Potato variety Karatop

Karatop is a variety of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) with an ultra-early ripening period. Bred by employees of the German company "Norika Nordring-Kartoffelzucht-Und Vermehrungs-GmbH". In 1998 he was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. Approved for cultivation in four regions of the country: North-West, Volgo-Vyatka, Middle Volga, West Siberian. Table potatoes, suitable for transportation and mechanical harvesting. It can be grown under film shelters, on a variety of soil types.

The period from full germination to harvest is only 40-55 days.

The plant is of medium height, stem type, moderately spreading. The stem is semi-erect, the anthocyanin shade is weak or completely absent. Leaves of medium size, intermediate type, slight waviness is observed along the edges. There are few flowers, they are medium-sized, have a white color.

The root system of Karatopa is well developed, 16-25 tuber crops are formed on one plant. Tubers are small, oval-round, with an average weight of 58-105 grams. The starch content in them fluctuates at the level of 10.6-14.4%. The peel is yellow, has a mesh structure, smooth to the touch. The pulp on the cut is light yellow in color. The eyes are small, superficial, almost invisible. In general, potatoes have an even, regular shape, therefore, they are suitable for mechanical cleaning. The marketability of tubers is 72−93%, at the level of standards.

The yield is high, on average 200-400 c / ha, depending on the region of growth. The maximum indicator was set in the Kaliningrad region - 494 c / ha, which is 160 c / ha more than the standard of the variety Zhukovsky early... In the same region, the yield on the 50th day after full germination was 250-407 c / ha, 134 c / ha higher than the results of Zhukovsky. In the North-West region, the indicator varies within 198-436 c / ha, which is 44-75 c / ha higher than the standards of Zhukovsky and Izora. In the Middle Volga region, it is possible to collect 184-271 c / ha, 22 c / ha more than Pushkinets, and in the Republic of Tatarstan - 282 c / ha after the second digging, while the maximum yield was recorded at 341 c / ha, which is 189 c / ha higher than Pushkinets' norm. c / ha.

The taste of Karatop is excellent. The digestibility of the tubers is average, due to which they have a universal purpose in cooking. These potatoes are great for frying, baking and mashed potatoes. It will be a good addition to salads, soups and vegetable mixes. Also, according to gardeners, it makes great chips and fries. During heat treatment, tubers do not lose their shape and color, so the finished dish looks neat and appetizing.

In addition to excellent consumer qualities, the variety keeps very well. Keeping quality is estimated at 97%. Thus, the harvested crop will delight you from the first months of summer until late spring of next year!

Among all the advantages of this potato, its undemandingness to the composition and type of soil stands out. It can thrive in difficult soils and, with proper care, yields will remain high. As mentioned earlier, plants feel great under a film cover. With this method of growing, tubers are formed faster, and therefore the first digging can be carried out as early as possible. In addition, return frosts will not be afraid of plantings. Below is a small list of the main features of agricultural technology that you should pay attention to.

• Before planting, it is necessary to select and calibrate seed material, as well as preventive treatment against pests and diseases. Suitable for cultivation are medium-sized potatoes, approximately the same in size, without mechanical damage and signs of disease.
• It is highly advisable to germinate the tubers. This will promote better germination.
• The distance between the planted plants should be 20-25 cm, the row spacing should be 60-70 cm.
• The Karatop variety needs plenty of water.This can be the main difficulty in caring for it, especially if the planting area is large, but the problem is solved by installing an automatic irrigation system.
• As for fertilizing during the growing season, for these purposes it is better to use fertilizers that are quickly absorbed by plants, this is due to the early ripening of tubers. Given this feature, it is advisable to take care of applying top dressing to the soil immediately before planting the potatoes.
• If the method of growing under the film is used, you need to monitor the temperature regime. In warm weather, the soil under the shelter can heat up to 40-45 ° C, and because of this, the growth of tubers noticeably slows down.
• Weeding and loosening of the soil should be done as needed.

Karatop is resistant to diseases such as cancer, golden potato nematode, leaf roll virus "A" and "Y". The tops are not susceptible to late blight, while the tubers are moderately susceptible to it. Also, plants are rarely affected by rhizoctonia and scab.

This potato has long earned the trust of gardeners as one of the best ultra-early varieties. It is highly valued for its excellent yield, amicable ripening of tubers, excellent taste, good marketability and keeping quality, as well as for undemanding to the type and composition of the soil. Thanks to these qualities, it has become quite widespread among fans of eating young potatoes in the first months of summer.

The following companies are officially engaged in the cultivation of Karatop: LLC Agrofirma Krimm, Tyumen Region, CJSC Oktyabrskoe, Leningrad Region, IE Kolyasin Sergey Nikolaevich in Omsk, CJSC Teplichny, Omsk Region, LLC Greenhouse and Greenhouse Combine Elita- Potatoes "" in the city of Omsk, LLC "Slavyanka-M" of the Leningrad region., CJSC "Breeding plant" Prinevskoe ".