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The Kiwi variety is an unusual variety of potato, which is gaining popularity among gardeners. It is planted in various regions, valued for its original appearance and good taste. Below is a description of the Kiwi potato variety and reviews on it, as well as the rules for planting and care.
Description of the Kiwi potato variety
Kiwi potatoes were bred in the 90s of the XX century. in the city of Zhukov, Kaluga region. The variety belongs to amateur, did not pass state tests and therefore there is no information about the hybrid in the State Register of the Federation.
When studying the description of the Kiwi potato variety, gardeners are interested in the question of whether it is GMO or not. This is due to the high resistance to the Colorado potato beetle. Under laboratory conditions, plants are obtained that are resistant to pests and diseases. First, the genes responsible for the desired properties are separated, then special bacteria are introduced into the potato cell.
All products containing GMOs are tested and labeled. In Our Country, the sale of 5 genetically modified varieties of potatoes is allowed. Among them, the Kiwi variety is missing.
According to the variety description and photo, Kiwi potatoes ripen late. The period from germination of tubers to harvest takes an average of 125 days. This period of time is affected by soil moisture and weather conditions.
Bushes of the Kiwi variety reach a height of 50 – 80 cm. The shoots are erect, with a large number of branches. Bushes are well leafy. The leaf plate is elongated, rough, serrated along the edges. The coloration is bright green. The flowers are lush, deep purple.
Characteristics and photos of Kiwi potato varieties:
- elongated shape;
- rounded edges;
- mesh rough peel;
- white firm flesh.
The hybrid got its name due to the similarity of root crops with kiwi. At the same time, potatoes have approximately the same size: medium and large. Small specimens are almost non-existent. Kiwi potato tubers are rich in fiber and dry matter.
Taste qualities of kiwi potatoes
According to the characteristics of the variety and reviews, the taste of Kiwi potatoes is rated as average. The tubers are used in cooking. The pulp of the potato boils soft and becomes crumbly. The cooking time is 40 minutes. Compared to other varieties, Kiwi potatoes require a longer processing time.
Kiwi variety is not used for frying. Due to the dry matter content, potatoes burn. Therefore, the crop is used to produce salads, first and second courses.
Pros and cons of the variety
Key Benefits of Kiwi Potatoes:
- high yield;
- unpretentiousness to the place of cultivation;
- long storage period;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages of the Kiwi variety:
- average taste;
- difficult to find on sale;
- limited application.
Planting and caring for Kiwi potatoes
Compliance with the rules of planting and care will help you get a high yield of Kiwi potatoes. Although the variety is considered unpretentious, its development is positively affected by soil fertility, hilling and watering.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Kiwi potatoes are planted in a sunny area. The culture prefers neutral soils, but it also grows on acidic ones. For growing the Kiwi variety, light or medium soil is best suited: loam, chernozem, sandy loam. If the soil on the site is clayey, the tubers will not be able to fully develop.
The plot for potatoes is located from north to south. A lowland where water and cold air accumulates is not suitable for landing. Too much moisture in the soil increases the risk of disease spread.
The best predecessors for culture are cucumber, cabbage, beets, herbs. If tomatoes, potatoes, peppers or eggplants grew on the beds, it is recommended to change the planting site. Soil preparation begins in the fall. The site is dug up to a depth of 30 cm. The soil is cleaned of weeds, fertilized with compost and wood ash.
Preparation of planting material
Before planting, it is important to prepare the material. This will increase the yield of the crop and avoid diseases. For planting, tubers weighing 80 – 100 g are selected. Too small specimens will not work, because they will not be able to give a good harvest.
1 – 1,5 months before planting, the material is transferred to a lighted place. Tubers germinate at a temperature of +12 °C. Root crops with sprouts 1 cm long are planted in the ground.
Before starting work, Kiwi potatoes are treated with a growth stimulator. Apply drugs Epin or Zircon. For 1 liter of water, 20 drops of the drug are required. The tubers are sprayed with a spray bottle. Processing stimulates the growth of potatoes, increases their resistance to diseases and weather conditions.
If the planting material was purchased from the hands, then it is better to further process it before disembarking. The tubers are dipped in a 1% solution of boric acid. Holding time – 20 minutes.
Rules of landing
Start planting potatoes when the soil warms up well. The timing depends on the climatic conditions in the region. Usually this is the period from late April to mid-May. Tubers are planted in moist soil. Planting depth is chosen taking into account the composition of the soil. On clay soils – no more than 5 cm, in sandy – 12 cm.
The procedure for planting potatoes of the Kiwi variety:
- Holes or furrows are dug on the site. Between tubers stand 30 – 40 cm, between rows – 70 cm.
- A handful of wood ash is placed in each recess.
- The tubers are lowered into the holes.
- Potatoes are covered with earth.
In addition to the traditional method, other planting options are gaining popularity. One of them is to spread the tubers in the garden and cover them with a thick layer of straw. As the bushes grow, more straw is added. The advantages of this method are in the quality of root crops and ease of cleaning. However, potatoes can suffer from a lack of moisture and become food for rodents.
Watering and top dressing
The supply of moisture has a positive effect on the development of potatoes. Before the formation of buds, the culture is not watered. The soil is then kept moist. First you need to make sure that the soil has dried up by 10 – 12 cm. Potatoes are watered in the evening. The norm of water per bush is 2 liters.
Potatoes are fed as needed. Organics and minerals are laid when planting or digging the soil. On poor soils additional top dressing is required.
For culture, slurry, herbal infusion, a solution of urea or ammonium nitrate are used. Fertilizers contain nitrogen, which promotes the growth of green mass. This top dressing is carried out in June. After 3-4 weeks, superphosphate or wood ash is added to the soil.
Loosening and weeding
For the successful cultivation of potatoes, it is important to periodically engage in weeding and loosening the soil. Weeds are removed from the soil as they appear. The procedure is conveniently performed with a rake.
The first loosening is carried out before the emergence of shoots. In the future, the soil is loosened after rain or watering. It is important to prevent a crust from forming on the surface of the earth. As a result, air exchange in the soil improves, plants absorb moisture and nutrients better.
Hilling
Hilling is another mandatory step in the care of the culture. Processing stimulates the appearance of new stolons, on which the crop is formed. When hilling under the base of the bush, the soil is raked from the row spacing.
Potatoes spud twice during the season. The first time – when the bushes reach 15 – 20 cm in height. Subsequent – 3 weeks before flowering. Hilling is performed after watering or rain.
Diseases and pests
Kiwi potato variety has increased resistance to diseases and pests. Plants are not susceptible to late blight, rot, phomosis, fusarium wilt. Good disease prevention is the observance of agricultural technology and planting dates. The choice of healthy tubers and their processing before sowing is also important.
Kiwi potatoes rarely infect wireworm and Colorado potato beetle. Insects cannot lay eggs on rough leaves. Therefore, pests choose smoother surfaces. Kiwi leaves also contain biofiber. It is a protein that insects do not digest.
Potato yield
The yield of Kiwi potatoes largely depends on weather conditions and soil quality. When planting 1 kg of tubers, up to 20 kg of root crops are obtained. In rainy and cold summers, the yield drops to 10 kg.
According to the description of the variety, Kiwi potatoes bring 3-4 kg of tubers from one bush. Up to 600 kg of crops are harvested from one hundred square meters of plantings.
Harvesting and storage
Kiwi potatoes are ready for harvest at a later date. However, many gardeners start digging up the tubers in the middle of summer for personal use. Harvesting is started when the plants turn yellow and the tops dry. Pre-dig 1 – 2 bushes and check if the tubers are ripe.
2 weeks before harvesting, it is recommended to mow the tops and leave no more than 10 cm above the ground from the bush. This will help get rid of pests that live in potato leaves. The culture is harvested on a clear day. Use a pitchfork, a shovel or a walk-behind tractor. The dug up tubers are left on the field until the end of the day. When the root crops dry out a little, they are collected in boxes.
The first 2 weeks after harvesting, potatoes are stored in a dry and dark place. During this time, the skin will become denser and possible diseases will appear. You can leave the crop in boxes or scatter on the floor. It is sorted before storage. Damaged or diseased tubers are discarded. The harvest is divided into groups: for consumption and for planting next year.
Kiwi potatoes have a long shelf life. Root crops are kept in a dark dry place with good ventilation. It is convenient to store crops in wooden boxes or on pallets. Indoors provide temperature no more than +2 °C and humidity up to 90%. In room conditions, the crop is stored for no more than 3 months.
Conclusion
Characteristics of the Kiwi potato variety and reviews will help gardeners learn more about this hybrid. For its cultivation, it is important to choose a suitable place, prepare the soil and planting material. During the growing season, plantings need minimal care: watering in drought, hilling and loosening the soil.
Reviews about the variety of potatoes Kiwi
