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Not all gardeners are interested in the yield of potatoes, for many of them, especially for summer residents, timing is more important ripening... After all, the most favorite summer dish of many Russians is boiled young potatoes.
Photos and reviews of early varieties of potatoes will help you choose the right variety of this root crop. The article will present the classification of early potato varieties, their characteristics, photos and descriptions.
What is the peculiarity of early ripening potatoes
Early varieties of potatoes are most in demand among gardeners for several reasons. First of all, it is, of course, an opportunity to eat young potatoes at the beginning of summer.
But besides this quality, early potatoes have several more advantages:
- you don't have to take care of the bushes for a long time - it is enough to water early-ripening potatoes two or three times per season and, if necessary, treat with insecticides;
- due to the short vegetative period, varieties of early maturing potatoes do not catch the peak of late blight - one of the most dangerous diseases of the nightshade family;
- in one season, you can grow two crops, and in the southern regions, skilled gardeners manage to collect potatoes from their plots three times in one summer;
- modern varieties of early-ripening potatoes are not inferior to others in taste and yield.
According to the growing season, all early potato varieties are divided into several types:
- Ultra-early potato varieties manage to yield the harvest in just 45-60 days after the first shoots appear.
- Early potatoes ripen within 60-70 days.
- Mid-early potato varieties ripen 7-10 days later - tubers can be harvested 70-80 days after the first shoots appear on the beds.
Cultivars with later ripening periods are classified as medium and late maturing... It is these potatoes that are planted for the purpose of sale or long-term storage. While the early varieties are mainly used and sold in a "young" form, while the tubers are covered with a thin skin, and the pulp is tender and aromatic.
How to choose an early potato variety
Choosing early or very early potato varieties for their plots, gardeners should remember that any kind of root vegetable has its own "requirements":
- to the climatic features of the region;
- to the composition of the soil;
- to processing with fertilizers and other special means;
- to the frequency of watering and the regularity of care.
Therefore, when choosing a potato variety, you need to take into account several factors at once and analyze your own needs and capabilities. You should not recklessly buy the "most productive" or "most delicious" potatoes without learning about the needs and characteristics of a particular variety.
"Alyona"
An ultra-early ripening potato variety, root crops ripen in just 45 days after the first shoots appear. The average yield is 1.5 kg per square meter of garden, but with good care and sufficient watering, this figure can be increased to 4.5 kg.
Root crops are oval, pink in color, have snow-white flesh. Potatoes are great for mashed potatoes, fried or added to soups and borscht.The percentage of starch content is average - about 15-17%. The average fruit weight is 130 grams. The appearance of the root crops is highly marketable, potatoes can be stored for a long time, has a pleasant taste.
Plants are protected from most viral diseases, fungal pathogens are not dangerous for the Alena variety.
"Ariel"
Another ultra-early maturing potato variety with a growing season of only 45 days. Due to this, the root crops do not have time to catch the peak of late blight, rarely get sick, the variety gives consistently high yields.
It turns out to grow "Ariel" twice a season, which cannot but please those farmers who plant potatoes for sale.
Potatoes are colored yellow, the flesh is also yellowish. The tubers are oblong. The taste is high, the roots do not darken after cutting and peeling, the puree is homogeneous, without dark inclusions.
Despite the early ripening period, the variety is suitable for long-term storage.
"Riviera"
Potatoes of this variety are considered super early - with the right approach, it is possible to grow the crop within 35 days. The bushes are low, bloom with red-purple inflorescences.
Potatoes are oval in shape, the peel and pulp of the root vegetables are yellowish. The tubers have an excellent presentation, are able to be stored and transported. For commercial purposes, this variety can be grown two or even three times per season.
Dutch potatoes protected from most viral diseases, but does not tolerate late blight. Therefore, the bushes must be regularly inspected to prevent fungal infection of the tubers.
The taste of potatoes is excellent, the starch content is average.
"Timo"
The brainchild of Finnish breeders produces a short or medium bush, decorated with purple-blue inflorescences. The average weight of the root crop is 90 grams. The potatoes are round or oval, have slightly “sunken” eyes, and are colored yellow. The peel is smooth, the flesh is also yellow.
Potatoes are not boiled soft, they have a good taste and aroma. Up to nine potatoes ripen in each bush. To feast on young potatoes, the tubers can be dug up within 40 days after germination.
Plants do not like low temperatures, they do not tolerate frost well. This potato is resistant to many diseases, but scab or late blight can harm it. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the level of acidity of the soil on the site, and also not to overmoisten the soil with too frequent and abundant watering.
"Karatop"
A variety developed by German breeders. Potato bushes are of medium height, bloom with white inflorescences. Root crops are elongated, yellow, and have a minimum number of eyes.
The starch content is low - about 11%. The average mass of a potato is about 80 grams. Full ripening occurs 60-70 days after germination. The harvest ripens together, the taste of the tubers is high.
Up to 25 potatoes can be found in each hole, which ensures a high yield of the variety. In addition to other advantages, the "Karatop" variety can boast of increased resistance to late blight.
"Rosara"
German potato for universal use with early ripening. The crop can be harvested 50 days after the tubers have sprouted and the first green shoots have appeared in the beds. Semi-spreading, undersized bushes of potatoes bloom with red-purple inflorescences.
The roots are oblong, the skin is red and the flesh is yellow. There are few eyes on the tubers. After boiling, the potatoes do not boil and do not become dark, the taste is quite pleasant. Root vegetables can be stored for a long time.
Each hole ripens 14-16 tubers, the average weight of each is 90 grams. The variety perfectly tolerates cold snaps, short-term frosts or too moist soil. The plant is protected from most of the diseases inherent in potatoes.
This variety is suitable for long-term cultivation - potato seeds can not be changed for 4-5 years. Such stability will not affect the yield of root crops in any way.
Bellarosa
Very tasty early ripe potatoes of German breeding. The tubers ripen by the 45th day after germination. The bushes are quite tall, powerful, bloom with red-purple inflorescences.
Root crops have a rounded shape, their distinctive feature is their large mass. There are cases when Bellarose tubers reached 800 grams. Of course, this is an exception, as a rule, the mass of potatoes does not exceed 200 grams.
In each bush, up to ten root crops ripen at the same time, which, with such a mass, provides the variety with a stable yield. The potatoes themselves are even, have an excellent presentation, are painted in a pink tint, and have beige flesh. Potatoes boil well and are considered delicious.
"Lark"
A domestic variety belonging to the early ripening group - potatoes ripen about 50 days after germination. The bushes can be recognized by their high growth and leveled shape, they bloom with blue inflorescences.
The roots themselves are white. Their shape is slightly flattened, oval. Tubers with small eyes and soft creamy flesh. About 10-12 potatoes ripen in one bush.
The potatoes are very tasty, boiled well, and contains a large amount of starch. The plant is protected from many diseases, including scab and late blight.
Impala
One of the most favorite varieties of early-maturing potatoes by Russian gardeners and summer residents. The bushes of this potato are tall, erect, bloom in white. Root crops are oval, their peel is yellow, the flesh is creamy, and the eyes are small.
The potatoes are large enough - the average weight is 120 grams. The variety is appreciated for its early ripening period, resistance to viruses and diseases, high yield, unpretentiousness, as well as excellent taste.
These potatoes can be stored in the winter, they are quite lying, well preserved.
Review of Impala potatoes
"Romano"
Early ripe potatoes of Dutch selection - ripens on the 80th day after the first shoots appear. Plants are erect, bushes are tall. The tubers are oval, their peel is dense, pink in color, there are few eyes. Creamy root vegetable pulp.
This potato is considered universal: it is used for a wide variety of culinary needs. The tubers are really tasty and aromatic. The percentage of starch in root crops is 12. The average weight of potatoes is 70-80 grams.
It is believed that the Romano variety is unpretentious to the composition and type of soil, can tolerate drought, gives stable yields, and is protected from many diseases and viruses.
How early ripe potatoes are grown in Russia
It is necessary to plant ultra-early varieties of potatoes in a heated soil.By the time of planting, the soil should warm up to at least six degrees. Experienced gardeners recommend pre-germinating potato seeds to speed up the maturation of the tubers and shorten the growing season.
Sprout early potatoes in this way:
- they sort out seed material and select potatoes the size of a chicken egg (their average weight should be 70-80 grams);
- mix sawdust with peat in equal proportions and poured a thin layer into wooden boxes;
- the substrate prepared for germination must be watered with any complex fertilizer diluted in water;
- the potatoes are laid out end-to-end and slightly sunk in a mixture of sawdust and peat. It is impossible to completely bury the tubers, this will lead to stretching of the sprouts due to a lack of sunlight;
- on hot and sunny days, the substrate in the boxes must be irrigated with warm, settled water;
- the temperature in the room with plantings should be maintained at 10-15 degrees;
- on the 25-30th day after planting the seeds, the plants, together with the lump of the substrate, are transferred to a permanent place.
In central Russia, potatoes are planted, as a rule, in early to mid-April, when the ground warms up enough and the danger of severe frosts disappears.
Photos and descriptions of various varieties of this vegetable will help you choose early potatoes. And the method of growing root crops with early ripening periods is practically no different from the usual one: the bushes need to be watered abundantly and organic fertilizers must be applied several times per season.
