Record early and long-lasting harvests - Nandina potatoes: description and reviews

Description of the variety

Nandina potatoes are an ultra-early variety bred by breeders of the German company Europlant Pflanzenzucht GmbH. Included in the State Register of Russia in 2015. The crop shows maximum productivity in the Volga-Vyatka, Central, and North Caucasus regions.

The photo shows Nandina potatoes.

The table contains the main characteristics of the variety .

Chemical composition of potatoes

The table shows the complex of vitamins and minerals contained in 100 g of raw tubers.

Differences from other varieties

Table of differences from other early potato varieties.

Features of planting and growing

variety is easy to care for . To grow the crop, standard agrotechnical techniques are used: watering as needed, hilling bushes, weeding, loosening the top layer of soil, fertilizing with minerals.

Preparing tubers for planting

To obtain an early harvest and the opportunity to make three harvests , selected tubers are pre-germinated. The seed material is taken out of the cellar into sunlight, re-sorted, rotten specimens are discarded, washed with running water, dried and soaked in a disinfecting solution. For this, copper sulfate, potassium permanganate, “Prestige”, “Fitosporin-M” are used. Then the tubers are placed in boxes with holes and wait for the seedlings to appear. The optimal room temperature is +14…+16°C.

Before planting in the ground, the seeds are treated with growth stimulants "Epin-Extra", "Zircon", "Albit", "Immunocytophyte" and re-sorted.

Soil preparation

Nandina grows best on gray light forest soils, peat bogs, and sandy loams . Chernozem and heavy soil for this variety are not the best option.

In the fall, digging, harrowing and loosening of the soil are carried out. To increase fertility, the area is fertilized with manure at the rate of 5 kg per square meter. m, they sow flax, lupine, rye, oats, and wheat. After 30 days, the mowing of these green manures is buried in the soil to enrich the soil with nitrogen and prevent the development of pathogenic microflora.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

The ideal soil temperature for planting potatoes is +8…+10°C. The lunar calendar is used to calculate time :

• in the North Caucasus region, potatoes are planted in April;
• in Central - in early May;
• in Volgo-Vyatsky - from May 10 to May 15.

Planting scheme:

• depth - 8-12 cm;
• the gap between the holes is 30-35 cm;
• Row spacing is 70-90 cm.

200 g of wood ash and 25 g of nitrophoska are placed in each hole.

Care

Rules of care:

1. Watering. With normal rainfall, Nandina does not need regular watering. However, during drought, the bushes are watered once every 10 days. For hand irrigation, water after sunset to prevent sunburn on the leaves. When using a drip irrigation system, the soil is moistened at any time.
2. Loosening the soil. This procedure prevents the formation of a dense earthen crust and ensures free access of oxygen to the root system and tubers.
3. Weeding. Weed removal is carried out as the plants grow, preventing rooting.
4. Hilling is carried out twice: after the shoots reach 10-15 cm in height and during the flowering period. This helps strengthen the rhizome, protects against night frosts, and stimulates tuber formation.
5. Feeding. The variety does not require additional organic fertilizer during growth. Manure and ash introduced in the fall during planting are quite sufficient for the harmonious growth of tops and tubers. An excess of nitrogen provokes the growth of green mass and the shrinkage of tubers. If the tops turn yellow and dry, the bushes are additionally sprayed with a mineral solution a month before harvesting: 35 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of superphosphate per 10 liters of water.
6. Mulching. This is a mandatory procedure, however, covering the beds with straw or hay will retain moisture in the soil and stop the growth of weeds.

Diseases and pests

According to the originator, the Nandina variety is susceptible to late blight of tops and tubers . The disease is caused by the late blight fungus, a lower mycelial organism that parasitizes plant tissues.

Signs of the disease:

• brown spots on the lower leaves;
• white coating on the back of the sheet;
• longitudinal brown stripes on stems;
• depressed brown spots with a gray tint on tubers;
• rusty necrotic lesions of the pulp;
• dry or wet rot on tubers.

Ways to fight:

1. 200 g of dried tinder fungus per 2 liters of boiling water. Wrap the container in a warm cloth, leave until completely cool, then strain. Treat bushes once every 10 days.
2. 500 g of wood ash, 100 g of tar soap shavings per 10 liters of water. Process plantings at any time.
3. Systemic chemicals: Quadris, Ridomil Gold, Thanos, Infinito, Ordan, Acrobat MC. Treat plants every 10–12 days.
4. Contact chemicals: “Antrakol”, “Azofos”, “Ditan”, “Zummer”. Treat bushes every 7–8 days.
5. Copper-containing substances: “Oxychom”, “HOM”, “Polychom”, “Bordeaux mixture”. For 40 g of substance take 10 liters of water. Consumption per 100 sq. m - 6-8 l.
6. Antimicrobial pharmaceutical drug "Trichopol". It is used when the first signs of the disease are detected. For 10 liters of water take 10 tablets and 40 drops of brilliant green. Treatment frequency: once every 14 days, every 10 days.

Prevention of late blight:

• planting healthy seeds;
• disinfection of tubers before germination;
• treatment with growth stimulants to increase plant immunity - “Epin”, “Zircon”;
• sorting tubers after germination;
• crop rotation;
• planting potatoes away from other nightshade crops;
• fertilizing with phosphorus and potassium.

To combat the Colorado potato beetle they use:

• fungicides: “Prestige”, “Aktara”, “Fury”, “Alatar”, “Clinmix”, “Iskra Zolotaya”, “Commander”, “Aktelik”, “Korado”;
• biological products: “Akarin”, “Fitoverm”, “Bitoxibacillin”, “Antonem-F”;
• solution of laundry soap (100 g of shavings, 1 liter of can of ash per 10 liters of water);
• birch tar solution (30 ml tar, 30 g soap shavings per 10 l);
• tobacco dust (500 g per 10 liters of water), leave for 2 days, dilute in a ratio of 1:2, add 40 g of laundry soap shavings;
• wormwood (300 g of fresh herbs, 200 g of wood ash per 10 liters of boiling water);
• celandine (1.5 kg per 10 liters of water, leave for 3 days);
• elecampane roots (100 g of dry raw materials per 5 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours).

Prevention of the appearance of the Colorado potato beetle:

• high hilling of beds;
• mulching the area with black agrofibre;
• treatment of plants with the preparation “Universal Humate”;
• planting plants with a strong aroma (marigolds, valerian, nasturtium), legumes, onions, garlic;
• regular weeding.

The appearance of wireworms on the site causes a lot of trouble for gardeners. It is not very pleasant to see worms on potato tubers after harvesting.

Used for pest control:

• chemicals: “Zemlin”, “Barguzin”, “Aktara”, “Provotox”, “Pochin”, “Medvetox”, “Tabu”, “Prestige”, “Force”;
• biological preparations “Metarizin”, “Entotsid”;
• nettle infusion (500 g of herb per 10 l);
• infusion of wormwood and celandine (150 g of herb per 5 l);
• infusion of coltsfoot (100 g per 5 l);
• walnut leaves and onion peels in the holes;
• mustard powder for deboning tubers before planting;
• bait made from pieces of carrots and potatoes soaked in any insecticide.

Prevention of wireworms:

• compliance with crop rotation rules;
• reducing soil acidity: adding chalk, dolomite flour, slaked lime;
• attracting starlings, crows, thrushes, doves, rooks, wagtails, tits, ladybirds, and ground beetles to the garden beds;
• planting potatoes after tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, flax, rye, alfalfa.

Caring for potato bushes

Potato seedlings must receive enough light, heat and moisture, so it is very important to determine the correct planting time. After the seedlings rise above the ground and become higher than 15 cm, an additional layer of soil is poured around them - the stems are hilled.

If there is not enough moisture in the soil, regular watering is carried out. The greatest need for water occurs in plants during budding and at the beginning of flowering. The next active watering is carried out after the petals fall on the inflorescences and the seed pods set. In order to increase the yield of Nandina potatoes, the fruit capsules with seeds are torn off.

An important step in potato care is treating plants against the Colorado potato beetle, late blight, root and leaf rot. Make sure that weeds do not block access to light for young, weak seedlings, and regularly loosen the soil in the root area of ​​potato bushes.

Healthy young potato shoots

Collection, application and storage of crops

Rules for harvesting ultra-early potatoes:

1. The first digging is carried out 35–40 days after full germination, the last - at the end of August.
2. A week before harvesting, the tops are cut and removed from the site. During this period, the peel becomes dense, which allows you to store the crop longer.
3. After digging, the tubers are left to “rest” for 1–2 weeks in a dry, dark place, then sorted and stored in the cellar. The seed material is left in the sun for landscaping.
4. The storage and containers are washed and dried. Tubers are placed in ventilated containers: plastic or wooden boxes, nets, burlap. The optimal storage temperature is +3...+4°C, humidity is 70-80%.

Reference. After harvesting, complex biochemical processes occur in the tubers, accompanied by the removal of excess moisture, compaction of the outer shell, and healing of damage.

The moderate starch content in Nandina potatoes allows it to be used for frying, boiling, baking, and stewing. The pulp does not darken after cooking and cutting raw. The variety is grown primarily for young potatoes.

How to propagate Nandina potatoes

To obtain more seed material, different methods of propagating Nandina potatoes are used. In general, there are many methods, this is a very convenient plant for cultivation. There are even the most incredible ways. The most accessible and effective for the average gardener are the following:

• whole tubers;
• dividing the tuber or buds;
• seeds from fruits;
• dividing a potato bush.

The most common and widespread are either whole tubers or tuber divisions, as well as eyes.

We remind you that it is preferable to grow the Nandina variety by planting whole tubers.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

variety is characterized by increased sensitivity to cold . Air temperatures below -4°C lead to the withering of the tops and the death of tubers. Ice crystals form in potatoes, destroying the cells. Frozen tubers begin to rot. For this reason, potatoes are planted after the threat of overnight frost has passed. To be on the safe side, in the first two weeks the beds are covered with black agrofibre.

Tips and reviews

Reviews about the Nandina variety are mostly positive . The crop is valued for its early ripening, the ability to make 2-3 digs, and ease of care.

Vera, Zavolzhye : “When planting early varieties of potatoes, I focus on the soil temperature. If the soil has warmed up to +10°C, you can safely plant tubers. Nandina is one of those varieties that is afraid of night frosts, so to be on the safe side, I cover the beds with film, and remove them after stable warm weather sets in. I like this potato for its low maintenance requirements. I fertilize the site in the fall with humus, and in the spring with wood ash. As my experience shows, this is enough to gain green mass and form tubers.”

Dmitry, Pyatigorsk : “I grow the Nandina potato variety to get an early harvest. Its productivity is high and its taste is excellent. I noticed that potatoes become the most delicious closer to August. I use chicken manure as a fertilizer, fill it with water for a day, then add ash. I mix and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:10. I water the area with this mixture before planting. During the flowering period, I water it once and feed it with nitrophoska. The tubers are formed large, in large quantities.”

Content

• 1. Description
• 2. Growing
• 3. Diseases and pests
• 4. Reproduction
• 5. First steps after purchase
• 6. Secrets of success
• 7. Possible difficulties

The evergreen shrub or small tree Nandina belongs to the Barberry family. The only representative of the genus is Nandina domestica, so some researchers believe that both the genus and the family include only this one plant.

The shrub is native to the mountainous regions of East Asia, and the genus got its name from the local name “Nan Tin”.

A specific feature of Nandina is its beautiful, triple-pinnate leaves, the length of which reaches 30-40 cm. The foliage of this plant changes its color several times a year. Nandina's leaves are pink or light green in spring, turn dark green in late spring and summer, and turn reddish-orange in fall. This uniqueness makes this plant attractive throughout the year.

Nandina blooms in summer. At the same time, numerous small flowers are collected in racemes. The color of the buds is white or light pink. The fruits, in the form of red berries, are edible and even pleasant to the taste, but in large quantities they can cause poisoning.