An unpretentious potato variety that is well stored: "Sifra"

Choosing the right potatoes for planting is not an easy task. When choosing a variety, take into account the duration of ripening, shelf life, yield, taste and disease resistance. One of the best options for many summer residents is Sifra potatoes.

In the article we will tell you what its features, advantages and what are the nuances of care.

Description of the variety

The Sifra potato was developed in Holland and entered the Russian markets after the variety was entered into the state register in 2010.

Potato composition:

• water;
• starch;
• sugar;
• cellulose;
• crude protein;
• amino acids;
• organic acids;
• minerals;
• amides;
• pectins.

Potatoes are rich in macronutrients:

• phosphorus;
• sulfur;
• silicon;
• sodium;
• magnesium;
• potassium;
• chlorine.

It also contains vitamins C, A, H, E, group B (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic and folic acids).

Sifra potatoes ripen from 95 to 110 days and have a high yield, the maximum performance is 500 c / ha.

The variety is resistant to various diseases and pests - scab, potato crayfish, golden nematode, but weak against fungal diseases, moderately resistant to late blight.

Characteristics of Sifra potatoes

Sifra bushes are of medium size. The leaves are small, dark green, and may spread or stand upright. During the flowering period, the bushes are covered with white flowers, collected in corollas. Potatoes are large, smooth and even, oval in shape with few eyes. The color of the peel is light yellow, the flesh is white or light cream.

Sifra potatoes have earned the trust of gardeners for their resistance to climatic features of a number of regions - Central, North-Western, Central Black Earth, Volgo-Vyatka. This variety is actively grown in Moldova and Ukraine.

Important! The Sifra variety is sensitive to frost, so it is better to start planting in a period of stable heat, when the soil has time to warm up enough.

The main advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Besides immunity to a number of diseases, high yields and aesthetic appearance, Sifra has other advantages.

Unlike super early ones, it is drought tolerant and can be kept longer time. Sifra has no signs of degeneration. Potatoes of this variety are used in cooking for dietary and baby food, they have a pleasant taste.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• sensitivity to a sharp drop in temperature;
• special need for nutrient soil.

Features of planting and growing

Places for planting potatoes are prepared in the fall: they dig the ground up to 30 cm deep with the introduction of humus and ash. The second is added additionally before planting to avoid the appearance of fungus and protect the tubers from rot.

Before planting, they are germinated in a bright place at a moderate temperature (up to + 15 ° C). If the sprouts appear earlier than the planned planting, the tubers are temporarily moved to a dark place. Specimens with sprouts 1.5 cm long will be optimal for planting.

Landing scheme and rules

Sprouted potatoes are planted in late spring in carefully loosened and moistened soil. The tubers are placed in pre-prepared holes, the depth of which is from 5 to 12 cm, depending on the soil. Tubers are planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other in the same row. The distance between the rows is about 60 cm.

After planting, the tubers are sprinkled with earth.

Attention! It is not recommended to plant Sifra potatoes in swampy and heavy soil. The ground must be dry. The best choice is sandy and sandy soils.

The nuances of care

They begin to water the potatoes during flowering - in the evenings, at the rate of 3 liters per one bush... Before each subsequent irrigation, the soil should dry out by about 10 cm. To maintain the optimum soil moisture level, it is recommended to organize a drip irrigation system.

For feeding, it is preferable to use organic fertilizers - chicken manure, cow or horse manure. You can feed the soil with complex mineral fertilizers - "Azofoskaya", "Ammofoskaya", "Ammonium nitrate". The dosage of fertilizers is calculated according to the instructions, taking into account the level of soil fertility.

It is better to start fertilizing the soil in advance - while plowing the garden, or adding it to the holes when planting. Potatoes are fed about three times during the season - at the first shoots, before flowering and after.

The beds are spud twice a season: when the bushes have reached a height of 15-16 cm and before flowering. To do this, rake the earth between the rows to the bush. Hilling by hand or using technology.

Diseases and pests

To prevent potato diseases, planting twice a season is treated with preparations containing copper. To prevent development late blight, in the spring before planting, they treat the earth with a solution of copper sulfate. After processing the site, the land is dug up.

You can disinfect the soil from fungal infections with stronger preparations "Ridomil" or "Thanos", be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. A couple of days before planting potatoes, the tubers themselves are treated with fungicide - Alirin-B, Metaxil, Ordan, Raek will do.

For those who do not want to resort to chemicals and want to get an environmentally friendly product from their garden, there are folk ways to combat fungal diseases:

1. Sprinkle the plants every 14 days with a garlic solution. To do this, chopped garlic is placed in a glass of water and infused for 24 hours. After the solution is poured with water (10 l) and 1 g of manganese is added.
2. Spray the bushes every 14 days with a solution of milk, water and iodine. Prepared according to the scheme: mix a bucket of water with 1 liter of milk and add 15 drops of iodine.

To avoid the appearance pests (Colorado potato beetle, bears, potato moths), potatoes are treated with insecticides.

Most effective:

• "Aktara, VDG" - protects against wireworms and aphids;
• "Respect, KS" - saves from the Colorado potato beetle up to 35 days;
• "Regent, VDG" - destroys the population of the Colorado potato beetle;
• "Emesto Quantum" - helps to fight potato moths;
• "Medvetox" is actively fighting the bear.

Another way to protect plants from pests is to use ash.... It is used at any stage of potato growth. Ash is mixed with water and the bushes are sprayed with the resulting solution. To enhance the effect, add shavings of laundry soap.

Harvesting and storage

Digging of potatoes begins in mid-July, although it is better to do this in mid-September to get a large harvest. The signal to start the procedure is wilting and yellowing of leaves and stems.

After harvesting, the potatoes are cleaned from the ground and dried thoroughly. Then they send it to storage in the cellar, in pre-prepared boxes.

Important! Potatoes are stored in a room with an average humidity of 65% and a temperature of + 2 ... + 3 ° C. Subject to all norms, the harvest will lie until spring, without losing its appearance and taste.

What can be the difficulties in growing

There are no particular problems when planting and growing Sifra potatoes. The most important thing is not to forget to moisturize the soil and treat the plantings from diseases and pests. Freezing temperatures can cause serious problems.

When they occur, you will have to save the crop in one of the following ways:

• sprinkle the tops with earth;
• cover the bushes with straw;
• cover the plantings with spunbond or plastic wrap.

For the rehabilitation of already frozen plants, they are fed.

Sifra Tips and Reviews

To get a good harvest when growing Sifra potatoes, experienced gardeners recommend:

1. Disinfect tubers with special solutions with the addition of boric acid. For example, add 0.5 g of manganese, 15 g of boric acid and 5 g of copper sulfate to 10 liters of water. Such a solution will prevent the appearance of diseases and stimulate the growth of potatoes. The planting material can be sprayed or soaked for a couple of hours.
2. Make a small transverse incision on the tubers before planting. This will help the nutrients to be evenly distributed, and the bushes will grow large, the yield will increase by 11%.
3. For the rapid formation of tubers, you can use superphosphate feeding at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 1 m² of beds.
4. Make potato furrows from north to south. So the sun will evenly warm each side.

Gardeners talk about the ease of growing this variety and its pleasant taste.

Elena, Kirov: “We grew it last year, until we sold our dacha. Pleased with the taste and size of the potatoes. And also that it is very easy to clean. There were no problems with growing, we always plant a little, so it may be easier to keep track of this. For those who want to grow good potatoes, I recommend Sifra. "

Larisa, Vologda: “I have been growing potatoes for many years, last year I read the description of the Sifra potato variety, looked at the photo and decided to plant it. Sprouting potatoes for about a month. Before planting, the holes were covered with ash, and the tubers themselves, a couple of hours before being immersed in the ground, were treated with Maxim. For 10 kg of potatoes, 4 g of the substance was enough. She planted potatoes to a depth of 10 cm. I fertilized the soil with manure and watered the garden 3 times a week (sometimes less often because of rainy weather). I advise you to water by hand, this spot watering ensures good moisture penetration. Well, in general, caring for this variety of potatoes does not differ much from others. Harvested in early autumn - about 20 kg. Potatoes are medium in size, neat, smooth. Some were left for planting. "

Conclusion

Sifra is one of the most popular potato varieties among Russian summer residents. The increased interest in it is due to its characteristics: resistance to drought and many diseases, high yield and long-term storage, beautiful appearance and pleasant taste. But due to its sensitivity to frost and soil, this potato variety is not suitable for all regions.