Potato variety Azhur
Openwork is a mid-early Russian potato variety (Solanum tuberosum) for table use. Bred by specialists of the A. G. Lorkh All-Union Potato Research Institute in cooperation with Agrofirma Sedek LLC. More recently, in 2017, three years after filing an application for registration, it was included in the state register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation. Zoned in the Central region of the country (Moscow, Tula, Ryazan, Smolensk, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Vladimir, Bryansk regions). Differs in excellent presentation, early tuberization, good keeping quality. It is appreciated for its high yield.
From the moment of emergence to full maturation, 70-85 days pass, but the first digging can be carried out already on the 45th day of potato growth. It should still be said that the highest yield can be obtained when digging at the end of the growing season.
Medium or tall plant, intermediate type, with semi-erect stems. Leaves of medium size, intermediate type, dark green color. The flowers are red-violet. The corolla is medium; its inner side has a strongly pronounced anthocyanin coloration.
Azhur has a well-developed root system, 7-13 medium-sized tubers are formed in one nest. Commercial potatoes weigh in the range of 98-135 grams, but specimens often grow even more. The tubers have an elongated oval shape, a flat surface without defects (bumps and potholes). The peel is red in color, smooth to the touch. The pulp is light yellow in color. The eyes are small, superficial, almost invisible. In general, the tubers have an excellent presentation, are great for sale, besides, the process of their cleaning is facilitated due to the flat surface and inconspicuous eyes. It should also be mentioned about the evenness of the potatoes in the nest - the tubers are homogeneous, similar in size and weight.
According to the results of state tests of the variety, the marketable yield was recorded at the level of 187-410 c / ha, 24-99 c / ha more than indicators Elizabeth and Nevsky... The largest amount was obtained in the Bryansk region - 443 centners of potatoes were harvested per hectare of planting area, which is 70 centners / ha higher than the standards Santa... According to the originator, the potential yield may be 500 c / ha. Marketability is very good - 78-98%, keeping quality - 94%.
Azhur has excellent taste qualities. Tuber vegetables are poorly boiled, best suited for boiling in "uniform" or peeled, frying, baking, stuffing, perfectly complement salads, soups and vegetable mixes. The pulp has a very pleasant texture, does not lose its color during heat treatment, it looks appetizing and attractive when finished. The starch content in tubers is at an average level - 13.7-16.4%. Potatoes are suitable for use not only in the kitchens of housewives, but also in large processing plants. It is excellent for mechanical cleaning, washing and cutting, thanks to its flattened tuber shape and shallow superficial eyes.
The variety is undemanding to soils, can be grown in a wide variety of conditions, but still on fertile soils, in regions with a mild climate, it is able to give the best yields. Despite the fact that Azhur is officially approved for cultivation only in the Central region of Russia, it has spread throughout almost the entire territory of the country and beyond. The variety is also in demand in Ukraine and Belarus.
Plants are unpretentious, do not require special care. However, it should be understood that the more attention you pay to your plantings, the greater the yield you can expect from them. Potatoes can form very large tubers, moreover in large quantities, but for this they need sufficient nutrition. Provide the plants with timely organic and mineral fertilization, and then they will delight you with an excellent harvest.Do not forget about the standard agricultural techniques - hilling, weeding, preventive treatments against insect pests and diseases, loosening the soil, as well as watering. As for the latter, according to some reports, Azhur is resistant to drought, so it is a very good choice for those gardeners who do not have the opportunity to often visit their site and regularly monitor soil moisture.
Of the features of agricultural technology, one more nuance can be noted. Seed material is strongly recommended to germinate in order to improve germination and reduce ripening time. Due to the pronounced dormant period, by the way, the tubers are perfectly stored, without sprouting and without losing their taste and marketability. Another agrotechnical nuance is that high-quality preventive treatments for late blight and compliance with crop rotation on the site are extremely important. The best predecessors of potatoes are green manure, zucchini, cabbage, garlic, legumes, onions, beets.
The variety is resistant to leaf-rolling virus, striped mosaic, common scab, cancer causative agent. Vulnerable to aureus cyst nematode. According to the All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, it is susceptible to late blight both in tops and tubers.
Openwork has earned many positive and even admiring reviews about himself. A special point among its advantages is high yield. According to gardeners, it is really impressive, and often exceeds the limits declared by the originator. They also note the plasticity of our hero, his ability to adapt well to radically different growing conditions. And of course, the potato was highly praised for its excellent taste. Moreover, it ripens early and amicably, which allows you to get a young crop much earlier than the declared growing season. Thus, among other mid-early varieties, our hero can be attributed to the list of leaders in terms of tuberization rate.
Among other advantages of the variety are good keeping quality, resistance to mechanical damage and various diseases. Separately, it is worth noting the excellent presentation of the tubers. The originator himself claims that Azhur is an analogue of various European varieties in appearance of tubers. And this statement can be safely believed - the potatoes look really great! So, it becomes an almost ideal choice for those who want to grow potatoes for sale.
But such an “ideal” representative of culture also has some drawbacks. The main ones are weak resistance to golden cyst nematode and late blight. On the other hand, with competent agricultural technology, these problems are very easy to cope with. To some extent, the disadvantages can be attributed to the exactingness of soil fertility, but this phenomenon is fully justified - plants need sufficient nutrition to grow and "feed" a large number of large tubers.
