Features of growing Rocco potatoes, variety yield and reviews from gardeners

Rocco potatoes, or as we used to call them, Roko, are an Austrian variety of medium ripening. Leading breeders of the NOES company worked on its creation. Rocco was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2002. Recommended for cultivation in the following regions:

1. Volgo-Vyatka;
2. Srednevolzhsky;
3. West Siberian.

In this publication you will learn a detailed description of the variety, see photos of tubers and find out reviews from summer residents who are familiar with Rocco potatoes.

History of the variety's creation

This potato variety was bred by breeders from the Netherlands at the end of the last century and quickly became popular in those European countries that cultivate this vegetable crop.

In Russia, the Rocco potato variety was included in the State Register in 2002 and was recommended for cultivation in the central part of the country.

Potatoes Rocco - photo

Characteristic

The root vegetable is one of the most sought after vegetables as it acts as the main ingredient in most dishes. But the popularity of potatoes is due not only to their unique taste, but also to the presence of a huge amount of useful micro- and macroelements in the composition. Any gardener, when selecting a variety to grow on his plot, takes into account reviews of the crop, gets acquainted with the characteristics, ripening time and yield. All of the above qualities deserve the highest rating from Rocco potatoes.

This root vegetable is rightfully considered the best vegetable hybrid; it was obtained as a result of the work of Dutch breeding scientists. Today it is widespread throughout the world; cultivation of the crop is quite successful in the Netherlands, France, India and other countries. In addition, the variety produces excellent harvests in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Domestic summer residents and gardeners have been cultivating the hybrid for more than 15 years; it was the popularity of the crop that served as the impetus for getting to know the foreign potato variety, due to which it is grown on a large scale on Russian farms.

Rocco tubers are recommended for home cooking, as well as for the production of foods that include potatoes, such as chips or other snacks. After cooking, the variety is distinguished by crumbly pulp, and the fried vegetable acquires an appetizing golden crust. It is worth noting that the name of the hybrid “Rocco” is common among gardeners, but this is not an entirely correct name for the crop, since it was listed in the State Register as “Rocco”.

Even if you are unfamiliar with the description of the tuber variety, it is quite easy to distinguish it from other vegetables due to its appearance. The root crop grows on small, upright bushes, the height of which, as a rule, does not exceed half a meter. The foliage is medium-sized with wavy edges. The plant blooms with lilac inflorescences in minimal quantities; there are bushes that have no flowers at all, which in no way affects the formation of ovaries.

Potatoes grow oval, slightly elongated, and the weight of one tuber is about 125 grams. The peel is red-violet, smooth, with a minimum number of eyes. The flesh is creamy and very tender. The starch content in tubers of this variety is at the level of 16%.

The timing of crop ripening varies depending on the climatic conditions in which it grows. Therefore, in some regions, “Rocco” is classified as a medium-ripening variety, and in others – late. As a rule, the growing season of a hybrid varies between 70-150 days. You can determine the readiness of the root crop for harvesting by the state of the plant - the tops turn yellow and then disappear completely. On average, one nest forms from ten to twelve tubers.

Potatoes are distinguished by their good transportability, and if the correct room temperature is maintained, the crop will be suitable for consumption for about six months from the date of harvest. It is noteworthy that tubers do not germinate in cool conditions, do not rot, and retain their taste at the same level. The yield of root crops, even in the most difficult weather conditions, is about 400 centners per hectare of land.

Main characteristics and description of the variety

Rocco potatoes are a mid-season table variety. From the moment of germination of planting material to harvest, approximately 3 months pass.

On a note!

Seed material should be planted in open ground from early April to mid-May, depending on the climatic conditions of the region. Harvest from August to September.

The bushes are erect, powerful, with a lot of foliage; the stems can reach 0.5 m in height. The leaf blades are medium in size, with slightly wavy edges. The foliage is characteristic of potato tops and has a rich emerald color.

The flowers are small in size, with purple petals. True, vegetable growers note that the Rocco variety may not always bloom, but this does not affect the fruiting and yield of the bushes.

The collected tubers have a regular oval-rounded shape. The peel is thin with a small number of eyes, slightly pressed into the pulp. The color of the peel is reddish. The pulp is of medium density and has a yellowish or pinkish color. Peeled potatoes do not change color after cooking.

Depending on the soil and growing conditions, the amount of starch and can range from 12.5 to 14%. The average weight of tubers is 115 g. The marketability of the harvested crop is 93-95%.

The taste characteristics of Rocco potato tubers are good

. They are characterized by high culinary qualities, but are poorly cooked, so they are not suitable for making purees. But it can be used for frying, making chips, adding to salads, adding to first courses, preparing side dishes.

Photo of Rocco's potatoes

Collected root crops can easily withstand transportation over any distance and can be stored for quite a long time in appropriate conditions - about six months, without losing their appearance and taste.

Reproduction methods

It is customary to propagate potatoes using tubers obtained from the previous harvest. Over time, planting material degenerates, losing varietal characteristics. But you can restore the quality and productivity of a plant with the help of seeds. However, this process will take 2 years.

How to get potato seeds

Potato bushes form several buds, from which fruits – berries – then grow.

You can collect seeds from them, following the instructions:

1. When the ground part of the plant falls, collect berries from the bushes
2. Place the fruits on newspaper and leave them to ripen on a bright and warm windowsill. The berries will ripen by mid-November - early December. By this time they will soften, lighten and acquire a pleasant aroma.
3. Cut the fruits and remove the pulp and seeds. Rub the mixture through a thin cotton cloth. Rinse the seeds under running water to remove any remaining pulp. Do not keep them in water for more than 5 minutes.
4. Place the washed grains in a cool, dry place. Leave until completely dry.

Place the dried seeds in a paper bag and store in a dry cabinet.

Growing potato seedlings

You need to start sowing the crop in mid-late March. For the event, you need to prepare a planting box with a height of up to 5 cm. It is important that it has holes for draining excess liquid. Additionally, you will need to purchase a special substrate intended for growing vegetable seedlings.

You can make the soil yourself by combining garden soil with peat (1 to 4). The resulting mixture must be sterilized by heating in the oven for 30-45 minutes at a temperature of +90 °C. When the substrate has cooled, you will need to add 1-2 tbsp. l. fine vermiculite, and spill with Fitosporin solution. You can sow seeds in the resulting mixture only after 24 hours.

30 minutes before sowing, cover the saucer with a cotton napkin. It is necessary to evenly distribute the seeds over its surface and fill them with a solution of the “Fitosporin-M” fungicide.

The sowing process consists of the following stages:

1. Fill the container with nutrient soil, leaving a gap of 1.5-2 cm.
2. Level the surface and pour plenty of warm water.
3. Draw shallow grooves with a pencil, keeping a distance of 5 cm between them.
4. Distribute the seeds into the indentations using a toothpick. Maintain an interval of 5 mm between them. Do not sprinkle the seeds with soil or water them, otherwise they will not sprout.
5. Cover the planting with glass or transparent film and send it to a warm place without drafts.

The greenhouse will need to be ventilated daily by opening the lid for 10-15 minutes. It is also necessary to remove condensation from the walls as it forms. When shoots appear, the cover can be removed.

Seedling care

The first shoots will appear 6-12 days after sowing. Further care of the seedlings consists only of regular but moderate watering. Moreover, you cannot irrigate the seedlings through a watering can or spray bottle, because when moisture gets in, the stems and leaves immediately rot.

To prevent this from happening, you will need to use the bottom watering method. To do this, the container should be placed for 15-20 minutes in a container filled with warm and settled water. It is important to provide the plants with 12-15 hours of daylight. To do this, it is better to install phytolamps near the seedlings and turn them on in cloudy weather.

If during the growing process some seedlings rot, then they need to be removed along with 2-3 neighboring plants and a lump of earth. And the vacated space must be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate through a pipette.

Planting seedlings

You can plant seedlings in the garden from the second ten days of May.

In the process you need to follow the following instructions:

1. For plants, dig holes with dimensions of 15*15 cm. Maintain a gap of 35-40 cm between the depressions, the interval between rows should reach 70-80 cm.
2. Add 200 ml of humus and 1 tbsp to each well. l. ash, 0.5 tsp. ground eggshells. Mix the fertilizers thoroughly with the soil.
3. Place the seedlings in the holes one at a time, placing them at an angle of 35-45°. Gradually fill the voids with soil.
4. Lightly compact the planting surface and water generously.

To protect fragile potatoes, it is worth stretching film or spunbond over the bed. It is also recommended to mulch the soil surface with straw or peat. After 2-3 weeks, the plants need to be fed with mullein infusion. During flowering, potassium sulfate or humate must be added to the soil.

Potatoes obtained from seedlings must be harvested at the usual time. But the tubers will be small, and they need to be transferred to storage and used for planting next year. And then the harvest will be impressive.

Productivity of potato variety Rocco

From each bush of this potato variety you can harvest up to 11-13 potatoes of approximately the same size. The number of small tubers rarely reaches more than 5% of the total harvest.

As a result, on average, about 1.5 kg of tubers are harvested from each bush. In good years, in compliance with all the rules of agricultural technology, up to 500 kg of these potatoes can be harvested from one hundred square meters. In bad years, no more than 400 kg are collected from one hundred square meters.

Important!

The maximum yield recorded on farmland is 600 centners per hectare.

Reviews

Roko's potatoes have virtually no complaints. Reviews about it are positive.

Andrey, Novgorod: “This is a very good and productive variety. The first time I planted 1.5 kg and got about 18 kg of harvest. The next year I got even more potatoes. Under each Roko bush there is approximately 1 kg of tubers. I also really like the fact that the potatoes lie tightly in the bush, so you don’t have to dig up the whole garden.”

Anastasia, Nizhnekamsk: “It all started when I bought Roko potatoes at the market and cooked them. The whole family liked the taste. I decided to plant it in my garden. I purchased 6 kg of seed and planted it in early May. The tops grew tall, almost a meter high. There was no Colorado potato beetle on Roko, although it grazed nearby on other varieties. The harvest was good. The tubers formed close to the surface of the earth, although the potatoes were planted deep. Next time I’ll do a better job of hilling the bushes.”

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the Rocco potato variety include:

• the yield of the variety is stable in all weather conditions;
• potatoes are undemanding to growing conditions;
• resistance to periods of drought;
• high resistance to many diseases and pest attacks;
• tubers of the Rocco variety have a beautiful appearance and good taste;
• due to the high yield and good appearance of the tubers, this variety can be grown for further sale;
• the harvested crop tolerates transportation well at any distance;
• In appropriate conditions, root vegetables are stored for at least six months and germinate slowly.
• Some vegetable growers note that the taste of boiled potatoes of this variety is not very pleasant. But this is the only drawback of Rocco's potatoes.

Potatoes Rocco - video

Diseases, pests and ways to combat them

To protect bushes from weeds, summer residents spread mulch between the rows. Fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium prevent the appearance of ring rot and late blight. The scab fungus that develops in acidic soils is removed with Prestige. In addition to insecticides, aphids can initially be repelled from potatoes by treating the planted tubers with diluted insecticidal soap. For potato flea beetles, spraying with ash and tobacco dust is used. The Colorado potato beetle and its larvae are collected by hand, and actara and fitoverm are also used against them.

Due to its stable yield and ease of care, Rocco is well known among summer residents and gardeners. Impressive commercial indicators make it possible to use its rich yields on an industrial scale, subject to proper growing conditions. The variety is immune to many diseases and parasites, and the fight against others will not require anything other than common means and compliance with the instructions specified in the description.

How to plant potatoes correctly

Rocco potatoes are quite heat-loving, so planting material should only be planted in well-warmed soil. But the composition of the soil and its characteristics are not important for this variety - Rocco grows on any type of soil.

But this vegetable crop shows good yield on the following soils:

• turf;
• sandy;
• loamy.

But the best yield of Rocco potatoes will be on chernozem soils, and the potatoes will be very large.

The area for planting these potatoes should be well illuminated by the sun's rays and protected from gusts of cold wind. It is better not to plant the Rocco variety in lowlands and wetlands. Also, this potato does not tolerate close proximity to groundwater. The acidity of the soil should be neutral - it is better not to grow this vegetable crop on acidic and alkaline soils.

Varieties!
Potato variety Impala Potato Colombo Potato Nevsky
Also, when choosing a place for planting, do not forget about the basic requirements of crop rotation. If potatoes are grown in the same place year after year, then over time the yield of the variety will decrease and the tubers will decrease in size. And the bushes themselves can be affected by diseases or pests.

Therefore, the best predecessors for this vegetable crop will be:

• oats;
• buckwheat;
• mustard;
• legumes.

You should not plant potatoes in areas where tomatoes or bell peppers previously grew.

Important!

Tubers intended for planting are removed from the cellar for germination approximately 25-28 days before planting in a permanent place. If sprouts begin to sprout on root tubers under cellar conditions, they should be removed - they will not grow into strong and durable tops.

For germination, planting material should be laid out in a sunny place, and it is necessary to provide the tubers with increased air humidity - at least 80%. The day before planting, Rocco potato seeds should be treated with a protective drug - Epin or Prestige. Tubers can be planted when they grow sprouts at least 1 cm long.

Potatoes cannot be planted in unheated soil - such seed material will not grow, and in case of cold weather it may simply freeze. The optimal soil temperature for planting potatoes is at least 11-12 degrees Celsius

. In the southern regions, this time begins around the end of April, and in colder regions, in the Urals, in Siberia - in the second ten days of May (or even later).

Before planting, dig up the soil and loosen it. Then dig planting holes, the distance between which should be at least 0.3 m. The width of the rows is 0.6 m, and the depth of planting of tubers is up to 10 cm. Directly when planting, complex mineral fertilizers and a little onion or garlic should be added to each hole husks to the bottom of each hole to repel pests and their larvae.

Features of planting and growing

Roko is distinguished by its unpretentiousness in cultivation, carried out according to the rules of agricultural technology of this vegetable crop. Plants are content with minimal care.

Preparation

Vegetable crops of this variety are grown in a clean area. Roko does not grow in soil with a predominance of weeds. Weeds inhibit the tubers and prevent them from developing.

The soil for planting should be light, nutritious, and loosened. Poor soil is enriched with fertilizers; wood ash or humus is added to heavy soil.

Planting material is selected carefully: tubers without spots, growths, or signs of damage by insects are needed. They are germinated in a well-lit room. Tubers with sprouts no more than 1 cm in length are suitable for planting.

Planting scheme and technology

When planting planting material in open ground, adhere to the standard scheme. A distance of 35 cm is maintained between holes, and 60-70 cm between rows. The depth of the holes should not exceed 10 cm.

Features of cultivation

To obtain the highest possible yield, it is recommended to grow potatoes in floodplain, sod-podzolic, light loamy, sandy loam soil with a neutral acidity index.

It is advisable to grow potatoes in a well-lit and ventilated area. The plants are sun-loving, so they grow more slowly in the shade.

Nuances of care

Caring for plants primarily involves proper hilling. Thanks to it, you can increase productivity by 30%. Hilling helps saturate the soil with oxygen and get rid of weeds. Roko is spud twice:

• when the plants reach a height of 20 cm;
• on the eve of the flowering period.

Plants need loosening several times during the season. The soil is loosened between the rows after watering.

Another important procedure in caring for potato plantings is weeding. Without it you cannot get a good harvest . Weed the bushes using a hoe twice:

• 1 month after planting in open ground when the sprouts reach a height of 3-4 cm;
• when the bushes reach a height of 25-30 cm.

It is permissible to carry out weeding using a cultivator or walk-behind tractor.

Watering mode

Roko is drought tolerant, but needs proper watering. Water the plants three times during the season:

• when the tops appear;
• on the eve of flowering;
• before the flowers disappear.

Watering is carried out in the morning or evening hours in the absence of scorching sunlight. The first time the bush is watered with 2 liters of water, the second and third times they take 2 times more liquid. Water is first poured into barrels so that it can settle and warm up in the sun.

Important ! Watering is contraindicated before sprouts form and immediately after flowering. There is a risk of late blight.

Watering is carried out in one of the following ways:

1. Sprinkling - finely drip irrigation of the planting with water from a hose.
2. Superficial. Suitable if groundwater is no higher than 4 cm.
3. Drip irrigation. Watering is carried out through irrigation tubes connected to the roots of the plants.

Top dressing

To obtain maximum yield, fertilizers are needed. They are applied in the fall when digging after harvesting and clearing the area of ​​weeds.

Apply fertilizer in the form of:

• an aqueous solution of bird droppings (1:10), which is used to water the soil between the rows;
• urea solution (1 tbsp per 10 liters of water) for watering bushes;
• mullein, which is used to water the rows.

Disease and pest control

Compliance with the rules of agricultural technology allows you to avoid scab damage.

However, Roko is susceptible to late blight. It attacks leaves in cold, rainy weather. Preventive treatment with fungicides ("Revus Top", "Ordan", "Poliram") or antifungal agents ("Maxim", "Fundazol") allows you to avoid the problem.

Treatment with Bazudin helps protect plants from wireworms. The Colorado potato beetle is collected from the bushes by hand.

Difficulties encountered during cultivation

Growing Roko potatoes does not pose any great difficulties. You get a bad harvest if you don’t adhere to the basic rules of agricultural technology. Typical mistakes:

1. Use of organic matter in unreasonable periods. This mistake entails the leaching of nutrients and, as a result, a meager harvest.
2. Using unrotted manure in the spring. Leads to the accumulation of weeds and pathogens of various plant diseases.
3. Violation of the water regime. Leads to incomplete absorption of mineral fertilizers from the soil by the crop.

Further care for the Rocco potato variety

After the first shoots appear, you can start watering the potatoes. This should be done once every 7 days and ensure that the soil is moistened to a depth of approximately 15-20 cm.

In dry periods, the amount of watering is increased to 1 time every 3-4 days; in rainy seasons, watering should be reduced.

After each watering or rain, it is necessary to loosen the soil to remove the dry crust that forms - it prevents moisture and air from penetrating deep into the soil. At the same time, all weeds should be removed.

Interesting!
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Hilling is of particular importance for good potato yields. During the entire growing season of the Rocco variety, a couple of such procedures should be carried out. By raking the soil to the base of the potato tops, vegetable growers thereby activate the development of new roots on the shoots, on which additional tubers will form.

Care

Rocco potatoes are a moisture-loving variety, so an important process is to ensure regular and abundant watering, at least 3-4 times a week. The best way to retain the necessary moisture is to use products intended for the mulch layer.

It is important to carefully care for the soil, weed the beds, removing weeds, and regularly loosen the soil, which will ensure excellent air exchange. Be sure to fertilize the soil and feed the plant itself. In this case, it is recommended to use traditional methods - specially developed drugs. Traditionally, plants are fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. Tubers will be more resistant to external factors if there is a sufficient amount of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium in the soil.

Potato feeding

Basic fertilizers are usually applied either in the fall, or when preparing the site for planting a given vegetable crop, as well as directly during planting potato seeds in the ground.

How to Grow a Rich Potato Harvest

During the period of potato growth, applying fertilizers under the bushes is quite problematic, because as a result of hilling, a fairly high mound grows around the tops (up to 20-25 cm in height). Therefore, fertilizing is usually not carried out during the season. But if desired, you can add a layer of organic mulch (humus or compost) immediately before flowering begins.

Taste qualities

According to the characteristics of Rocco potatoes, the tubers of the variety have excellent taste:

• the color of the pulp is preserved after heat treatment;
• a good variety for making French fries or homemade chips;
• The starch content reaches, depending on growing conditions, 13-16%.

Potatoes have many positive characteristics, thanks to which they have become popular all over the world. The main thing is to properly care for the bush and give it enough sunlight, and then you will be able to notice how correct your choice was.

1. Large percentage of bush yield. In addition, the yield of a species is a stable concept. It is rare that one year there are many fruits, but the next year there are few. Even when there are bad years, you can collect more than 350 centners of fruit. And when all the signs converge, and the year is fruitful, then from 1 hectare, about 600 centners.
2. Potato Rocco (variety description): 12-14 tubers can form on one bush alone. Only one tuber weighs 130 grams, because of this we can conclude that one bush can give you 2 kg of fruit.
3. All fruits have a good presentation, can be stored for a long time and tolerate transportation well. Of 100% of all goods received, 95% retain their appearance.
4. And as mentioned earlier, the product can withstand long-term transportation. This variety can be found in every store and market. If you store potatoes in a cold place, they can be stored for up to 5 months.
5. Rocco potatoes are classified as a table type of potato. It has excellent taste; the total percentage of starch can range from 11 to 16%. When cooked, the pulp does not change its color.
6. This variety is perfect for everything: frying, pies, mashed potatoes, French fries, etc.

The main thing to remember is that you cannot eat the flowers and stems of the plant. Such components of the bush can cause severe food poisoning in humans.

Reviews from those who plant and grow Rocco potatoes

Irina, 45 years old, Moscow region: We constantly grow potatoes on our plot. Two seasons ago we decided to try planting a new variety, chose Rocco potatoes - and we were not disappointed. On our site the soil is heavy, clayey, we “diluted” it with sand and humus, as a result the yield of this variety was high. The potatoes practically did not get sick, despite the fact that the potatoes were watered infrequently; as a result, 8 buckets of crops were collected from each planted square. We will now plant this variety constantly.

Victor, 50 years old, Volgograd region: For many years I have been growing potatoes for sale, leaving some for my own needs. Many varieties have been tried. But for about 10 years now I’ve been planting the Rocco variety on about half of the plot. Over all these years, this potato has never let us down - the yield was high in all weather conditions. As a result, I partially sold these potatoes immediately after digging them up, and also sold them during the fall.

Rocco potatoes are one of the best varieties of Dutch selection

– unpretentious to growing conditions and soil type, characterized by good yield in all weather conditions, with large tubers of approximately the same size and weight
.
The harvested crop can be safely transported to any distance, stored in a cellar for long-term storage, and grown for further sale. Recently searched:

Harvest and storage

Rocco potatoes are shelf-stable, up to 89%.
Tubers are stored in basements and cellars for 5 months without loss of taste. Ripe potatoes for winter storage are dug when the stems dry out. After this, wait another 2 weeks so that the peel has time to get stronger and you can dig up the crop. The weather on the day of digging should be dry and sunny.

Be careful not to damage the tubers with the shovel. If the soil is wet, then when storing it, it is worth drying the crop for several days in a dry room without access to direct sunlight. Store tubers in boxes.

The Rocco variety has remarkable characteristics. It can be grown quite well in temperate climates. Caring for plantings is the same as when growing other varieties of potatoes, and even those with no experience in vegetable growing can do it.

Collection is carried out in each region at different times. The main indicators of the need to harvest are:

• fallen tops;
• faded and yellowed plant stems;
• size of tubers.

So, in regions with average temperatures, potatoes are dug up in September, in the southern regions they are harvested in October. The main thing is that the potatoes are ripe. You should have time to clean up before the onset of frost. After harvesting, the tubers are dried in the sun or in a room protected from rain.

Since the description of the variety suggests that it is resistant to many diseases, it will be stored well if you follow the recommendations stated above.

The storage area should be cool and dry. The optimal temperature in winter is from 4 to 6 degrees. If it is colder there, then the vegetables will freeze; if it is warmer, they will begin to sprout and dehydrate.

The condition of the tops will help determine the ripeness of potatoes. If it begins to dry out and the tubers are actively growing, then it is time to harvest. You need to dig up potatoes at the end of August or at the beginning of September.

The harvested crop is perfectly stored and transported. But there are some rules that simply must be followed:

1. Use wooden boxes or nylon nets to store dug potatoes. Slots must be made in the drawers first.
2. You can store the harvest in the cellar or basement. It is necessary to create optimal conditions: not very low air temperature and lack of moisture.

The variety tolerates long-term transportation well without losing its presentation.

Rocco potatoes are a high-yielding variety that can be grown in absolutely any region of the country. It is not picky in care, resistant to diseases and pests, and its tubers are suitable for preparing various dishes.

Botanical properties

When choosing a variety, gardeners take into account the characteristics of the vegetable, preferably potatoes:

• matured quickly;
• wasn't sick;
• gave a good harvest;
• stored with minimal waste.

Rocco potatoes, according to the variety description, photos of finished products and reviews from vegetable growers, fully meet the requirements:

1. The tubers are pinkish-red, oval, smooth (as in the photo below), the flesh is soft cream. The color does not change after cooking.
2. Potatoes weighing up to 125 grams, more than 10 in a bush. The total weight of one bush is about 1 kg 500 g. If you look at it on a large scale, you can get up to 400 centners per hectare.
3. Plants can be distinguished from other varieties by their upright bushes, large juicy green leaves and red or purple inflorescences.

Breeders have worked on the vegetable for many years, achieving unique properties. The result was potatoes of the Rocco variety, which are not afraid of many of the diseases of its relatives. The vegetable does not get sick:

• potato cancer;
• golden potato nematode;
• wrinkled and striped mosaic;
• striped mosaic;
• virus Y;
• The leaves practically do not curl.

Scientists managed to reduce tuber late blight, but leaf blight could not be completely eliminated.

Photos describing the variety are increasingly appearing not only on websites, but also in user correspondence and in their reviews of Rocco potatoes. There is nothing surprising here, because this vegetable has many other advantages:

1. Mid-season potatoes ripen 3 months after germination.
2. Plantings provide plot owners with a rich harvest.
3. High starch level: 15-30%.
4. Excellent taste, judging by reviews from vegetable growers.
5. Able to withstand fluctuations in temperature and soil moisture. Therefore, potatoes of this variety can be grown in any climatic regions of Russia and Europe.

It is not only the high yield of varietal potatoes that attracts Russians. The variety gained great popularity for its amazing taste. Rocco potatoes are used by housewives to prepare various dishes.

It is widely used on an industrial scale in food factories to produce chips and French fries. The reason is the high starch content.

What Rocco's bush and fruits look like

The bushes of the variety are erect, of medium height (up to half a meter).

The flowers are violet-red. Sometimes they don't appear on the bushes at all. But don’t let this worry you: the presence of flowers does not affect the formation of tubers.

Potatoes are oval-shaped, with red (pinkish-tinged) skin. If the tuber is cut, we will see smooth, cream-colored flesh.

Each bush grows about 9-12 tubers.

Advantages of the variety

• Rocco is mid-season. After planting, the crop ripens in 100, maximum 115 days (although if planting is delayed, harvesting will be delayed by another 2 weeks). But in any case, you will have time to remove it before the autumn cold and rain.
• Medium-sized tubers (about 120 g). Of course, most gardeners like to harvest potatoes the size of a fist, but the larger the tuber, the worse it lies in the winter - nothing until the New Year, and then it dries out in the middle. Rocco has practically no such “shoals” - this variety lays down very well, so in the spring, and even at the beginning of summer, you will have something to cook.
• The variety is highly resistant to most potato diseases, including viruses and potato nematodes, and cancer.
• Rocco's harvests are stable. They do not depend on a lack of rain (the variety is drought-resistant), but prolonged downpours will not harm it.
• Thanks to the correct shape, the tubers have a good presentation.

Does it have any disadvantages?

This is not yet a “magic wand” that is not afraid of any potato diseases at all. Yes, the variety has resistance to leaf curling, but not much. Bushes can also become infected with late blight (both leaves and tubers).

Is this an old or new variety?

Rokko was created by Dutch scientists about twenty years ago.

Almost immediately (in 2002) these varietal potatoes were brought to Russia. In addition, over the past decade, Rocco began to be grown not only in the CIS, but throughout the world. Moreover, you can see this variety not only in private gardens, but also in large fields of farms or collective farms. And farmers are very pleased with this variety, preferring it to others: such potatoes have excellent yields and are quickly sold out.