangerous diseases as late blight of tubers, potato cancer, scab, as well as against nematodes.
• The ability to adapt to a wide range of climatic and natural conditions, which cannot always be described with the word “ideal”. Rosara in Russia is cultivated not only in the warm southern regions, but also almost everywhere, with the exception of areas with an arctic and subarctic climate. The variety is little sensitive to drought, waterlogging, heat, and lack of sunlight and heat.
• Precocity. This is especially true for gardeners in the Urals and Siberia, where summer does not always arrive in accordance with the calendar and often lasts somewhat less than we would like. Tubers in varieties with a longer ripening period often simply do not have time to form.
• Consistently high yield combined with ease of care. Even those gardeners who tend to forget about them after planting tubers can easily count on about 300 kg of potatoes per 100 m². With minimal care and the presence of fertile soil, the yield increases to 350–400 kg per hundred square meters. If you devote enough time and effort to potatoes, you can raise it to 500 kg from 100 m².
• Maintaining the quality of tubers for 5–6 years when using your own planting material. Rosara does not need to be updated every 2-3 years - and this is a significant saving.
• Presentable appearance of tubers. More than 90% of potatoes are marketable. Coupled with good keeping quality and the ability to withstand transportation over long distances, this makes the variety interesting not only for amateur gardeners, but also for farms.
• Versatility of purpose. The pulp of Rosara contains only 12–16% starch. Thanks to this, the tubers and individual pieces do not lose their shape during heat treatment, the pulp does not crumble and does not turn into an unappetizing watery porridge. Rosara is also suitable for drying. Most often it is used for soups, stewing, baking, and added to salads.
• Taste qualities. Professional tasters rate Rosara 4+ out of five.

One of the main advantages of Rosara is its high yield.

There were some shortcomings, which, however, do not spoil the overall picture:

• Spreading of bushes. The shoots die very early, which creates certain difficulties when caring for plantings, especially when hilling.
• Relatively low resistance to late blight of tops.
• The variety is not very suitable for frying.

Rosara can become infected with late blight of potato tops; special attention should be paid to the prevention of this disease

Harvesting and storage rules

The first harvest is done 45 days after emergence, however, in order for the potatoes to finally ripen, you need to wait another 10–15 days (depending on the growing region). Harvesting should be done on a dry, sunny day. This will make it possible to dry the potatoes in the open air for 1.5–2 hours. During this time, the sun's ultraviolet rays will kill a large number of different fungal and bacterial infections.

Important! It is prohibited to cover the bottom of the potato storage facility with smooth slate, floorboards, linoleum, or cement.

-
this can lead to mold and fungi.
After drying, the following is carried out:

1. Shaking off potatoes from soil adhering to them and sorting them by size, as well as for replanting and harvesting a second harvest in the current season.
2. Rejection of sick and affected potatoes by harmful insects and diseases.
3. Treatment of sorted potatoes with antifungal compounds - Baktofit, Fitospirin, etc. are used.
4. Drying processed potatoes in a shaded place (or under a canopy).
5. Storage in special containers (this will be discussed below) and sending for storage to a special room.

The storage room for vegetables must meet certain requirements:

1. The temperature in the room is from +2°C to +4°C.
2. The bottom of the storage room should be covered with sand or other moisture-absorbing material.
3. The storage must be pre-treated against fungal and bacterial infections, and also isolated from pests (rats, mice, slugs, etc.).

Containers for storing potatoes must also comply with the rules.
If wooden boxes are used, then with gaps between the boards - this is necessary for proper air circulation. The capacity of one box is no more than 10–12 kg. There should be a space of 0.3 m between the storage wall and the installed box; from the floor to the box - 0.2 m, from the box to the ceiling - 0.6 m. When installing boxes in a row, the interval between containers is at least 15 cm. Fulfilling the specified requirements for storing vegetables will ensure good shelf life of the product - about 95%. Did you know? Potatoes are grown in 125 of the 196 countries on Earth.

Care instructions

Potatoes "Bullfinch" are ideal for beginners and experienced gardeners

The most important thing is to consider the rules of care

1. Initially, it is not recommended to water potatoes. Subsequent irrigation depends on climatic conditions in a particular region, weather and soil conditions. In any case, the soil should remain sufficiently moist.
2. It is advisable to combine fertilizing and first hilling with each other. It is assumed that potassium, phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers will be used. In addition, use nitrophoska in the following portion: 15 - 20 grams per square meter of area. The first feeding is carried out using manure or bird droppings to increase efficiency, but dilution with water requires a competent approach.
3. Watering and loosening potatoes are considered mandatory to obtain a high-quality harvest.

“Bullfinch” is one of the easiest potato varieties to care for, so even beginning gardeners can count on a rich harvest.

Useful tips for gardeners

When cultivating the Bullfinch variety, considerable benefit comes from knowing and using useful recommendations from experienced gardeners:

1. On the eve of the spring digging of the site, the most effective is the combined use of mineral fertilizers and organic matter: a mixture of 10 kg of humus, 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of potassium sulfate, 40 g of superphosphate and 450 g of dolomite flour per 1 sq. m. m. The mixture is scattered on the ground and then embedded into the soil to a depth of 20–25 cm when digging.
2. It is not recommended to water after the Bullfinch has bloomed - the fruit is already formed, and excess moisture can provoke late blight.
3. In hot summers, after watering, it is recommended to mulch the soil; humus, peat and mowed grass are perfect for this. The applied mulch is not removed later, but is embedded into the soil to provide the soil with nutrients.
4. After harvesting potatoes, the land needs healing - planting green manure (mustard, legumes or cereals) in the fall, which are natural antiseptics and disinfectants that prevent the appearance of pathogenic fungi and protect the crop from pests.

As you can see, the agricultural technology for cultivating the Snegir potato variety does not present any particular difficulties. Strict adherence to the recommended planting and care rules will ensure a bountiful harvest of these delicious potatoes.

Necessary growing conditions

To grow a decent harvest, it is necessary to create growing conditions:

• For planting, choose a well-lit place, sheltered from drafts.
• They begin to prepare the soil in the fall, dig up, remove weeds and their roots, stones, and apply organic fertilizers. In the spring, the soil is dug up again and mineral fertilizers are applied.
• The planting site is chosen after growing cucumber, pumpkin, legumes and cereals, zucchini, and corn.
• Before planting, drainage is laid in the soil.
• Select areas with light, loose, airy soil.
• Seed material is treated with a manganese solution before being transferred to the soil.
• Two weeks before planting potatoes, the tubers are taken to a lighted place to form sprouts.

Important! It is not recommended to plant potatoes in the same place for three years.

Planting a crop on the site

For planting crops, deadlines are observed depending on the region of cultivation, the density of tubers in the bed, and the manipulation algorithm.

Landing times in different regions

The Bullfinch variety is suitable for cultivation in all regions. It produces high yields in Siberia and the Urals. The tubers are transferred to the soil when it warms up to 10°C, to a depth of 10 cm.

Potatoes are planted there at the end of May, and the harvest is harvested at the end of June or beginning of August.

In regions with a temperate climate, planting is carried out in mid-May or early June. In the southern regions, planting begins in May, the first harvest is harvested, and the second one is carried out at the end of June.

Planting Density

After forming the beds, the tubers are placed in the ground, maintaining a distance between them of 25 - 30 cm, and between rows of 50 cm.

Step-by-step algorithm for carrying out planting work

Potatoes are planted according to the following algorithm:

• In the prepared area, beds are formed and holes are dug.
• The seed material is treated with a manganese solution.
• A small amount of water is poured into the hole.
• Place drainage material.
• Each tuber is placed in its own hole to a depth of 10 cm.
• Buried with earth.
• The bed is leveled with a rake.

Reviews about the variety

Vladislav 35 years old, Krasnodar

I am engaged in growing potatoes for sale. I have been using the Snegir variety for 3 years in a row. I harvest 2 crops per season. Root vegetables sell well due to their appearance. Buyers praise its taste. After planting, I carry out preventive treatments, the bushes do not get sick.

Yadviga 46 years old, Moscow

I chose the Snegir variety to plant it at the end of June, since there was no time to work on potatoes in May. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to grow a good harvest. I was mistaken, at the beginning of September they dug up 12 - 15 potatoes from each bush. When planting, they were fed with organic matter, and the bushes were treated against beetles and diseases.

Sofia, 65 years old, Arkhangelsk

For our region, potato planting begins at the end of May. This year I tried a new early ripening variety, Snegir. The landing was carried out according to all the rules. I planted mustard against the Colorado potato beetle next to the bushes. After 2 months, a good harvest was harvested. Since they planted a little, the potatoes quickly sold out. Next year I will grow it again.