Content:
An indispensable attribute of any suburban area is planting with potatoes. This culture is called "second bread" due to its nutritional properties. For successful cultivation in changing climatic conditions, it is necessary to carry out a variety change in a timely manner, introducing new potato varieties that are undemanding to growing conditions. One of the recently selected and successful varieties of this crop is Granada.
Brief description of the variety
Potatoes Granada (Granada) belongs to one of the best varieties of German selection. It was launched in 2015, but has already become widely known in Western Europe and Russia. The bush is erect, covered with dense foliage. On poor soils, it grows up to 35 cm, subject to the necessary rules of agricultural technology, it reaches a height of 90 cm.In inflorescences there are 4-6 white buds.
The fruits are smooth, large, elongated. The average tuber weight is approximately 100 g. The peel is light yellow, thin. The cut flesh is yellow in color. In case of mechanical damage and heat treatment, the color does not change. The starch content in tubers is approximately 10-13%.
Granada variety
Cultivation technology
Granada belongs to unpretentious varieties, capable of efficient cultivation in various conditions. However, it also requires compliance with certain rules of agricultural technology.
Soil preparation
To grow Granada, you need to choose an open, sufficiently lit area. In the autumn period, if possible, the tops and roots from the predecessor, as well as weeds, are removed from the site. Following this, deep cultivation is carried out and organic fertilizers are applied to the soil.
In the spring, the soil is re-cultivated. The procedure is carried out immediately before planting so as not to dry out the soil. Mineral fertilizers and ash are also added there. If the soil is acidified, add dolomite flour.
Landing
Immediately after harvesting, it is necessary to start preparing the planting material. In the case of the Granada variety, this material is the largest and most massive tubers that are taken from the resulting crop.
Granada is ready for planting when the ground warms up to at least + 8C. Two types of planting are allowed: direct planting of tubers in open ground and growing seedlings with subsequent transplantation. In the first case, planting is carried out in late April - early May according to the standard scheme.
The planting process depends on weather and climatic conditions and soil composition. On a light soil in a dry and warm climate, the tubers are buried in holes or furrows by no more than 10 cm.On loosened fertile soils, as well as on loams, the depth is reduced to 5 cm.If the soil is heavy and moist, then it is necessary to make small ridges to raise the bushes over the ground.
Landing of Granada
The row spacing is made equal to 60-70 cm. In each planting hole, add half a tablespoon of wood ash, and if it is impossible to use it, mineral fertilizers.
The second method involves the use of special containers filled with a mixture of peat and soil. When sprouts form, they are broken out and placed in soil, which includes sand, peat and garden soil. The sprout is deepened into the ground by two-thirds.
Boxes with seedlings are moved to a well-lit room and covered with plastic wrap. When the first shoots are formed, the film is removed and gradually transferred to the hardening of the plants. A month later, the seedlings are ready for transplanting into open ground.
Planting care
Potatoes Granada is one of the varieties that cost a minimum level of agricultural technology. Due to its drought tolerance, it does not require irrigation before the beginning of the flowering phase, even in severe drought.
Hilling plantings of the variety is carried out twice during the growing season. The first time the procedure is carried out when the height of the sprouts reaches 15 cm. The embankments are made about 10 cm high. Three weeks later, this agrotechnical technique is repeated again. Hilling helps protect the bush from low temperatures and make it more accurate, which has a positive effect on the yield of the variety. This is due to the fact that hilling stimulates the formation of underground potato stalks.
Top dressing
Granada responds positively to fertilization. During the growing season, four additional dressings are usually carried out. The first of them is done directly when planting tubers in holes, using wood ash or a mixture of mineral fertilizers. A month later, a new top dressing is carried out. This time potassium sulfate, urea or superphosphates are used. Urea is then added twice more: during bud formation and at the end of flowering.
Organic matter is used with great care so as not to burn the roots. Particularly dangerous in this regard is bird droppings, which in the volume of half a kilogram must first be diluted in 10 liters of water, and then let it brew for a week.
Protection
Granada potatoes are usually resistant to a number of diseases. The exception for the variety is Alternaria and Fusarium. Pre-planting treatment of tubers is a prophylactic way to prevent the development of ailments, for which the drug Baktofit is recommended for use. Then several more preventive treatments are carried out: during planting and during the growing season. For this, drugs such as:
- Planriz;
- Cuproxat;
- Profit.
Spraying potatoes
The most dangerous pests for Granada include the Colorado potato beetle and wireworm. The fight against them involves the use of the following insecticides:
- Killer;
- Gulliver;
- Destroy, etc.
Harvesting
From the day of planting to the date of harvesting tubers usually 110-130 days pass. With relatively small cultivation areas, the bushes are dug in manually and potatoes are harvested from them, rejecting damaged tubers right on the spot.
The harvested crop is spread evenly over the soil surface immediately after harvesting and kept for 3 hours. After that, the tubers are placed in boxes and placed in a dark room for 2 weeks, gradually reducing the air temperature in it. After the specified period of time, a re-bulkheading of the crop is carried out, during which the largest and healthiest potatoes are poured separately, using them for seeds. They also get rid of damaged and diseased potatoes.
Storing potatoes
Before storing the tubers of Granada, it is recommended to sprinkle with copper sulfate to increase preservation. To do this, dilute 2 grams of the drug in 10 liters of water. In winter, it is necessary to conduct regular inspection of the fruit in order to remove sick and rotten ones.
Disadvantages and advantages
The variety surpasses its main competitors in a number of indicators - these are foreign varieties Granola, Grand, Belarusian pomegranate potatoes, etc. The main positive feature of the variety is its increased yield. Up to 60 tons of tubers can be obtained from 1 hectare. An important characteristic of Granada is its high level of adaptability and plasticity.The variety is capable of cultivation on various types of soil, although it prefers sandy loam. Granada is resistant to diseases such as:
- golden nematode;
- potato cancer;
- scab;
- late blight;
- foliage curl virus;
- rot.
The varietal feature of Grenada's potatoes is the possibility of long-term storage and resistance to mechanical damage, which allows the crop to be transported over long distances. According to this indicator, the German potato Granola can be compared with the variety, the description of which says that it can be stored even in room conditions.
Among the disadvantages of the variety, it should be noted that it is highly demanding on fertilization, without which it can be difficult for him to form a full-fledged crop. The variety is also not resistant to Alternaria, Fusarium and insect pests. According to this indicator, Granada is superior to the Grand potato, the description of the variety of which indicates its average degree of resistance to Alternaria.
Varietal tubers of Grenada can be bought at specialized points of sale or from private owners in Moscow and other cities of Russia. They are also sold in the Near Abroad.
Grenada is a successful and popular potato variety. With relatively low costs for fertilizing and agricultural technology, it is able to form a high and high-quality crop.
