There are many potato varieties. Some produce large yields, while others are highly resistant to diseases and/or pests. But one stands out in particular: "Kurazh." What is so special about this potato variety that sets it apart from the rest? Let's find out.
Characteristics of the variety
The "Kurazh" potato variety was developed in the Netherlands and was added to the Russian State Register in 2007. This variety boasts a relatively impressive yield, capable of producing 16-27 tons of fruit per hectare.
With proper care and adherence to key requirements, "Kurazh" can yield up to 40 tons of potatoes per hectare. It may not be the most productive potato variety, but given its heat tolerance and high disease resistance, it is quite capable of competing with many.
This variety also has excellent shelf life, meaning it can withstand extended storage periods under proper conditions (while other varieties begin to spoil and rot). The shelf life of "Kurazh" consistently remains at 91%, which is quite impressive.
"Kurazh" is a mid-late potato variety, meaning harvest is expected 85-95 days after the first shoots emerge. Marketability of the resulting fruits is estimated at 83-99%.
The following will be listed main characteristics potatoes of the "Courage" variety:
- 'Courage' is critically drought tolerant;
- stands out for its beautiful and even tubers;
- has a high starch content (14-20%);
- the weight of commercial tubers is not less than 100 grams (up to 140 g);
- there are 6-9 tubers per bush;
- the yield is at the level of 160-270 c/ha;
- the skin color is red, and the flesh is light yellow;
- preferred region for growing is central;
- has serious resistance to potato cancer, scab and golden cyst nematode;
- the fruits have a very good crumbliness;
- The tubers have an elongated oval shape.
Comparison of varieties by key parameters
| Parameter | Courage | Nevsky | Red Scarlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield (c/ha) | 160-270 | 300-500 | 400-600 |
| Starch content | 14-20% | 10-12% | 10-15% |
| Resistance to late blight | Average | High | High |
| Keeping quality | 91% | 95% | 98% |
| Growing region | Central | All regions | Southern regions |
"Courage" does not darken after physical damage (or when boiled or fried), making it ideal for sale and transportation over impressive distances.
This potato plant grows upright or semi-upright, reaching quite tall heights. The leaves are dark green and medium to large in size.
You can see what "Courage" looks like in the following photo:
Key rules for growing "Courage"
This type of potato is considered a table potato, but if you delve deeper into its basic characteristics, it becomes clear that it can also be used for processing into pure starch in industry.
But first, it's important to carefully study the basic rules for caring for and growing potatoes. If you ignore them, the plants will die quickly, without ever reaching maturity.
Landing
Choosing the right time to plant "Kurazh" is crucial. This potato variety has significant resistance to high temperatures, but it is susceptible to cold and frost. In regions designated for "Kurazh," cold weather can occur even in May. Even if the young seedlings endure cold and frost, their growth and development may be affected, resulting in significantly lower-quality fruits.
The ideal time for planting is the first 10 days of May (approximately, since everything depends on the temperature).
The planting material should be germinated in advance (at least 20 mm in length of sprouts on tubers), and it must be planted in soil warmed to approximately 10 degrees.
For greater effectiveness, you can treat the tubers with special growth regulators (Heteroauxin, Zircon, Kornevin) just before planting. These will increase the likelihood of tuber formation, improve plant immunity, and can even speed up the ripening process.
The main thing is not to overdo it - everything is good, but in moderation.
Critical landing errors
- ✓ Planting in unheated soil (below +8°C)
- ✓ Use of tubers without sprouts or with thread-like sprouts
- ✓ Deep planting in heavy soils (more than 8 cm)
- ✓ Use of chlorine-containing fertilizers
- ✓ Violation of the planting pattern (less than 70×35 cm)
Planting diagram
The 'Kurazh' potato variety thrives in moderately acidic soil with a medium pH. Planting should be done in a 70x35 cm (meaning 70 cm between rows and 35 cm between tubers within a row). Planting depth should be 10 cm in light sandy soils and up to 8 cm in light loamy soils.
If you plan to use fertilizers, it is better to use those that do not contain chlorine and are water-soluble (potassium sulfate, urea, etc.).
Planting material
Before planting, the tubers should not only be treated with growth regulators but also directly exposed to the sun for an hour and a half. Medium-sized tubers with sprouts up to 20 mm long are the best planting material.
Hilling
During 1 season, it is recommended to carry out at least 3 hillings:
- the first is when the plants grow more than 10 cm;
- the second - 2-3 weeks after the previous one, usually this occurs during flowering;
- third – when “Courage” reaches a height of 20-25 cm.
Loosening
In addition to keeping the soil clean (which goes without saying), its looseness is also important. It's essential for the soil to be loose—this will allow oxygen to more effectively saturate the soil, which is critical for any plant, not just the 'Courage'.
If the soil is already loose, there's no need to dig it up. However, if it's loose, loosening it is essential. This will help the tubers develop properly, resulting in an impressive harvest.
Watering
The "Kurazh" potato variety requires watering. This should be done throughout the entire growing season—from planting until harvest.
To understand the required amount of water for irrigation, you need to analyze the soil in which the potatoes are grown. However, since "Kurazh" potatoes need to be grown in loose soil, 3-4 liters of water per plant is needed. If the soil were harder/denser, significantly less water would be needed.
If the season has seen abundant rainfall, additional watering is not necessary, at least not in large quantities.
Before watering, you need to take a break for several days until the soil surface is completely dry.
Optimal watering schedule
- Germination phase: 2-3 l/bush every 5 days
- Budding phase: 4-5 l/bush every 4 days
- Flowering phase: 5-6 l/bush every 3 days
- After flowering: 3-4 l/bush every 5 days
Diseases and pests
As mentioned, 'Kurazh' is resistant to serious diseases, but is quite weak against late blight. Late blight can easily destroy 60% of the entire crop if preventative measures are not taken in advance.
The main steps to take are:
- preliminary germination of planting material;
- the use of various growth stimulants and acceleration of plant development.
Effective drugs for protection
| Problem | Preparation | Consumption rate |
|---|---|---|
| Late blight | Ridomil Gold | 2.5 kg/ha |
| Colorado beetle | Aktara | 0.06 kg/ha |
| Wireworm | Prestige | 1 l/t of tubers |
| Aphid | Confidor | 0.3 l/ha |
| Mole cricket | Medvetoks | 3 kg/ha |
Due to the rapid development, late blight will literally not have time to form on potatoes.
It's also a good idea to treat the fields with fungicides as a preventative measure, such as Ridomil, Avixil, and the like.
It's important to remember that late blight spores are found in dead plant foliage and weeds. Therefore, it's crucial to be diligent in removing weeds as soon as they appear. It's best, of course, to take all possible measures to prevent weeds from appearing in the first place.
The Colorado potato beetle, mole crickets, wireworms, potato moths, and aphids are considered pests of the "Kurazh" plant. These insects can cause catastrophic damage to potatoes, so it's crucial to control them as well.
Collection and storage
The "Kurazh" potato harvest begins in late August and begins in early autumn. This potato variety should be stored like any other: indoors, in bulk, or in boxes. It's crucial to ensure that the "Kurazh" tubers are completely dry and free of visible damage. Otherwise, the rotting process will spread to the remaining potatoes, and the entire harvest will spoil within a matter of weeks.
Parameters for proper storage
- ✓ Temperature: +2…+4°C
- ✓ Humidity: 85-90%
- ✓ Ventilation: 3-4 volumes/hour
- ✓ Embankment height: up to 1.5 m
- ✓ Pre-sorting: removal of damaged tubers
Advantages and disadvantages of "Courage"
Pros This variety of potato is considered to be:
- possibility of use for processing starch for industrial purposes;
- no color change during the cooking process (boiling or frying);
- rather crumbly pulp;
- excellent characteristics that are fully demonstrated during the chip manufacturing process.
Now, as for disadvantages, then them NoAbsolutely. The vast majority of gardeners and farmers consider this potato variety ideal.
Perhaps the weak resistance to frost can be considered a disadvantage, but given that this variety cannot be grown in such conditions, this is more a feature of "Courage" than a disadvantage.
And this makes sense, because with proper plant and soil care, "Kurazh" will reward you with a huge harvest. Other varieties may boast better results in some areas, but when compared overall, "Kurazh" potatoes are literally unrivaled.