An early table potato variety that is not afraid of sudden temperature changes, “Madeline”

Dutch potatoes Madeline are an early, high-yielding variety. It adapts well to any climatic conditions and soil type, has a high commercial value, excellent taste and strong immunity. Yellow pulp with a moderate amount of starch is a storehouse of carotenoids and antioxidants.

In this article we have collected complete information about Madeline potatoes with a description of the variety and photos.

Description of the variety and its origin

The Madeline variety (officially Madeline) is a product of selective work by Dutch agronomists of the company AGRICO U.A. Culture was included in the Russian state register in 2011. Potatoes received permission to be grown in the Central, Volga-Vyatka, East Siberian, and Far Eastern regions.

Pictured are Madeleine potatoes.

The table summarizes the distinctive characteristics of the Madeline variety.

Chemical composition

The table shows the complex of vitamins and minerals contained in 100 g of raw tubers.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages of the Dutch variety:

• early ripeness;
• high productivity;
• resistance of tubers to damage (wounds heal quickly);
• adaptation to any climate and soil;
• excellent taste;
• resistance to viral and fungal diseases.

There are much fewer disadvantages:

• susceptibility to late blight of tops;
• the need to preheat the tubers;
• nitrogen level control.

Features of planting and growing

The Madelina variety does not cause any particular difficulties when growing, but requires compliance with a number of rules: heating and vernalization of seeds, landing in dry, warm soil, moderate watering, hilling and minimal application of nitrogen fertilizers.

Preparing for landing

Tubers are germinated and warmed before planting.20 days before the expected planting date, the seed material is taken out of storage into the light, diseased and damaged specimens are discarded, the remaining soil is cleaned off, washed under running water and soaked in a disinfectant solution for 15-20 minutes.

The best solution is boric acid (10 g of substance per 10 liters of water). You can also take potassium permanganate and Fitosporin-M.

After processing, the tubers are left to dry in the sun and heated for three days at a temperature of +25°C.

To germinate in the light, the tubers are laid out in one layer in wooden or plastic boxes stacked on top of each other. The containers are placed in a bright room, avoiding direct sunlight. The top drawer is covered with breathable fabric.

Soil requirements

Madeline potatoes grow in any type of soil, but show maximum results in loose and nutritious soil. In the fall, the site is dug up, harrowed, loosened and manure applied. In spring they are sown with oats, lupine, rye, flax, and wheat.

A month later, the green manure is mowed and embedded in the soil in order to enrich it with nitrogen and prevent the development of pathogenic microflora.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

Planting time depends on the region. In the south, potatoes are planted at the end of April, in the middle regions - in early May, in the northern regions - in the second ten days of May. Optimal conditions for planting tubers: air temperature +10°C, soil temperature - +4...+7°C. Many gardeners plant during the flowering period of dandelions.

Traditional planting is row. Using a rope, measure out even rows and dig holes 10 cm deep. Leave 25-30 cm between holes, 60-70 cm between rows.

Reference. The standard for planting potatoes for industrial cultivation is 45,000 pieces per hectare.

Nuances of care

The crop does not develop well in dry soil, but does not tolerate excess moisture. The best solution to the watering issue is to install a drip irrigation system. Water for the first time when the sprouts reach 5-10 cm. Before this, the plant needs enough moisture from the tubers. In the future, they are guided by weather conditions. During the rainy season, the supply of moisture is suspended, and during drought it is increased to twice every 10 days. The water consumption rate per bush is 2-3 liters.

The period of green mass accumulation is quite long. During this time, weeds have time to sprout in the beds, so loosening and weeding are required. Weeding begins a week after planting.

Hilling stimulates the formation of tubers and the growth of green mass. It is carried out 2-3 times per season: after the sprouts have stretched 5-10 cm, two weeks after the first and after flowering. The soil should be moist.

Madeline variety does not respond well to excess nitrogen, goes into a set of foliage, and the tubers form small. Potatoes receive all the necessary substances from the soil after planting. Therefore, gardeners pay due attention to the application of fertilizers at the soil preparation stage.

During this period they contribute:

• chicken manure solution in a ratio of 1:15;
• 35 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium salt, 2 g of copper sulfate per 10 l of water or 30 g of nitrophoska per 10 l;
• Urea (10 g per 10 liters of water) or green fertilizer (infusion of nettle with tops) is used as foliar feeding.

Disease and pest control

The Madeline variety is susceptible to leaf blight. The disease manifests itself in the form of brown spots on the leaves and a white pubescent coating on the back side. If you look closely, you can see late blight spores. The plant lags behind in development, the ground part withers and dries.

To prevent infection:

• tubers are treated with disinfecting solutions;
• follow the rules of crop rotation and weeding;
• remove tubers and tops in a timely manner;
• control the level of humidity and the amount of nitrogen in the soil;
• spray the plantings with whey with iodine (10 drops per 1 liter of fermented milk product);
• Fertilize with potassium and phosphorus in a timely manner.

The following drugs are used for treatment: “Oxychom”, “Ridomil Gold”, “Gamair”, “Metaxil”, “Bravo”, “Planriz”, “Alufit”.

Herbal infusions with a pungent odor help fight the Colorado potato beetle:

• 300 g of celandine, 200 g of ash per 10 liters of water;
• 2 kg of yellow mustard, 30 g of soap shavings per 10 liters of water;
• 200 g of garlic cloves or green arrows, 40 g of soap shavings per 10 liters of water;
• 200 g of tobacco shag, 2 kg of green bugs per 10 liters of water.

Spraying is carried out in the evening in dry, windless weather on dry foliage. Ready infusions are used immediately. Only in fresh form they are highly effective. To prevent the beetles from becoming addicted, the products are alternated.

To repel pests, marigolds, borage, calendula, coriander, nasturtium, matthiola, hemp, beans, peas, horseradish, onions, tansy, catnip and white damask are planted next to potato beds.

When the pest spreads widely, insecticides are used: “Prestige”, “Aktara”, “Korado”, “Molniya”, “Commander”.

Collection, storage and use of crops

Rules for harvesting early potatoes:

1. Digging of Madeline potatoes is carried out twice: in mid-July and at the end of August.
2. A week before harvesting, the tops are removed. During this time, the skin of the tubers becomes dense, which ensures long-term preservation.
3. After harvesting, the tubers are left in a dry, dark place for two weeks to dry and only after that they are put in a cool place.Potatoes intended for planting are left in the sun for 3-4 days to green up.
4. The harvested crop is sorted, damaged and diseased specimens are discarded.

The cellar and storage containers are washed, disinfected and dried. Wooden boxes, nets, and burlap are used for storage. The optimal room temperature is +2...+4 °C, humidity is 70-80%.

Due to its moderate starch content, Madeline is suitable for frying, boiling, baking, and stewing. The pulp does not darken after cutting and cooking.

Features and difficulties of growing

To obtain an environmentally friendly harvest and reduce labor costs for care, gardeners use the Lyadov method of growing potatoes. Planting is done in closed box beds, which are installed in the direction from north to south.

For their construction, sticks, boards, and bricks are used. The height of the side is 20 cm, the width of the box is 1 m. The bottom is lined with straw, grass, hay, dry leaves or paper. Compost and soil are laid on top.

When planting the beds, you do not need to dig deeply, since organic fertilizers are located at the bottom. The top layer is slightly loosened and holes are dug 10 cm deep, with an interval of 30-40 cm. Planting is carried out in a checkerboard pattern in two rows. Wood ash and ground eggshells are placed on the tubers. The holes are filled with soil.

After sprouts 10 cm high appear, the weeds are weeded and the beds are covered with mulch - hay, straw or sawdust.

Tips and reviews

Feedback from farmers about the Madeline variety is positive. The culture is valued for the excellent taste of the tubers, high productivity and low maintenance requirements.

Alexander, Kirov: «Madeline is an excellent productive and early potato variety. It grows well in our area and is rarely affected by late blight.The year before last I encountered an invasion of Colorados, which only Aktara helped get rid of. On the advice of a neighbor in the country, I put onion peels, ash and spoiled onions in each hole. The bugs don't like the smell of decomposition."

Galina, Kholmsk: “At first, the Madeline potato variety was bought at the local market. We liked it so much that we decided to plant it in our dacha. The tubers are neat, almost the same size, with a pleasant taste. During cooking, the pulp does not fall apart and does not darken after cutting raw. It is stored in the basement until spring and does not germinate.”

Alexey, Vyatka: “I grow Dutch potato varieties for sale. They are very productive and resistant to most diseases. One of these varieties is Madeline. This is an early potato that can be dug twice. It does not make any special demands on the soil, but does not like an excess of nitrogen. I feed with mullein and nitrophoska.”

Read also:

A resilient Golubizna potato variety with amazing taste.

Late-ripening potato variety "Cardinal".

How to breathe over potatoes correctly when you have sinusitis and is it possible to do it?

Conclusion

The Madeline variety is popular among farmers due to its ability to harvest two crops per season, ease of care and high taste. Compliance with the rules of planting and cultivation ensures a stable result.

Pre-planting preparation of tubers involves heating and germination, treatment with disinfecting solutions to prevent fungal diseases. The crop does not “like” an excess of nitrogen and moisture in the soil, so the main task of gardeners is to control these indicators.