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Kumach potatoes are popular not only in our country, but also abroad. This variety, created by domestic breeders at the beginning of the XNUMXst century, invariably wins prizes at tastings during agro-industrial exhibitions.
Description of the potato variety Kumach
The culture of this variety was bred for cultivation in the central part of Our Country on soils rich in chernozem. This is a heat-loving plant that does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature and frost and requires good lighting. At the same time, the crop does not lose its yield in drought conditions.
The bush has an erect stem of medium size with bright green foliage. Approximately 33 – 35 days after the appearance of the first shoots, the plant blooms with scarce bright blue or purple flowers. Productivity does not depend on the intensity of flowering. Tubers are oval, neat, of the same size, with a smooth pink skin with a small number of small eyes. Creamy flesh that does not change during cooking.
Potato variety Kumach ripens in an average of 90 days.
The taste of potatoes
This variety has won wide recognition among gardeners in our country and abroad due to its special sweetish taste. From the reviews of Kumach potato consumers, it can be seen that both children and adults like dishes from it. The culture was bred specifically for frying and baking; mashed potatoes and french fries are especially successful.
Potato Kumach belongs to varieties with a high content of starch – in its tubers from 12% to 18% of this component. Due to this composition, it is often used as a raw material in the starch industry.
Pros and cons of the Kumach variety
According to farmers, the Kumach potato variety has characteristics that distinguish it from other types of this crop:
- unique taste qualities;
- high yield;
- unpretentiousness: the variety perfectly tolerates drought, is resistant to diseases and pests of potatoes;
- does not deteriorate for a long time during long-term transportation and storage;
- commercial success: sells well due to the above qualities.
The disadvantages are not so significant: its exactingness in light and temperature conditions, as well as the susceptibility of plants to nematode attacks, can be considered a disadvantage.
Planting and caring for Kumach potatoes
Despite the unpretentiousness, growing Kumach potatoes requires some preparation. The main activities are watering, weed removal, hilling, top dressing, loosening.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
From the description of the Kumach potato, it follows that this variety has special requirements for illumination, so the best option would be to plant from the northern part of the plot to the south – so each plant will receive a sufficient amount of sunlight.
Agronomists recommend choosing the soil on which flax, cereals or legumes were previously planted. But the areas where dioecious plants grew are not suitable for growing.
Preparation of planting material
To increase productivity and protect against diseases and pests, it is recommended to disinfect planting material. Usually, for this purpose, gardeners use a solution of potassium permanganate. 1 g of powder is added to 10 liters of water and the tubers are immersed in the solution for 30-40 minutes. After that, just before planting, they are sprinkled with wood ash. It is also recommended to make transverse cuts on the tubers to stimulate the growth of the maximum number of eyes.
You can also use the classic methods of preparation: heating and sprouting. The first option involves keeping the tubers at a temperature of + 25 ° … + 27 ° C for 5-7 days. In the second case, the potatoes are laid out in the light and left at a temperature of + 12 ° … + 15 ° C for 20–30 days. Every 5-7 days they are sprayed with water.
Rules of landing
When planting Kumach potato seed, it will not be superfluous to put a small amount of bird droppings in each hole.
The distance between the bushes should be about 60 cm, between the rows – at least 40 cm; deepen the planting material by no more than 15 cm. Such a planting provides each plant with a sufficient amount of sunlight, facilitates care and subsequent harvesting.
Watering and top dressing
Kumach potatoes are resistant to drought, so it is enough to water up to 3 times per season. The best time for this is in the evening hours. You can water both under the root and along the furrows, while each plant should have at least 3 liters of water.
The first stage of feeding is carried out during the period of active growth of the plant. A mixture of humus and urea is well suited for this. The second stage of fertilization is carried out in order to stimulate flowering. During this period, a mixture of potassium sulfate with ash is used. During the formation of tubers, the third stage of feeding is carried out with the help of potassium superphosphate.
Some gardeners claim that Kumach potatoes can be fed only once per season. For this, bird droppings or cow dung diluted with water are sufficient. Each bush should have at least 2 liters of solution.
Loosening and weeding
Kumach potatoes, like other varieties of this crop, take a long time to sprout, so weeds appear on the soil already in the first week after planting. Weeding, along with loosening, provides air access to the roots and stimulates the formation of large tubers. The soil is loosened on a warm dry sunny day. This treatment destroys up to 80% of weeds.
Hilling
Hilling is another weed control technique that can increase yields. The procedure consists in sprinkling damp loose soil to the stem of the plant. The first hilling is done when the stem has a height of about 14 cm, the second – before flowering.
Diseases and pests
Potato Kumach is a variety resistant to most diseases and pests. However, it is dangerous to be affected by a nematode. The main signs are twisting of the leaves, the appearance of unusual spots, curvature of the stems, delayed flowering. Thiazon is an effective pest control agent.
Chicken and cow manure can also be used as a nematode control agent.
Potato yield
The root system of each plant contains 10-20 tubers. With proper care, up to 25 root crops can be harvested from one bush. The weight of one tuber averages 200 g, many gardeners manage to provide care, in which this figure increases to 250 g. Up to 1 ton of Kumach potatoes can be obtained from 1 ha.
Harvesting and storage
Kumach tubers, like other types of potatoes, can be harvested when the bushes begin to fade. This is an early harvest. The timing of harvesting completely ready-to-storage root crops depends on the region.
The root system is carefully hooked with a pitchfork and the bush is pulled out. It is best to harvest potatoes in dry, windy weather. So it will be better stored and less exposed to decay.
When the crop is harvested, the tubers are sorted, all damaged potatoes are selected, and those stored for storage are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate (2 g per 10 liters of water). It is best to store potatoes in a dark dry room at a temperature of + 2 ° … + 4 ° С.
Conclusion
Potato Kumach is an attractive variety for agricultural enterprises and amateur gardeners. High yield, unpretentiousness, resistance to diseases and pests and excellent taste make it more and more popular. With proper care, this variety will delight with beautiful, high-quality root crops that will be stored until the next harvest.