It is no secret that we cannot do without potatoes on our table, it is no coincidence that they are called the second bread. About whether the Kostroma region will be able to fully provide itself with potatoes and how to do it, our conversation with the head of the laboratory of potato and vegetable growing of the Kostroma Research Institute of Agriculture – a branch of the Federal Potato Research Center named after A.G. Lorch, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Fedor Puzdrey. Fedor Fedorovich is a person who knows almost everything about this culture.
Ariel, Krasa Meshchery, Sadon
- So, Fedor Fedorovich, can our region fully provide itself with potatoes?
Maybe it’s not such a difficult task. We used to provide for ourselves, of course, there were some interruptions, problems. Over the past decade, “addicted” to foreign varieties that are beautiful, high quality. But today, in order not to experience problems with table potatoes, it is quite realistic this year and in the future to provide ourselves with varieties of domestic selection, seeds produced by us. And God himself ordered this for the Kostroma region, since since the year before last, the Kostroma Research Institute of Agriculture has been a branch of the Lorch Federal Potato Research Center, which is located in the Moscow region.
- Plus, you can still count on Belarusian varieties.
- We had the closest cooperation with Belarus. For many years, our Research Institute of Agriculture was their representative in Russia, we controlled this business, issued documents. A few years ago we lost this representation, this function, but we maintained good relations. Belarusian varieties are well known: Skarb, Breeze, Manifesto, and new ones are being created. We are working with Belarus, so we can add to the line. But I want to emphasize that our domestic selection does not stand still. And our varieties are not inferior to foreign ones in appearance, not to mention the yield, they have not been inferior in it before, they even surpass them in resistance to diseases. In appearance, varieties are created that are really beautiful, they cannot be distinguished from the most beautiful variety of foreign selection.
- What are these varieties?
- I’ll call you now. The latest Ariel variety, in addition to being beautiful, productive, is still almost 100 percent resistant to phytophthora, and phytophthora is our scourge. Another variety is Krasa Meshchera, with yellow skin and yellow flesh, in fact – beauty. There is also the Sadon variety, a joint production of the Lorch Federal Research Center and Fat-Agro LLC from North Ossetia, in appearance it is in no way inferior to foreign counterparts. Variety Flame, in fact, like a flame, it was not in vain that breeders gave such a name, bright red peel, yellow flesh, mid-season. A very interesting variety.
The old horse does not spoil the furrow
- Indeed, there are a lot of new products, but we should probably not forget the long-tested varieties?
- Today, I would still like to urge potato growers to turn to our good old, reliable varieties that occupy one of the largest areas – Luck and Nevsky, which saved us in the most difficult times. They are resistant to a complex of diseases, including phytophthora, and are productive. We have seeds of these varieties at the Research Institute of Agriculture, they can be purchased. Of course, you can plant any variety you like, there are no comrades for the taste and color, but nevertheless, in order to always be with the harvest, you must have these two varieties in your plantings.
Flamingo from “Dream”
- In the Kostroma region, the largest potato field in the Kostroma region. Large potato producers work here – Mechta LLC, Kostroma Potato LLC and others.
- “Kostroma Potato”, as you know, deals only with foreign varieties, they have practically no domestic ones. A large range of varieties that go for technical processing, but there are also worthy table varieties – Gala, Colombo … But as a seed farm, Kostroma Potato, today comes on the heels of Mechta LLC. Last year, our Research Institute of Agriculture signed an agreement with Mechta for scientific support of seed production. Last year, they planted not only foreign varieties of the highest reproductions – Gala, Colombo, but do not forget about import substitution, for which they are honored and praised, they started immediately in parallel, taking up seed production of the newest domestic varieties. There are probably still seeds, so you can buy. This, for example, is the domestic variety Prime. High-yielding, somewhat in appearance resembles the Belarusian Treasury, also of the middle-ripening group. Yellow flesh, same yellow skin, very high yield potential. Bred in the suburban breeding and genetic center “DokaGin”. And the second variety, which is carried out by Mechta, is Flamingo: pink skin, almost white flesh, beautiful, medium early. So the variety is interesting and also of domestic selection. They also tested a number of other varieties. This year, the area for seed production has been allocated more than in the past, that is, progressive development is underway. But we all know the problem at Mechta LLC – the area is limited, we need areas for crop rotation, because potato seed production is a crop rotation. This is task number 1, I think that the region will also join in its solution, so that without reducing the total area under vegetables and potatoes, and now they are also engaged in its seed production, have areas for creating a science-based vegetable crop rotation. So our Research Institute of Agriculture with Mechta LLC works in close conjunction in terms of potato seed production. The Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture is the first stage, we are supplied with test tube material of the newest varieties, which I have named – Flame, Sadon, six in total. Today we will increase the number of landings. We made greenhouses last year, so we are developing this area.
A few tips for gardeners
- Let’s, Fedor Fedorovich, now let’s talk about what amateur potato growers need to do now to get a high yield.
- I already said, plant Luck and Nevsky, then you are guaranteed to have a harvest. If someone has not yet started vernalization, gardening, sprouting potatoes before planting, we must urgently do this. Sort the potatoes, the highest quality tubers should go for planting. Every year it is necessary to carry out a variety renewal, and when new varieties appear, then a variety change. I named varieties Prime, Flamingo, others. They should be purchased.
Miser pays twice
- I always repeat that cheap seeds cannot be of high quality. They called me a store, I won’t say which one, so as not to make it any advertising or anti-advertising, where, they say, the cheapest seeds. I went in, looked with a professional look: these are not seeds, but waste from ware potatoes that should not fall into the ground. It is not for nothing that people say that a miser pays twice, but here it will turn out even three times. We bought such seeds, got a sick crop. And it would be better if they took more expensive seeds and would get three times more potatoes. It is imperative to clarify with which producers the store works, it is desirable that our seed farms be the suppliers.
And we just have to hope for the weather.
- To hope, to hope, but to prepare for various extreme situations. If the year is wet, then the Ariel variety, which is super resistant to late blight, will help out, as well as Luck, Nevsky. Ultra-early varieties – Meteor and Krepysh leave late blight, having managed to form a crop. If the year is dry, then the same ultra-early varieties will again help out, which, let’s say, use winter-spring moisture. In other words, there should be a set of varieties for all occasions in order to be harvested in any year and at least feed themselves.
- I would like to believe, Fedor Fedorovich, that we will be with potatoes.
- God Himself ordered us to be with potatoes. We have a potato land, as well as a linen one. Flax, unfortunately, is almost gone. Potatoes are our culture. In the south, in order to grow a good crop, it must be watered, it degenerates there. We have a more favorable climate. As they say, life puts everything in its place. We were taught, and we became dependent on imported seeds, now the situation has changed, so I urge you to turn to domestic varieties, which are no worse.
I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that if you come to us in Minskoye for seed potatoes, you can buy seedlings of vegetables and flowers, we have been doing this since last year.
Source:
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