Unpretentious potato variety “Chugunka” for regions with temperate climates and southern regions

Many gardeners prefer proven varieties to newer ones. Over the decades, only those crops that consistently produce good yields and have tasty fruits have become popular. This also applies to potatoes.

Among the time-tested and favorite varieties of summer residents is the Chugunka potato. It has tasty tubers with white flesh and purple skin. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Cast iron and how to grow it on your site - read on.

What kind of potato is this?

Chugunka was bred by Russian breeders based on the Sineglazka potato. The Chugunka and Sineglazka varieties are similar in the photo, but their descriptions and characteristics are different.

This is interesting! Until now, the variety has not been included in the State Register of the Russian Federation, but this does not make it any less popular among summer residents and gardeners.

The main distinguishing feature of Chugunka is the dark purple color of the peel with yellowish areas on some tubers and cream or white flesh.

Chemical composition of the variety

Cast iron has a high content of nutrients. It contains anthocyanin, iodine, iron, potassium, magnesium, proteins and amino acids, vitamins B, PP, C and K. The vegetable has a positive effect on the endocrine system and the general condition of the body.

Note! People who want to lose weight should take a closer look at Cast Iron. It contains only 10-15% starch.

This variety is tasty only when ripe.

General characteristics of cast iron

Fans of cast iron note its excellent taste and ease of care. Therefore, gardeners choose potatoes despite their average yield.

Characteristics of Chugunka potatoes:

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of cast iron include:

• excellent taste;
• high content of nutrients;
• interesting appearance of purple tubers;
• earlier maturation;
• immunity to major nightshade diseases;
• high keeping quality;
• a small number of non-marketable tubers;
• high transportability;
• drought resistance.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• low yield;
• demands on soil composition;
• degenerates with prolonged use of the same planting material.

Agricultural technology Cast iron

In the central and southern regions landing Potatoes are grown in April. By this time, the soil at a depth of 15 cm warms up to 10°C. In cities with cold climates, tubers are planted in early May.

The agricultural technology of Chugunka is not much different from caring for any other potatoes. The only caveat is that the variety is especially demanding when it comes to fertilizing.

Preparation of planting material

1-1.5 months before planting, potato tubers must be prepared. First, the planting material is processed. This speeds up the emergence of sprouts, reduces the likelihood of disease in the future and increases the plant’s resistance to adverse environmental factors.

Potatoes are processed before planting using:

1. A solution of 3 liters of water and 1 tsp. copper sulfate. Tubers for 5-10 minutes. After this, they are dried for 12 hours.
2. Products from 1 tsp. boric acid and 6 liters of water. The planting material is washed in it for 5 minutes. It is then left until completely dry.
3. “Solution” or any other growth stimulant, diluted according to the instructions on the package.

After processing, the potatoes are germinated.To do this, it is placed in damp sawdust in a dark place or simply left in the light. It is important to constantly spray the tubers so that they do not dry out.

For planting, large and beautiful tubers with strong sprouts are used. 2 days before planting potatoes in the beds, they are taken out to a place with a temperature of +10...+12°C.

Advice! For planting, tubers are selected from those plants that were not sick and gave the best harvest last season.

Preparing beds and planting

For potatoes, choose beds in a lighted area of ​​the garden. In the shade, this light-loving crop has lower yields.

Light but nutritious soils are best suited for Chugunka. In heavy soil, yields are significantly reduced.

Every 2 years the place for planting potatoes is changed. At this time, the plots are sown with legumes, radishes, rye, any herbs, carrots, cabbage, onions or garlic. After nightshade, cast iron is not planted. They, in turn, are not placed next to potato beds.

Preparing the site for planting potatoes begins in the fall. The beds are dug up and cleared of plant debris. If the plants are not sick, then they are not thrown away, but crushed and buried in the ground.

For every 1 m² of plot, add 6-8 kg of manure or humus. If the soil is highly acidic, add ash.

In the spring, the beds are dug up again to a depth of 30 cm and cleared of vegetation. For every 1 m², add 15 g of urea and 30 g of superphosphate.

The holes are placed at a distance of 30 cm from each other. A distance of at least 60 cm is left between the rows. The depth of the holes is from 6 to 10 cm.

Before planting, throw a handful of ash or long-acting granular fertilizer into each hole.Then potatoes are placed there, watered with warm water and covered with soil.

Basic rules of care

To get a high yield of tasty and beautiful potatoes, as in the photo, you need to provide them with proper care.

The list contains the basic rules:

1. Until the planted potatoes germinate, the beds are loosened once every 2-3 days. This is done with a rake. During the loosening process, weeds are also removed.
2. Before emergence, the beds are watered only if the soil is dry.
3. Potato beds are watered three times during the season. The first time is before flowering, the second time is after flowering, the last time is after the plants have flowered. Up to 3 liters of liquid at room temperature is poured under each bush. If it rained several times in the summer, then this is not necessary. Cast iron is drought resistant.
4. After each watering or rain, the soil is loosened. This is necessary to destroy the earthen crust that impedes air exchange. When loosening, the beds are weeded.
5. Potatoes must be hilled - this increases the yield. The first hilling is done when the bushes grow to 15 cm. The second - after 3-4 weeks. The soil is taken from the row spacing and raised with ridges to a height of 6 cm.
6. Potatoes are fed three times per season. If long-acting mineral fertilizers were placed in the holes, such products are not used. It is enough to pour 1 liter of organic solution under each course 2 weeks after the emergence of shoots, the first bud and with abundant flowering. It is prepared from 1 kg of chicken manure, 1 tbsp. ash and 10 liters of water.
7. 2 weeks before harvesting, the plants are sprayed with a superphosphate solution (25 g per 10 liters of water). This will increase the yield.

Advice from experienced summer residents

Experienced gardeners use several secrets that will make caring for potatoes easier and increase productivity:

1. To save planting material, it is recommended to plant cut tubers. To do this, sprouted root vegetables are cut with a knife disinfected with alcohol so that a sprout remains on each part.
2. Only large tubers are selected for planting. Small specimens lead to degeneration of the variety.
3. It is recommended to plant basil, thyme and other spices between rows of potatoes. They reduce the risk of diseases and damage to plants by pests.
4. In the fall, after harvesting potatoes, it is recommended to sow rye in the beds. In the spring, 2 weeks before sowing the tubers, the soil is dug up and watered with chicken droppings or a humus solution. This increases soil fertility.
5. The beds are covered with a layer of mulch. Use hay, straw or humus. This protects plants from pests and negative environmental factors.
6. Other nightshades should not be planted next to potato beds. Potatoes are considered carriers of many diseases and pests.
7. Watering, root and foliar feeding is done early in the morning or late in the evening. This will reduce the likelihood of burns on the plant.
8. Fertilizing is applied the next day after watering or precipitation. Otherwise, fertilizers will damage the tubers.

Diseases and pests

Cast iron is resistant to most diseases characteristic of nightshade crops. During epidemics, it is sometimes affected by late blight. Therefore, it is recommended to spray the bushes with a solution of copper sulfate (1 tablespoon per bucket of water) twice a week at the end of summer.

To prevent potato infection, it is important:

• observe crop rotation;
• disinfect tubers, soil and garden tools;
• follow the rules of watering and fertilizing;
• regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds.

Cast iron is less often affected by pests than other colored potato varieties, but such a problem is not excluded.

Plants will be protected from the Colorado potato beetle by spraying with a decoction of bitter herbs (wormwood, celandine, yarrow, dandelion) or sprinkling the rows and bushes with ash. If the pest is already infested, beetles and larvae are collected manually. A more drastic measure is to spray the potatoes with chemicals., such as "Barrier", "Taboo" or "Lightning".

Wireworms and mole crickets are more difficult to deal with. These pests do not attack leaves and stems, but tubers. Prevention is considered to be digging up the soil before planting and removing the larvae. Pests do not like slightly acidic soils.

Harvest and storage

The Chugunka harvest is ready for harvest in mid-July. Dig up the tubers with a pitchfork to reduce the likelihood of damage.

The readiness of the crop for harvesting is determined by the appearance of the plant. When the tubers reach maturity, the bushes turn yellow and wither.

The dug up tubers are dried and cleared of soil with a dry cloth. All damaged copies are stored separately and used as quickly as possible. Potatoes are placed in clean boxes and stored in a dry room, which is pre-fumigated with sulfur.

Cast iron is best suited for baking and making purees. She is overcooked and it turns out tender and crumbly.

Farmer reviews

Feedback from farmers about Chugunka is mostly positive. Despite the average yield, farmers continue to grow this variety.

Inna, Ryazan: «A couple of years ago I planted Chugunka for the first time. I found some unusual purple tubers at the market. The harvest is really average, but the fruits are very tasty, tender and crumbly. The variety is susceptible to late blight, so I spray all the nightshades in the area with copper sulfate.”

Victor, Tver: “I’ve been growing cast iron for more than one year. Potatoes are ideal for mashing. The yield is satisfactory and he rarely gets sick. The only problem is pests. I found a way to fight the Colorado potato beetle. We reach an agreement with our neighbors and collect all the beetles and larvae on our property in one day. After that, the insects don’t attack.”

Read also:

Early ripening, frost-resistant potato variety "Rosalind".

Potatoes in the fight against hemorrhoids.

Is it possible to eat potatoes if you have high cholesterol?

Conclusion

Chugunka is a potato that will appeal to beginners and experienced gardeners. It is resistant to drought and has a stable yield. Thanks to this, it is easy to grow it in the country, coming there only once a week.

The only drawback of Cast iron is considered to be the average yield. Lovers of purple potatoes forgive her this for the delicate taste and rich aroma of the tubers.