Description of potato variety Melody
The Melody potato variety was bred by Dutch breeders. It was tested in some countries of the post-Soviet space and was recognized as a promising varietal crop. In a short time, the variety attracted the attention of most farmers and our country. In Russia, the species is zoned in the central regions.
Description of potato variety Melody
Characteristics of potatoes
Potato variety Melody belongs to the middle late. The ripening period is 100-120 days. The average yield is 200-300 centners per hectare. The maximum yield is 636 centners per hectare. The description of the qualitative characteristics of the appearance allows the use of potatoes for sale.
Description of the plant
- erect bush;
- leaves with slight waviness along the outer edge;
- tops and deciduous parts of a rich green color;
- flowers are red-purple;
- 7-10 tubers can be harvested from 1 bush.
Description of the fetus
In industry, the Melody potato variety is widely used for cooking various dishes. Its taste is beyond praise. Not suitable for frying and cooking chips. Description of the quality characteristics of tubers:
- weight 100-180 g;
- oval shape;
- dry matter content 20%;
- the peel is yellowish-pink, smooth;
- eyes are evenly deepened;
- the flesh on the cut is yellow.
Root crops are distinguished by an attractive appearance, they tolerate transportation well. The dormant period is about 8 months, so potatoes can be stored for a long time in the cellar without sprouting. Subject to agrotechnical rules and storage conditions, it is possible to save 97% of the crop.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage is its high taste characteristics. Melody potatoes are distinguished by good resistance to many diseases. The undoubted advantage over many species of nightshade crops is good preservation and a long dormant period. The high dry matter content allows the variety to be used for the manufacture of dry food pieces.
Among the disadvantages are the inability to use for frying. The species has not yet fully adapted to the climatic conditions of different regions, it was zoned only in the central part, so it is difficult to describe the complete picture of the shortcomings. Requires additional preventive treatment for late blight.
Agrotechnics
Potatoes are grown in a lighted area
Potato Melody is a drought-resistant, heat-loving plant. The landing site should be open, well-lit, and free of drafts. To get a good harvest, you need to follow the rules of crop rotation.
It is allowed to grow potatoes of this variety in one place for 5 years, and then change the site. Such growing rules are valid provided that there are no infectious diseases in potatoes, otherwise, the site is changed.First of all, you need to take care of the preparation of the soil and the choice of seed material.
Soil preparation
The soil begins to be prepared in the autumn. After harvesting, the site is freed from the remaining tops, roots and other debris. To disinfect the soil, herbicides are applied. They allow you to clear the soil of roots and weed seeds, as well as destroy the larvae of some pests.
During the season, the soil is depleted, therefore, in the autumn period, a vitamin composition or humus should be added. After fertilization, the soil is cultivated to a depth of 30-40 cm. The highest potato yields are observed on sandy loam soils, so if possible, some amount of sand can be added along with fertilizers.
In the spring, just before planting, cultivation is carried out again and fertilizers are applied. It is very important not to allow the soil to dry out during the pre-planting period. If moisture is lacking, you can moisten it a few days before planting.
Seed preparation
Initially, seeds are purchased from a trusted supplier. Then you can prepare seed material yourself, using potatoes 2-3 years old. The most beautiful, even tubers are chosen, on which there is no mechanical damage and rot.
For seeds, medium-sized potatoes are chosen. Before storing seed potatoes, they are planted with greenery, for which they leave the seeds in a lighted room for a week or outdoors in direct sunlight for 2 days.
The breeding characteristic says that the variety has a long dormant period, so there is no need to be afraid that the potatoes will sprout ahead of time in the cellar. At the end of March, the seeds are taken out of the vegetable store, disinfected, dried and germinated in any convenient way. This will take about 3 weeks.
Landing
Melody potatoes are planted in late April and early May. If the spring is late, the dates are shifted by 1-2 weeks. Before planting, root crops should be treated with fungicides and growth stimulants. It is recommended to put 0.5 cups of wood ash in each hole.
The planting method depends on the type of soil. There are 3 planting methods in total:
- smooth - suitable for fertile, sandy loam soils;
- ridge - used on heavy soils, in order to raise the bushes above the soil level;
- trenching - suitable for light loose soil types.
Planting depth on light soils is 12 cm, on heavy soils no more than 5 cm. Potatoes are planted by pressing a little into the ground. Then they are covered with soil. In spring, additional soil moisture is usually not required.
Care
Proper care will ensure you have a good harvest
In addition to adhering to the rules of agricultural technology, in order to get a good harvest, you need to provide the plants with proper care, which consists of a whole range of measures:
- watering;
- hilling;
- cultivation;
- top dressing.
Watering is carried out as needed. In the central regions, precipitation falls in moderation, so additional watering may not be necessary. Water is poured under the bushes, carefully so as not to expose the roots.
Hilling and cultivation
The formation of embankments at the base of the bushes is a very important stage. The procedure allows you to effectively protect the culture from possible temperature changes, form a beautiful bush and ensure good soil aeration. The event is held 2 times a season.
After the emergence of already strengthened shoots, 12 cm high, a mound of 5-8 cm is made. The next hilling is carried out after 3 weeks. In parallel with hilling, soil cultivation is carried out. The higher the humidity, the deeper you need to weed the aisles.
Top dressing
It is strictly forbidden to use fresh organic fertilizers in the form of manure, chicken droppings and others as top dressing, otherwise the roots may burn out. The introduction of potassium and nitrogenous fertilizers allows you to grow a healthy crop, with increased keeping rates.On acidic soils, chalk or dolomite flour is used.
Many farmers use folk recipes for the preparation of vitamin supplements. Egg solution and all kinds of herbal infusions have proven themselves very well. After flowering, top dressing is no longer applied. Fertilizers are applied in parallel with the first hilling, before and during flowering.
Diseases and pests
Potatoes Melody is moderately resistant to late blight and foliar twisting virus, therefore it needs additional preventive treatment during the growing season. Pathological microorganisms can live in the soil, on tubers, for a long time, and can also be carried on the paws of insect pests. Treatment with fungicides and antifungal agents is carried out before flowering. After it, the use of chemical compounds is prohibited.
The preparations Fitosporin, Alirin, Gamair, Quadris have proven themselves well. Like all nightshade species, Melody is susceptible to attacks by the Colorado potato beetle. For the purpose of prevention, drugs Prestige, Colorado, Regent and others are used.
Harvesting and storage
The tubers are ready for harvesting after 120 days from the moment the first sprouts appear. Before harvesting, they mow all the tops and remove them from the site. After 10 days, you can dig the potatoes. During this period, the tubers fully ripen, the skin coarsens and becomes less susceptible to damage. Mowing tops is carried out in order to prevent various diseases.
The tops may contain harmful microorganisms, which, when dug up, fall on the tubers and provoke the development of diseases during storage. After digging, the treatment stage follows. The potatoes are left in the open air for 2 hours. Then the root vegetables are sorted and laid out in a dark room, in which the temperature regime of 13-18 ℃ must be observed.
Gradually, over 2-3 weeks, the temperature is lowered to 2-4 ℃. The hardening procedure allows you to stop biochemical processes in root crops and improve preservation. In the cellar, you need to maintain an optimal humidity level within 80%. With a decrease in this indicator, the tubers become dry and sluggish, and with an increase, fungal diseases begin to progress.
Final part
The Melody potato is a relatively new variety bred in the Netherlands. In a short time, the culture has proven itself well in many countries. Among the advantages of the variety are high yield and excellent taste. The quality description allows the fruit to be used for the manufacture of dry blanks.
The variety is resistant to many potato diseases. If all agrotechnical rules are observed and with proper care, 500-600 centners of potatoes can be obtained from 1 hectare. The culture tolerates transportation well and is beneficial for commercial use.