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The Arizona potato is a product of Dutch breeders. The variety grows well in the regions: Central, Central Black Earth. Suitable for landing in Ukraine and Moldova.
Description
Arizona potatoes are early table potatoes. Bushes are formed of medium height, with straight sprawling stems. Leaves grow quite large.
Massive oval-shaped tubers gain weight on average 110-150 g per season. The skin of potatoes is yellow, small eyes remain on the tubers. The pulp is light yellow (photo). The starch index corresponds to table varieties – 13-16%. The harvest ripening period is 70-85 days. The Arizona potato variety is excellent for winter storage (95% keeping quality).
Advantages and disadvantages
When evaluating the Arizona variety, gardeners identified several advantages:
- excellent presentation;
- good preservation;
- drought-resistant;
- does not lose its presentation when transported over long distances;
- resistance to golden nematode and potato cancer.
The disadvantages of potatoes of the Arizona variety include sensitivity to common scab, leaf blight.
Landing
An important stage before planting the Arizona variety is the processing and germination of tubers. Select healthy, intact material. In order for the sprouts to grow faster, the potatoes are taken out to a warm, well-lit place.
A common and popular remedy is “Epin”. Arizona potato tubers, treated with the drug, withstand late frosts down to -5 C. The bushes grow more powerful and strong, and the root crops ripen faster. For spraying, one ampoule (0,25 ml) is diluted in 400 ml of water. This amount is enough to process about 200 tubers. The procedure is carried out a day before planting potatoes of the Arizona variety.
For potato beds allocate a lighted place. Non-acidic soil is preferred. Crop rotation is an important factor for getting a good harvest. Potatoes grow well after onions, cabbage or various greens.
The Arizona variety is planted in the first half of May – when the soil has warmed up enough. The site must be prepared – loosened, weeds are removed. On planting day, the soil is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. Tubers are also sprayed with special means. Fungicide “Matador” will protect planting material from the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm, late blight, alternariosis. Dilute 30 ml of the product in 200 ml of water – this is enough to spray 30-35 tubers. In order for the processing to be of high quality, Arizona potatoes are laid out in one layer and sprayed first on one side and then on the other.
A little peat mixed with humus is added to holes about 10 cm deep. Aisles are made 65-70 cm wide. And in a row, a distance of 25-30 cm is kept between the pits.
Care
Arizona potatoes are quite unpretentious. However, following some care rules will help increase yields:
- for better potato growth, high beds are formed;
- after watering, the soil must be mulched;
- about 5-7 days before digging up the root crops, the tops are cut off.
The choice of irrigation regime is influenced by several factors: the climatic features of the area, the composition and structure of the soil. If it rains frequently, then there is no need to specially water the Arizona potato plantings. It is better to loosen the soil regularly. Loosening is also called “dry irrigation”, because it maintains soil moisture.
When growing the Arizona variety in any region, it is important to carry out agricultural practices and plant nutrition on time.
Hilling and top dressing
The first time hilling is carried out when the potato stems grow 15-20 cm high. The second time (after 2-3 weeks), the earth is gently loosened and rolled to the stems, forming mounds.
Remarkably, hilling is important when growing Arizona potatoes in regions with different climatic features. In dry areas, this technique will prevent the soil from overheating and help retain moisture. And in places with cool and rainy weather, due to hilling, the earth will loosen, which will ensure the flow of air to the root crops.
Application of fertilizers
Experienced gardeners recommend feeding plants three times a season:
- As soon as shoots of Arizona potatoes appear, nitrogen-containing compounds are used. Pale foliage is a signal of a lack of nitrogen. You can use a solution: 500 ml of mullein and 15 g of urea are diluted in 10 liters of water. Under each bush pour 500 ml of the mixture.
- During the setting of buds, potassium-based fertilizers are applied. This will contribute to the setting and growth of tubers. In 10 liters, dilute 15 g of potassium sulfate and double superphosphate, half a glass of wood ash. For one bush, 500 ml of solution is enough.
- Approximately 20-25 days before digging up the Arizona potato crop, a mineral-organic mixture is applied. For 10 liters of water, take 30 g of superphosphate and a glass of slurry. For one bush, 50 ml of fertilizer is enough.
The best option is a combination of the process of fertilizing and hilling the bushes.
Diseases and pests
To obtain a voluminous and high-quality crop, it is important to notice the signs of the onset of diseases in time and apply the right means to combat dangerous insects.
Late blight (brown rot) easily affects the plant. In favorable conditions, when the weather is warm and humid, it quickly affects the entire landing. The source of rot can be soil, infected tops, affected neighboring plants (especially the nightshade family). The initial signs are the darkening of the lower leaves on the bushes. The whole plant is gradually affected (above-ground part and root system). It is necessary to start the fight for the harvest when the first symptoms appear – planting, sprayed with fungicides: Scor, Ditan, Bravo, Reglon super. Preventive measures are of particular importance – crop rotation rules are observed, Arizona potatoes are not planted in the lowlands, thickening of the beds is not allowed, bushes are spudded.
Scab is a fungus that infects the skin of tubers. The disease leads to the loss of the marketable appearance of Arizona tubers, the taste of potatoes worsens, the amount of starch decreases, and the keeping quality of root crops decreases. The disease develops in dry, hot weather. Methods of control: the use of physiologically acidic fertilizers (manganese sulfate, ammonium sulfate), culling of infected tubers during planting, regular irrigation of the soil (especially after the budding phase).
The Colorado potato beetle and its larvae eat the green part of the potato, which leads to the destruction of the bush. The insect hibernates in the ground and, as soon as warm weather sets in, it emerges to the surface. If planting Arizona potatoes is small, then you can manually collect insects and larvae. A more effective method is the use of biological agents. The beds are sprayed with Agrovertin, Bicol, Colorado. Popular folk remedies – treatment of bushes with a solution of birch tar (100 g of the product is diluted in a ten-liter bucket of water), an ash-soap solution.
Harvesting
The tops are mowed approximately 7-10 days before the tubers are dug up, which speeds up their ripening. Harvest preferably in dry weather. The best root crops are left for planting next season. Sick and damaged potatoes are thrown away.
In order for the Arizona potatoes to dry out, they are left in the field for 1-2 hours, provided the air temperature is low. On a bright hot day, it is better to scatter the crop under a canopy, otherwise burns may appear on the fruits.
The Arizona variety is very popular due to its easy care, excellent growth at low temperatures.