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Many summer residents do not want to experiment with new varieties of vegetables. But in vain, because breeders breed varieties that ripen earlier? and are insensitive to many diseases.
Potato Manifesto appeared as a result of the work of Belarusian breeders. Received wide recognition due to stable yields and excellent resistance to certain diseases.
General description of the variety
Manifesta bushes grow to a height of approximately 50 cm and have a semi-erect appearance. They differ in leaves of emerald shades with shiny surfaces, with small notches. The mass of one tuber ranges from 104-143 g. The starch content is 12-15%.
The tubers are distinguished by a pinkish hue of the peel and an oval-oblong shape. On the cut, the potato has a light amber tone (as in the photo).
According to the ripening period, the Manifesto variety can be classified as mid-early. Potatoes are characterized by a high keeping quality of 94% and excellent yields, on average 165-360 centners per hectare. In special vegetable stores, the harvest is perfectly preserved for six months. The variety is characterized by high resistance to damage. Potato Manifesto adequately transfers transportation over long distances.
The hostesses like the excellent table and taste qualities of the Manifesto variety and the fact that the vegetable does not boil when cooked.
Peculiarities of growing
For a bountiful harvest, it is recommended to plant Manifesto potatoes on light, breathable soils.
Planting potatoes
To create favorable conditions for the germination and ripening of potatoes, it is recommended to fertilize a plot of soil in the fall: an organic mixture (decayed manure, compost, peat) is introduced at the rate of 40-60 kg per hundred square meters. Then the soil must be dug up.
In the spring, as soon as the soil thaws, it is advisable to feed the soil with inorganic fertilizers (nitroammophos – 4 kg per hundred square meters).
Directly when planting, wood ash is added to the hole, which improves the growth and development of potatoes.
To ensure the harvest, Manifesto tubers are sprayed with solutions of copper sulfate before planting (resistance to fungal diseases is provided), boric acid (resistance to rhizoctoniosis increases).
Planting material begins to be prepared in advance – a month and a half:
- tubers are sorted and damaged vegetables or with signs of disease are selected. The best choice is the same medium-sized Manifesto tubers (diameter 5-6 cm);
- seed material of the Manifesto variety is laid out in boxes in 3-4 layers and left for germination in a bright, warm room;
- for planting, potatoes with thick sprouts are selected from germinated tubers. Unsprouted tubers or with single thin sprouts are discarded.
The first decade of May is the optimal period for planting Manifesto potatoes. Although it is better to determine the terms for different regions individually. It is desirable to build on the warm weather, which has already been steadily established. To obtain an early and good harvest, it is recommended to use ridge planting technology.
- On the day of planting, the soil is slightly loosened and furrows up to eight centimeters deep are outlined. 70-80 cm are laid on the path between the furrows.
- In the furrows with a step of 30 cm, germinated tubers of the Manifesto variety are laid. Then, carefully, so as not to break off the sprouts, the potatoes are covered with loose soil and form a ridge 10-12 cm high.
- Then every week the crest is built up by loosening the earth and hilling the beds. The recommended comb height is 25-32 cm (as in the photo).
This method has several advantages: the first shoots of the Manifesto variety appear 10-14 days earlier, the loose structure of the soil is preserved (which provides good aeration), the yield increases by about 50%.
In order to guarantee a good harvest, it is advisable, starting from the time of budding, to water twice or thrice. The most suitable method of watering is sprinkling, as water is distributed economically and evenly.
After watering, it is recommended to hill the bed to restore the swollen earth.
Potato nutrition
If it was not possible to fully prepare the soil for planting, then fertilizers can be applied during the period of potato growth.
As soon as the bushes grow 9-11 cm, you can fertilize the Manifest potatoes with a mixture of organic and inorganic fertilizer. To do this, a liter of manure is diluted in ten liters of water and a tablespoon of superphosphate is added. Top dressing is applied only under the root, one must beware of getting the solution on the tops.
Harvest
It is recommended to start harvesting Manifesto potatoes after approximately 60-70% of the leaves have dried. First, the tops are mowed and a period of 10-14 days is maintained, which is necessary for the formation of a denser skin on the tubers. It is highly undesirable to delay the Manifesto potato harvest. Since the tubers are very warm at high summer temperatures, the effect of felting is manifested. Such a crop will be difficult to store for a long time – the potatoes will begin to germinate early.
There is no need to use a shovel. To get the Manifesto potato, just use a pitchfork.
When harvesting, you can immediately select tubers for future planting. It is better to give preference to bushes that stood out during the growth period.
Pests and diseases
The Manifest potato variety is resistant to various diseases: golden nematode, wrinkled mosaic, late blight, common scab.
Of the pests, the potato moth causes the greatest harm to the Manifest variety. Do not underestimate the appearance of this pest – it multiplies very quickly, and it is quite difficult to remove it. The difficulty lies in the fact that the moth easily tolerates cold winters. It is imperative to get rid of the insect, since the larvae can destroy almost the entire potato crop or make the tubers unusable.
If butterflies are difficult to notice, then you should look at the tops. The presence of a pest is signaled by rotting leaves and cobwebs. To accurately verify the presence of moths, it is enough to dig up the damaged bush and cut the potato tubers.
So far, no drug has been created that gives a 100% guarantee of getting rid of the pest. However, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of moths with the help of Leptocid, Dendrobatseillin, Bitoxibacillin. It is only necessary to process the bushes before the first ovaries appear.
Of the preventive measures, you can use the heating of the seed material of the Manifesto variety at a temperature of 40˚ C. Or, high-quality hilling of the beds. It is known that the pest will not be able to spoil tubers located at a depth of more than 15 cm.
And most importantly, it is to carefully monitor the potato beds and promptly and correctly respond to the appearance of diseases or pests.
Manifesto potatoes are high-yielding varieties. It is characterized by resistance to diseases, perfectly tolerates periods of drought and cold gusts of wind. Therefore, the Manifesto deserves the attention of both professionals and amateur gardeners.