Potatoes Riviera - the best option for lovers of young fragrant root crops. Analyzing the responses of experienced gardeners, it can be argued that this is a unique and almost perfect potato that can grow under any climatic conditions. Read about the merits of the variety, as well as the competent cultivation technique in our article.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Potato Riviera is an invention of Dutch selection. The species was bred in 2007, its creator was the Agrico holding (Netherlands). The bush is tall (75–85 cm), semi-erect. The roots of the plant are quite powerful. The stalk is dense, the foliage is dark green. The potatoes are oval or rounded, weighing 70–130 g. The peel is thick, rough, light yellow in color. Inside the vegetable has a cream or straw color. The mass of marketable tubers is 100–180 g. Agronomists note a high and stable yield of the variety.
One bush gives 5–9 tubers, but their number can reach up to 10–12 specimens. Riviera is a superearly culture. From young root crops, you can cook your favorite dishes 40–45 days after the shoots appear. Potato fully ripens after 55-60 days. The maximum yield is 465 kg / ha. Agrarians, whose plots are located in the southern areas, can get two crops - due to the early maturity of the species.
For the same reason, potatoes rarely bloom: the bush just does not have time to blossom. But this in no way affects the quality of the crop. After digging, up to 80–95% of tubers retain their commercial qualities. A dense skin allows 94% of the crop to be stored until spring, which is not typical for many early varieties. Shelf life is especially high when digging potatoes at a later date. Root crops have excellent taste and persistent pleasant aroma. When assessed on a 5-point scale, gustatory characteristics reach 4.8.
Did you know? German Linda Thomsen broke the record for the speed of peeling potatoes. The woman was able to process 10.49 kg of this vegetable in just 10 minutes.
Potatoes are universal in application - various first courses, casseroles, salads, pancakes, dumplings are prepared from tubers, and fried. The peel of the root crop does not crack when cooking or baking in the oven. The flesh of the potato crumbles after heat treatment. On an industrial scale, chips and starch are produced from the Riviera. Due to the high concentration of starch (12–19.6%), the root crop is very good in the form of mashed potatoes.
The advantages and disadvantages of potatoes
- Potato Riviera is very promising - it stands out among early ripening species by the following advantages:
- excellent taste;
- early ripening;
- high productivity;
- the opportunity to get two crops per season;
- unpretentiousness in relation to climatic conditions;
- excellent presentation;
- high storability;
- good resistance to ailments that often affect the potato crop.
The disadvantages of the variety relate to the nuances of growing potatoes. The plant can be damaged by late blight. In addition, the attack of the Colorado potato beetle, bear and wireworm is not ruled out.
Planting and cultivating the Riviera variety
Given all the features of the variety presented, you can choose the optimal conditions for its cultivation and understand how suitable it is for your site.
Optimal landing times
It is necessary to plant the potato in question in a well-heated soil (up to a temperature of +10 ... + 15 ° С). Accordingly, potatoes should be planted no earlier than mid-April, preferably in May. Planting dates may shift depending on the growing area and weather conditions. Prepare the landing areas in the fall: remove the tops and weeds, dig the earth to a depth of 15 cm, and add organic matter (10 kg of manure per 1 sq. M).
Seed preparation
The preparatory step involves selecting the right seed. In early spring, sort out root crops, laying off damaged or frosty tubers. For planting, select even healthy specimens weighing 40–70 g. For the tubers to sprout, spread them in a warm place (with a temperature within +12 ... + 15 ° С) with good lighting. Germination period should last 2 weeks. Remember to turn the tubers from time to time.
Soil requirements
The most suitable for the variety in question is light soil. Ideal - sandy, moderately moist and loose soil. If the soil is acidic, add dolomite flour or lime to it. Alternate planting potatoes with other fruit plants or siderates. Without crop rotation, land fertility will decline.
Did you know? A monument to potatoes has been erected in Minsk and a museum dedicated to this culture is open to visitors.
Landing technology
Land using the following technology:
- Dig or dig a site.
- Mark the rows for planting seed. Leave a gap of 70 cm between rows.
- Form grooves, add 30 g of humus or manure and a little wood ash to them.
- Put the potatoes sprouts upwards at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other.
- Fill the potato holes with earth so that the tubers are at a depth of 6-10 cm.
Potato care after planting
Riviera potato planting needs care, the main requirements are watering, hilling, fertilizing, loosening the soil while weeding it. Watering is carried out only in the absence of rain. However, during the formation of tops and tuber growth, the culture requires hydration. Two waterings will be enough. Moisten the soil to a depth of 25 cm, the norm is 4 liters per plant. If the garden is small, watering is carried out directly under the bush. Two weeks before harvesting, watering should be stopped. Loosen the soil and weed it is necessary every time after the rains, so that the crust does not form on the ground.
Important! It is not recommended to use nitrogen top dressing in the late growing season. This will lead to an increase in leaf mass, which will pull the plant sap on itself - as a result, the quality of the crop will noticeably worsen.
Particularly carefully you need to get rid of wheatgrass, since its roots serve as a breeding ground for wireworms. Potatoes need to be spudded twice during the growing season: when the first seedlings appear and when the shoots grow by 15–20 cm. Fill the aisles with mowed weeds or chopped hay. When hilling, the mulch is buried on the bushes, and the next portion is added to the aisles. It is customary to feed the Riviera with dry bird droppings, ashes, mineral fertilizers. They are embedded in the ground at the time of hilling bushes.
Characteristic diseases and pests
As already noted, Riviera potatoes can get sick late blight leaves and tubers. Infection is possible with late harvest. The disease is expressed by brown spots on the foliage. Over time, the leaves change color to black, the tops weaken and lie on the ground. Infected tubers cannot be used as food; they should be burned. In order to prevent infection, it is important not to overdo it with watering and treat the plants with ash or boric acid. At the first manifestations of the disease, spray the bushes with a 1% solution of Bordeaux fluid or a solution of copper sulfate. Consumption - 1 l / 20 sq. m. Repeat the treatment at least three times.
Important! Use all of these drugs strictly according to the instructions on their packaging: eif the insecticide concentration is too weak, the effect will not be achieved; a strong concentrate, on the contrary, will burn the bush. Always wear rubber gloves, an apron, a mask and safety glasses before handling.
In addition to this disease, Riviera potatoes can be attacked by harmful insects. Adults Colorado potato beetle can winter in the soil. With the first sunbeams they go outside. As a result of planting, they are exposed to massive harmful activity of the beetle. You can fight this parasite with such universal insecticides as Aktara or Antizhuk.
Wireworm (stiff larvae of nutcracker beetles) gnaws at potato moves, which is why the latter begin to rot. Tubers attack more often with weed growth and lack of water. In order not to destroy the beneficial soil microorganisms, in the fight against wireworms, insecticide spraying is carried out in exceptional cases. Used "Provotoks", "Aktara", "Commander" or "Actellik".
Medvedka nibbles the aerial part of the plant, as it leads a nocturnal lifestyle. The presence of an insect can be determined by holes in the ground. The bait next to these moves helps to cope with the pest. Holes can also be shed with a solution of washing powder (2 tbsp. Per 10 liters of water). The Medvetoks drug is effective against this insect.
Harvesting and storage
The Riviera variety requires pre-harvest dehydration of tops or its removal. 10 days before harvesting, mow the tops or just break the plants. This procedure will accelerate the maturation of root crops and improve their quality characteristics. Dig root crops no later than 70 days after planting. Harvest time is around the second half of June - early July. Try to choose a warm, dry day. If you delay in harvesting, there is a threat of infection of the leaves and tubers with late blight.
The harvesting scheme is traditional: dig a plant with a shovel or a pitchfork, select root crops from the ground and lay them out to dry. After drying, the root crops should lie for another 2-3 weeks in the utility room. During the period of temporary storage, vegetables will have time to grow stronger. Further root crops need to be transferred to the place where they will be stored on an ongoing basis. The room should be well ventilated. The temperature in the storage should be kept within +2 ... + 4 ° С.
Keep vegetables preferably in a wooden box with holes. The fertile and early potato Riviera is rapidly gaining popularity among farmers and hostesses. Having grown these tubers in your garden, you can cook traditional dishes for your family, but with a new, great taste and pleasant aroma.
