Mid-season table potato variety “Zdabytak” with elongated oval tubers

Potato Zdabytak is a Belarusian variety of medium-late ripening, which is valued for its high yield. It is resistant to the main diseases of the Solanaceae family. When cooked, the tubers boil quickly and are suitable for making purees and casseroles. Borscht soups with this variety are obtained with a kind of “potato thickening”.

Description of the variety

Zdabytak potatoes are different medium-sized oblong tubers with reddish skin and white flesh.

Origin and development

The variety was bred in Belarus. For a long time it underwent agrotechnical tests for its suitability for cultivation in certain regions, and in 2005 it was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation.

Zdabytka tubers are bred in accordance with the best foreign samples. Planting material is not renewed every year: the farmer provides himself with seed potatoes.

Compound

The main feature of Zdabytka — ultra-high level of starch content, more than 20%.

Vitamins in potato pulp:

• retinol (A);
• ascorbic acid (C);
• tocopherol (E);
• thiamine (B1);
• riboflavin (B2);
• nicotinic acid (B3);
• pantothenic acid (B5);
• pyridoxine (B6);
• folic acid (B9).

Minerals:

• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• sulfur;
• molybdenum;
• magnesium;
• chlorine;
• calcium;
• sodium;
• zinc;
• manganese;
• copper;
• boron;
• iron.

Ripening period

Zdabytak potatoes ripen in 120–130 days. The growing season consists of 4 phases:

1. Planting in the ground after the soil has completely warmed up (late April - early May).
2. Shoots - 10–12 days after planting.
3. Bloom.
4. Ripening.

Optimal period for tuber growth and accumulation of useful substances in them - 4 months. The harvest is not harvested before the full completion of the growing season.

Productivity

6–11 tubers ripen per bush medium size. Weight of vegetables - 100–130 g.

Reference. With high-quality regular care and sufficient soil moisture, Zdabytak produces up to 22 tubers per bush.

Maximum yield on large areas - 318 c/ha. Minimum - 211 c/ha.

Disease resistance

Gardeners appreciate the variety for resistance to major diseases.

Zdabyta is not subject to:

• potato cancer;
• late blight;
• bacterial diseases.

Slightly susceptible:

• potato nematode;
• viral lesions.

Characteristics

Bushes of medium height, semi-erect. The leaves are deep green with slightly wavy edges. The flowers are red-violet.

The tubers are oval-oblong in shape with a red, rough skin and small eyes. In cross section they are white with a pleasant pinkish tint. The taste of the pulp is excellent.

What regions is it suitable for?

Zoned for cultivation in Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and some regions of Russia. The most suitable climate for cultivating the variety is in the Central and Middle Volga regions.

Interesting things on the site:

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Domestic table potato variety “Skazka”

Potatoes "Evolution", adaptable to any climate

Main advantages and disadvantages

Zdabytak belongs to grade category D, which are characterized by the absence of wateriness, pronounced mealiness and good boilability of tubers.In cooking, such varieties are always in demand: they make soft and tender purees and casseroles of a uniform consistency without lumps.

Benefits of Potatoes:

• one of the highest yielding varieties;
• does not succumb to diseases dangerous to the crop;
• the crop does not deteriorate during storage.

No disadvantages were noticed in the variety. Except that these potatoes are of little use for frying.

Reference. The red color of the peel indicates the presence of anthocyanins in the vegetables. These substances have an antioxidant effect and protect the body from the effects of ultraviolet radiation, but they are dangerous for allergy sufferers: raw potato juice can cause a negative reaction in the body.

Difference from other varieties

From other varieties of potatoes Zdabytak characterized by increased starchiness of tubers, excellent taste (professional chefs consider it ideal).

Features of planting and growing

Choose healthy, high-quality tubers for planting with pronounced eyes. It is mandatory to follow the rules of agricultural technology, despite the variety’s unpretentiousness and resistance to weather conditions.

Reference. With proper care and maintaining optimal soil moisture, the yield of Zdabytka increases by 1.5–3 times.

Preparing for landing

Preparation of planting material:

1. Remove the tubers from storage.
2. Sort, leave medium-sized tubers without deformation or rotting.
3. Warm the potatoes at a temperature not lower than +13°C and germinate for 20 days.

For germination of tubers, boxes with planting material take it outside or into a warm room, cover it with film to retain heat and moisture. Wait until sprouts of 3–5 mm appear. They do not break off when planting.The method of gardening (sprouting) accelerates the growth of bushes and increases yield by 14–16%.

The soil is pre-fertilized with organic matter and loosened. It is better to do this in the fall, but it is also acceptable 2-3 weeks before planting the potatoes.

Soil requirements

Ideally For the crop, loose, light soil is chosen, but with the right approach, potatoes can be grown in any soil. It is important to maintain sufficient humidity, regularly loosen the soil and hill up the bushes.

Reference. Potatoes should not be planted in clayey or heavy soil: they will not produce a high yield on clay.

Suitable for sandy loam and loam varieties. Optimal acidity indicators: pH 5.1–6.0.

The best predecessors: beets, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, wheat. Shading of the site is undesirable - it is better to choose sunny beds.

Despite the fact that Zdabytak loves moisture, it is important not to keep the soil too wetso that the tubers do not rot.

Planting dates and scheme

Tubers in open ground planted when the threat of frost has passed and the earth will warm up enough. The optimal time is early May.

If the soil has not warmed up to a temperature of +12...+15°C, sawdust or compost is added to the holes. They will warm the planting material and will not allow it to stop developing.

Tuber planting scheme:

1. Place the beds in a southerly direction (from north to south).
2. Plant potatoes to a depth of no more than 10 cm.
3. Maintain a distance between holes of 80x35cm.

For Zdabytka the 60X60 scheme also works, but there is a risk that the bushes will be dense and will not be able to ventilate. The holes are made at the same depth level and arranged in straight rows. This promotes simultaneous development of plants.

Read also:

Ultra-early ripening potatoes “Karatop”

Mid-early potato variety "Rodriga"

Features of cultivation

Mandatory set of procedures when cultivating potatoes Zdabytak:

• weeding;
• watering;
• hilling;
• pest control.

Nuances of care

During the season, 3 weedings, 2 hillings and 3-4 fertilizing are carried out if necessary. The variety does not tolerate high concentrations of nitrogen fertilizers.

Watering mode

Water the bushes as needed. The variety is moisture-loving, but excessive watering will harm the crop and cause rotting of the roots or tubers.

Zdabytak tolerates drought normally, but without proper watering, the yield will decrease.

Top dressing

Foliar application of fertilizers increases the starchiness of potatoes and has a positive effect on yield. Carry out the procedure after flowering. If necessary, repeat after 2 weeks.

Phosphorus fertilizers are used for fertilizing.

Weeding and hilling

Weeding is the most important procedure for caring for potatoes.. It is carried out several times a season, depending on the intensity of weed growth. The optimal number of weedings is 3-4 per season.

Hill up crop bushes to increase yield. Loosening the soil around the plants increases the number of side shoots on which tubers develop, removes the soil crust, provides better oxygen access to the roots, and prevents the potatoes from turning green.

Disease and pest control

Zdabytak is a variety with stable immunity to many diseases, but it is not protected from insect pests. Several methods are used to combat the Colorado potato beetle.:

• collect the pest manually (this is environmentally friendly, but suitable only for small areas);
• the bushes are sprayed with chemicals: “Commander”, “Regent”, “Corado”;
• Tubers are treated with special preparations before planting.

Harvest and storage

Zdabytak - late variety. The harvest period is in September. Farmers are also guided by the signs of potato maturity:

• withered tops;
• the size of the tubers and the indelibility of the peel (to do this, dig up one bush for testing).

How and when to collect

Choose a sunny day without rain for harvestingso that it is comfortable for both the gardener and the tubers. The dug up potatoes are dried in the open air.

Reference. Drying time for potatoes in the garden is 3 hours.

Harvest in a timely manner: Tubers left in the ground for a long time will deteriorate and become unfit for consumption.

Storage and keeping quality of the variety

The keeping quality of the variety is high - 88%. If optimal conditions are provided (temperature and humidity levels), the tubers will retain their presentation and taste for 9–12 months.

Keep potatoes in a basement or cellar at a temperature of +2…+4°C and air humidity 70–80%. The first 2 weeks of storage are a “curing” period, during which the crop is placed in a well-ventilated dark room with a temperature of +15...+18°C. This stage is necessary for scarring mechanical damage on tubers, identifying rot and other diseases.

Difficulties in growing

The main problem when cultivating the variety on large areas - sales of products. The buyer focuses primarily on the presentation of vegetables, and tubers of this variety seem too small and unsightly to many.

When growing potatoes farmers face pest infestation. Untimely treatment leads to massive death of bushes and loss of yield.

The moisture-loving nature of the variety will become a problem if do not follow the watering regime and over-irrigate the bushes.

Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews

Vegetable growers are generally satisfied with the Zdabytak variety. Particularly noted are its productivity, ease of care, and the versatility of tubers in cooking. Some share their secrets on agricultural technology for growing potatoes:

Oleg Nikiforov, Samara: “I have relatively little land, a little more than 50 hectares. A third of the area is occupied by potatoes. I have been growing zdabytak for three years now, and I purchased planting material only once, before the first planting. The variety is good because it does not degenerate and allows you to save on seed potatoes. I’m not complaining about the yield: I consistently harvest about 220 c/ha. I fertilize the soil with organic matter. I use 30–35 kg of manure per 1 hectare.”.

Natalya Stepanishina, Pskov: “I learned about this variety from a neighbor. She provided the planting material; Zdabytka sold the bucket last spring. In the fall, I collected 4 buckets of potatoes from this amount. They say more is possible. Apparently the soil was not very conducive to the yield. This spring I planted 5 buckets of Belarusian potatoes. I hope I collect all 20.".

Alexander Orlov, Ulyanovsk: “The variety is very profitable for cultivation: from the point of view of both agricultural technology (does not require special care, only standard measures), and yield (above average, if the rules of care are followed), and use (potatoes are suitable for cooking, making alcohol, for preparing starch in industrial volumes)".

Conclusion

The Zdabytak variety has excellent tuber taste with a high starch content and consistently high yield. It is easy to care for and is suitable for cultivation in large and small areas.

It does not require the use of complex agricultural techniques, but the yield will be higher if you choose the right soil, regularly weed the crop, hill it up and water it moderately, avoiding waterlogging.