Introduction to the excellent potato varieties Favorita and Cardinal

Favorita, namely "Yueyin 85-38" potato, is native to the Netherlands. The tubers are long oblate or oval, uniform in size, with yellow skin and yellow flesh, and shallow eyes. In trials at 8 locations over 3 years, its yield ranked first at 6 locations, with good marketability and a marketable rate above 80%. The usual yield is 1200-1500 kg per mu, and up to 2500 kg at high yield. Its growing period is about 15 days earlier than the control variety, allowing early marketing and strong market competitiveness. For more than 10 years it has been a best-selling variety on the Hong Kong, China international market. It can be planted in autumn and winter, and the cumulative planting area in Guangdong is over 1333 hectares. It passed the approval of the Guangdong Provincial Crop Variety Approval Committee in 1993.

Cardinal, namely Yueyin 86-2 potato. In variety comparison trials from 1992 to 1995, the average yield was 1107.85 kg per mu, an increase of 43.6% over the control Jinguan, with a significant yield increase in intermediate trials. It is medium-maturing, maturing 90 days after emergence, tolerant of fertilizer and water, with strong growth vigor and relatively strong resistance. The marketable rate is above 80%, with red skin and yellow flesh, oval tubers, good marketability and good eating quality. The dry matter content is 19.4%, and the reducing sugar content is 0.195%. It is suitable for processing into fried potato chips and is a high-quality dual-purpose variety for both table use and processing. The cumulative planting area in Guangdong is over 2333 hectares. It passed the approval of the Guangdong Provincial Crop Variety Approval Committee in 1995.

Key cultivation points:

① The above two varieties are suitable for planting in relatively fertile sandy loam with convenient drainage and irrigation.

② Apply sufficient base fertilizer: 1500 kg of farmyard manure, 20 kg of phosphate fertilizer and 20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, and cover with rice straw after sowing.

③ Plant at a reasonable density. Generally, two rows are planted in beds 1.16-1.26 m wide including the ditch, with a plant spacing of 26.6 cm, and 3500-4000 plants per mu.

④ Apply topdressing early. Combined with intertillage and earthing up, apply 15-20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu after full emergence. Apply 10-15 kg of compound fertilizer before tuber formation.

⑤ Keep the field soil moist regularly; do not let it suffer drought or waterlogging.

⑥ Pay attention to pest and disease control: in the early growth stage, the temperature is high and aphids are likely to cause damage, which can be controlled with dimethoate. In the middle and late growth stages, late blight is likely to cause damage, which can be controlled early at the initial stage of disease onset with 1:2:200 Bordeaux mixture.

⑦ Avoid continuous cropping with solanaceous crops such as tobacco and tomato.