Description of the potato variety Melody

The potato variety Melody was bred by Dutch breeders. Passed a test in some countries of the post-Soviet space and was recognized as a promising varietal culture. 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 the potato variety Melody

Hara potato teristika

Potato variety Melody belongs to medium late. The ripening period is 100-120 days. The average yield is 200-300 centners per 1 ha. The maximum yield is 636 centners per 1 ha. Description of the qualitative characteristics of the appearance allows use potatoes for sale.

Description of the plant

• erect bush;
• leaves with weak undulation on the outer edge;
• tops and leafy part of saturated green color;
• flowers are red-violet;
• from 1 bush you can collect 7-10 tubers.

Description of the fruit

In industry, the Melody potato variety is widely used for preparing various dishes.Its taste is beyond praise. Not suitable for frying and cooking chips. Description of the quality characteristics of the tubers:

• weight 100-180 g;
• oval form;
• solids content of 20%;
• the peel is yellowish-pink, smooth;
• eyes are evenly deepened;
• the pulp on the cut is yellow.

Root crops are distinguished by their attractive appearance, they tolerate transportation well . The rest period is about 8 months, so potatoes can be stored for a long time in the cellar, not sprouting. By observing the agrotechnical rules and storage conditions, it is possible to save 97% of the crop.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage is the high taste indices. Potato varieties Melody is characterized by good resistance to many diseases. An undoubted advantage over many types of nightshade crops is its good preservation and long rest period. The high solids content allows the use of the variety for the manufacture of dry food blanks.

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 full picture of the shortcomings. Requires additional preventative treatment from late blight.

Agriculture

Potatoes are grown in a lighted place

Potato Melody is a drought-resistant, heat-loving plant. The landing area should be open, well-lit, without drafts. To get a good crop, 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 plot. Such growing rules apply if there is no infectious disease in the potato, otherwise the plot is changed. First of all, you need to take care of the preparation of the soil and the selection of seed material.

Preparation of the soil

Soil begins to be prepared in the autumn. After harvesting, the site is freed from the remaining tops, roots and other garbage. To disinfect the soil, make herbicides. They allow you to clean the soil of the roots and seeds of weeds, as well as to destroy the larvae of some pests.

During the season, the soil is depleted, therefore, in the autumn, a vitamin composition or humus should be added. After fertilizing, the land is cultivated to a depth of 30-40 cm. The highest potato yields are observed on sandy loamy soils, so if possible you can add some sand along with fertilizers.

In the spring, before planting, cultivation is again carried out and make fertilizers.It is very important to prevent the soil from drying out during the pre-planting period. If there is not enough moisture, you can moisten it a few days before planting.

Preparing the seeds

Initially, seeds are bought from a trusted supplier. Then you can prepare the seed material yourself, using potatoes for 2-3 years of planting. The most beautiful, even tubers are selected, on which there is no mechanical damage and rot.

Medium-sized potatoes are selected for seeds. Before storing seed potatoes for storage, it is planted, for which they leave the seeds in a lighted room for a week or in the open air in direct sunlight for 2 days.

The selection characteristic says that the variety has a long rest period, so you can Do not be afraid that the potatoes will sprout ahead of time in the cellar. At the end of March, the seeds are removed from the vegetable store, disinfected, dried and germinated in any convenient way. This will take about 3 weeks.

Planting

Potatoes are planted Melody in late April or 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 method of planting depends on the type of soil.In total there are 3 methods of planting:

• smooth – suitable for fertile, sandy loamy soils;
• crested – used on heavy soils in order to raise the bushes above the soil;
• trench – suitable for light loose types of soil.

Planting depth on light soils is 12 cm, on heavy soils not more than 5 cm. Plant potatoes, pressing a little into the soil. Then fall asleep with soil. In the spring, additional soil moisture is usually not required.

Care

Proper care will provide you with a good harvest

In addition to observing the rules of agricultural technology, 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 the need. In the central regions, precipitation is moderate, 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 earth mounds 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 provide good soil aeration. The event is held 2 times a season.

After the emergence of already strong shoots, 12 cm high, make a mound of 5-8 cm. 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.

Feeding

It is strictly forbidden to use fresh organic fertilizers in the form of manure, chicken droppings and others as top dressings, otherwise the roots may burn out. The introduction of potassium and nitrogen fertilizers allows you to grow a healthy crop, with increased rates of keeping quality. On acidic soils, chalk or dolomite flour is used.

Many farmers use folk recipes to prepare vitamin top dressings. Egg solution and all kinds of herbal infusions have proven themselves perfectly. After flowering, fertilizing is no longer done. Fertilizers are applied in parallel with the first hilling, before and during flowering.

Diseases and pests

Potato Melody is medium resistant to late blight and foliage curling 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.

Well-established drugs Fitosporin, Alirin, Gamair, Quadris.Like all types of nightshade, Melody is susceptible to attacks by the Colorado potato beetle. For prevention, they use Prestige, Colorado, Regent and others.

Harvesting and storage

The tubers are ready for harvesting 120 days after the first sprouts appear. Before harvesting, they cut all the tops and remove it from the site. After 10 days, you can dig potatoes. During this period, the tubers fully ripen, the peel coarsens and becomes less susceptible to damage. Mowing tops is carried out in order to prevent various diseases.

On tops can be harmful microorganisms that, when dug up, fall on tubers and provoke the development of diseases during storage. After digging, the treatment step follows. Potatoes are left in the open air for 2 hours. Then the root crops are sorted and laid out in a dark room, in which the temperature regime should be observed 13-18 ℃.

Gradually over the course of 2-3 weeks the temperature is lowered to 2-4 ℃. The hardening procedure allows you to stop the biochemical processes in root crops and improve shelf life. In the cellar you need to maintain an optimal level of humidity within 80%. With a decrease in this indicator, the tubers become dry and lethargic, and with an increase in fungal diseases begin to progress.

Final part

Potato Melody is a relatively new variety bred in the Netherlands. In a short time culture has proven itself in many countries. Among the advantages of the variety are high yields and excellent taste. The quality description allows the use of fruits for the manufacture of dry billets.

The variety is resistant to many potato diseases.Subject to all agrotechnical rules and with proper care from 1 ha, you can get 500-600 centners of potatoes. The culture is well tolerated by transportation and is beneficial for use in commercial activities.