Potato Jewel: description and characteristics of the variety, photo

Based on the description, photos, and reviews of the Jewel potato variety, you can get a general idea of ​​this vegetable and learn all the intricacies of growing it. It is generally considered an early-ripening potato, producing large tubers with excellent flavor, making it ideal for both personal consumption and retail.The Jewel potato variety is characterized by its high yield. The growing season lasts an average of 50 days, with a maximum of 70 days. This means the first tubers can be harvested as early as early summer.

The plant's appearance suggests a medium-height bush with a straight base and moderately spreading stems. It bears numerous, small, slightly wavy leaves with prominent veins and a rich green color.

During the flowering period, the plant produces flowers with small petals and a purple hue.

The root system is well developed. This allows the plant to obtain sufficient vitamins, water, and essential elements from the soil for vigorous growth. A single Jewel potato plant can contain 10 to 20 large or medium-sized tubers. The potatoes are smooth, even, and uniformly light in color, with small eyes scattered across the skin.

The tubers' flesh is bright yellow, slightly sweet, and cooks well, but not too much. Small fruit are almost absent from the bushes, so this variety is widely grown commercially.

Among pests and diseases, the vegetable is particularly resistant to certain forms. Thanks to its rapid ripening, it can prevent late blight. However, there is a risk of rot or fungus.

According to the characteristics of the potato variety Jewel, it is defined as follows:

1. The potatoes have a thin, smooth skin and a neat shape.
2. The weight of the tubers is about 80-150 g.
3. The vegetable contains a sufficient amount of protein, vitamins and nutrients.
4. High taste qualities.
5. Due to its starch content, potato starch is made from the vegetable and is suitable for preparing many dishes.

Potato Jewel: origin, yield, appearance

A description of the Jewel potato should begin with its origin. It's believed that this variety was developed in Germany. It can be grown both in private plots and by farmers for sale. The tubers store well and have excellent marketable qualities.

The Jewel potato is suitable for planting in temperate, continental, or extreme continental climates. The yield depends largely on the growing season, soil fertility, and care.

In appearance, the Jewel potato variety is an upright, moderately bushy plant. The tubers are long-lasting, have good shelf life, and have an excellent flavor. The skin is medium-thick and yellow, like the flesh.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Jewel potato variety has many advantages, which include the following:

1. Early ripening of tubers.
2. Rich yield and a large number of potatoes in one bush.
3. Excellent taste.
4. The potatoes are suitable for storage.
5. High resistance to pests and diseases is noted.
6. The plant is not afraid of drought and tolerates temperature changes well.
7. The tubers cook quickly, but not too quickly and do not turn into mush, so they are used in preparing various dishes.

This variety has few known drawbacks, but it can be sensitive to moisture, which is reflected in the potato size. If the plant doesn't receive enough moisture, the tubers will grow small and their number per plant will decrease.

Growing rules

To get a bountiful potato harvest, it's important to follow proper growing practices. The first step in planting potatoes is seed preparation. To do this, select medium-sized tubers and place them in a sunny location. This allows the potatoes to germinate and release a toxin, preventing them from becoming susceptible to disease and pests.

When choosing a site for planting vegetables, it is advisable to choose a place with direct sunlight, since potatoes are quite demanding in terms of heat and light.

The tubers should be planted in soil where cucumbers, legumes, or cabbage grew last summer. Conversely, nightshade plants should be avoided, as these vegetables share the same diseases and pests as the Jewel potato variety.

It's recommended to till the soil where the potatoes will be planted in the fall and add fertilizer. In the spring, just before planting, loosen the soil again, dig small holes, and place one potato at a time, sprout side up, in each hole. Then, fill the holes with soil.

Care instructions

Jewel is considered low-maintenance, but to ensure a bountiful harvest, at least minimal care is necessary. This includes regular watering, hilling, weeding, and pest and disease control.

As mentioned earlier, the size of the tubers depends on the amount of water, so it's crucial to water the potatoes promptly, especially in climates prone to drought. In this case, it's advisable to water the holes twice a week, but be careful not to overdo it to avoid excess water and prevent the plant from rotting.

Hilling should begin when the potatoes reach 20 cm in height. Since the Jewel variety matures quickly, hilling once or twice during the growing season will be sufficient. This method enriches the soil with oxygen and eliminates weeds.

Caring for Jewel potatoes also involves fertilizing them. For this, you can use mineral or organic compounds.

Don't forget about pest and disease prevention. Despite its resistance to many diseases, the plant can still be affected by rot, late blight, and spotting. Therefore, it's important to regularly inspect the bushes for insects and, if necessary, use insecticides to spray the potatoes.

Diseases and pests

Due to the early ripening of tubers, the plant has good resistance to many diseases.

However, potatoes are not immune to fungus and some other diseases. Therefore, gardeners should carefully cultivate the soil before planting and avoid spoiled or rotten potatoes. Spraying the plants with phytosporin is also recommended.

Common pests of the Jewel variety include mole crickets, wireworms, and the Colorado potato beetle. The latter, incidentally, is considered the most common and frequently attacks plants both in private plots and in fields, feeding on potato leaves.

Harvesting and storage

The early-ripening Jewel potato variety begins harvesting 70 days after planting, or about two months. This means you can enjoy the vegetable as early as early summer. Some gardeners also rely on the plant's appearance before harvesting. It begins to dry out, and the leaves and flowers fall off.

Vegetables should be stored in a cool, ventilated area free from rodents and other pests. The optimal temperature is at least 3°C ​​(36°F). Potatoes are placed in mesh bags or boxes to allow air to pass through and prevent rotting.

Reviews

Ekaterina, 39 years old

"I really like the Jewel potato. It has excellent flavor, stores well, the tubers are large, and the potato itself matures in just two months or less."

Maxim, 41 years old

"I started growing the Jewel potato variety three years ago. During this time, I've become convinced of its high yield, high resistance to diseases and pests, excellent taste, long-term storage, and tolerance to temperature fluctuations."

Zinaida, 55 years old

"The Jewel potato is a real find for me. Its main advantage is its high yield, which is especially good for growing in a small garden. I harvest about 14 medium-sized tubers from a single plant. I water it myself, so there are almost no small potatoes in the plant."