General remarks
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Asterix is in Western Europe mainly grown for the processing industry, special for the production of French fries. The tubers are long oval with a red skin, shallow eyes and yellow flesh.
The number of tubers per plant is rather high, about 15 tubers per plant. The dry matter content is about 5% higher than Bintje. The sugar content is low. It has cooking type B without discoloration after cooking.
Besides the processing quality, Asterix is also suitable for the production of table potatoes.
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Maturity
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Asterix is a medium late variety with a middle early tuberisation.
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Seed treatment
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Asterix has a moderate short dormancy. Pre-sprouting makes the crop earlier. Asterix can be planted with small white buds.
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Fertilisation
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Asterix needs ca. 20 % less Nitrogen than Bintje. (first gift 60%, second gift before closing of the foliage, after tuberisation.
Potassium need:
Because of the rather high dry matter content and the long shape, Potassium fertilisation needs special attention to prevent blackspot. Make sure the Potassium supply is at a sufficient level. On lighter soils it is recommendable to spread all the Potassium in spring.
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Cultivation
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Asterix can be grown both on clay and sandy soils. Asterix has a quick foliage development and a good groundcover. The foliage is moderate high and strong.
Depending on soil type and seed size, plant ca. 35.000 plants per hectare to get a sufficiently big product.
Planting distances (rows 75 cm.):
25/28 25 cm ca. 800 kg/ha.
28/35 30 cm ca.1100 kg/ha.
35/50 38 cm ca.2200 kg/ha.
50/60 38 cm ca.2200 kg/ha. (cut seed)
A treatment with the herbicide Sencor has no negative influence.
Although Asterix has a reasonable resistance to Phytophthora, early and regular treatments are necessary.
A sufficient water supply is very important to get a good yield and a good tuber shape. The yield of this variety is high. The grading is regular and big.
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Harvest
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After haulmkilling, wait untill the skin is set, to prevent mechanical damage. If the crop is mature and lifted with care, harvest does not cause problems.
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Storage
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This variety has a relatively short dormancy but stores well. Do not use sprout inhibitor powder; Asterix is susceptible to skin irritation. After drying, slowly bring down the temperature to the desired level. Advised storage temperatures:
Delivery november/december: > 10°C.
Delivery january/march: > 9°C.
Delivery april/may: > 8°C.
Asterix should not be stored at a lower temperature to maintain the processing quality. Ventilate every day to prevent from a high content of CO 2. During frost, ventilate internal or mix the outside air to get a sufficient high temperature. A heat treatment at the end of storage and before processing is advised to avoid problems of bruising and damage.
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Resistance to diseases
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Asterix is resistant to potato cyst nematode Ro1 + Ro4 (A) and to wart disease race 1. The resistance to Phytophthora is moderate good, in both the foliage as well as the tubers.
Asterix has a good resistance to blackspot and spraing. Resistances to mechanical damage and "little potatoes" are good.
Asterix is moderate susceptible to second growth. Rather susceptible to PLRV. This variety has a reasonable resistance to Fusarium dry rot and a moderate resistance to scab.
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