There is an opinion that the longer the potatoes stay in the ground, going through all the stages of their growing season, the better they will lie and be minimally spoiled during storage. Of course, growing early varieties provides a stable, tasty side dish all summer and early autumn, but few experienced gardeners are content with only this, so planting potatoes of mid-late varieties is a common practice to obtain the richest possible harvest, which has not only excellent taste, but also “survive” the winter well.
As with any other type, mid-late potato varieties have their own nuances, features in the color and shape of tubers, quantity and weight, which are characteristic of each individual variety, so we will consider all the subtleties and nuances of the best varieties of mid-late potatoes in more detail.
Potato variety Lasunok
Lasunok is one of the best varieties of mid-late potato, which is distinguished by very large tubers, which together bring a good harvest. The variety was brought to our country from Belarus and quickly became “our family” thanks to its very high taste and long-term storage. The ripening period is 80-120 days. Due to the fact that the tops have a powerful root system, spreading branches and tough foliage, the tubers are formed of a gigantic size, like for potatoes, with a weight of 160-200 grams, and this is a very high figure, especially since despite the huge size of the tubers in the bush there are 11-12 pieces or more, which automatically makes the Lasunok variety a leader in yield. The tubers have a regular round shape with slight elongation and moderate eyes. The peel has a beautiful light yellow tint, but the flesh is rich beige. To obtain the maximum yield, you need to plant potatoes at the end of April or at the beginning of May at a distance from each other of no less than 60-70 cm, and immerse them 7-10 cm deep. Minimal care and proper planting guarantee an excellent harvest.
Potato variety Zarnitsa
Zarnitsa is the best variety of late potato, which has a high percentage of starch - 19-20%, which puts it in the category of varieties from which starch is extracted in industrial conditions. The ripening period is 120-140 days. The tubers have a regular oval shape with a smooth surface. The peel has a pale pink tint, but the flesh is creamy. The tops are formed of moderate size and erect, which, combined with rich green foliage, has an incredibly beautiful purple-red flowering. Timely watering, loosening and the absence of weeds lead to maximum yield and excellent taste, which is well suited for any dishes and side dishes.
Variety care
Standard agricultural technology, which is also suitable for Fritella, involves regular watering, fertilizing, as well as loosening the soil and hilling the bushes.
Watering
It is necessary to water the potato plantings along the furrows between the rows. One bush requires 2-3 liters of water. Usually 3-4 waterings per season are sufficient, but if there is a long-term lack of rain, more frequent irrigation procedures may be required.
3-4 waterings per season are enough
Important! Watering is best done in the evening or in cloudy weather. This will prevent moisture evaporation and the appearance of a crust on the soil surface.
Feeding
If the soil has been prepared and amended with organic and mineral fertilizers in spring and autumn, additional fertilizing will most likely not be necessary.
If it is still necessary to apply fertilizing, then they are applied once every 2-3 weeks. You can use both organic and complex mineral fertilizers.
Hilling and weeding
To increase the yield and stimulate the growth of tubers, it is necessary to regularly hill up the plantings. During the entire growing season, this procedure is carried out 2-3 times: the first 10 days after emergence, the second two weeks after the first, the third is carried out as necessary.
To prevent dryness and cracking of the top layer of soil and to kill weeds, row spacing is regularly loosened.
Potato variety Zdabytak
Zdabytak is a truly Belarusian variety of late potato that ripens in 120-130 days. For maximum yield, sowing work must be carried out in May with strict adherence to the planting scheme: the distance between plants should be 65-70 cm, and 40 cm between rows is enough. Tubers should be immersed 10 cm deep. With such planting, you can count on a good harvest with the weight of one tuber – 100-130 grams. The shape of the tubers is regular, even and oval. The color of the peel is beautiful, pink, and the pulp is snow-white. The presence of not deep, small eyes cannot please anyone. Excellent taste and excellent presentation ensure not only the popularity of the variety, but also competitiveness.
Growing
Thanks to the list of certain qualities, standard potato farming techniques are suitable for obtaining a rich harvest of the Fritella variety.
At the initial stage, it is necessary to prepare planting material, soil and decide on the technology and planting scheme.
Tuber preparation
In order to get the harvest earlier and ensure the full germination of root crops, a germination procedure is carried out before planting.
Germination is required before planting
This process consists of several stages:
- To plant for germination, healthy medium-sized tubers without mechanical damage are selected.
- Root vegetables are laid out in an even layer on a pallet or in a box and placed in a lighted place.
- The room temperature is maintained at 13-16 °C and ventilated regularly. It is also necessary to turn the tubers every 5-8 days.
- After 1-1.5 months, when the sprouts reach the required size, you can begin planting.
Note! It is recommended to treat the tubers with a growth stimulator before planting. This will promote the germination of eyes not only on the apical, but also on the stolon part of the root crops.
Soil preparation
The main task in preparing the soil is to create the best conditions for the growth and development of plants. The Fritella variety grows best in fertile and loose soils.
Potato variety Lorch
Lorch is a popular late potato variety imported from neighboring countries - Russia. Its ripening period is 115-125 days. The tubers are formed of an average moderate size and regular shape with a weight of 85-120 grams. The skin of the tubers has a very beautiful yellow tint, and the pulp is snow-white. The Lorch variety cooks and crumbles well, and the flesh does not darken during heat treatment. There is a lot of starch - up to 20%, which is an indicator for use in mass production of starch. This variety is picky about heat and likes moderate watering.
Tips for growing rough potatoes
Potato seeds are renewed every four years. Otherwise, the sowing becomes of less quality, the yield decreases, and the root crops are removed. Plants and seed material become infected and lose their resistance to weather conditions and pests.
Areas with frequent rains and heavy dew are at risk of late blight. In a humid climate zone it is better to plant varieties: Sparta, Saturna, Saratov. Pests do not like tubers with thick skins. Red-skinned varieties are suitable for areas where chafer larvae are more common. The golden nematode does not affect Pirol, Sparta. Before storing for the winter, the tubers are well dried.
It is better to store the harvest of rough potatoes in the country in the cellar
Potatoes with rough skin are a universal option for household and industrial use. The vegetable has excellent taste in all possible preparations, and the variety of varieties allows you to choose the best option for your own preferences. Growing, storing and transporting root crops will also not be a problem.
Potato variety Saturn
Saturn is one of the best varieties of late potatoes with a regular round shape, imported from Holland. The ripening period is 110-120 days. During this period, medium-sized tubers are formed with a weight of 100-120 grams and a moderate amount in the bush - 7-10 pieces, but thanks to its excellent taste and long-term storage, the variety is very popular in Ukraine. External and internal data are similar, since both the pulp and the peel have a yellow tint. There is a lot of starch in the composition, often exceeding 21%. For the best harvest, tubers should be planted at a distance of 70 cm, and between rows should be kept at 35 cm. Use in any dishes indicates the versatility of this variety.
Potato variety Atlant
Atlant is an excellent mid-late potato variety that quickly adapts and will grow in any soil. Imported from Belarus and ripens in 115-125 days. The tubers are medium-sized, round, slightly oval, weighing 90-125 grams. You can count up to 12 tubers in a bush. This variety is excellent for mass cultivation in fields, since it contains more than 21% starch and this variety is adapted to mechanical harvesting. For ease of growth, it is recommended to plant tubers no closer than 70 cm from each other. Excellent taste qualities are actively realized in all forms of cooking.
Potato variety Zhuravinka
Zhuravinka is an excellent late potato variety that is ready to produce maximum yield in any soil. The ripening period is 100-120 days. During this time, tubers of regular oval shape with a weight of 90-160 grams are formed. The yield is very high due to the large number in the bush - up to 20 pieces. The presence of starch percentage is above average, which is an indicator for industrial production. Since the fruits do not darken during heat treatment, their use not only in cooking, but also in making chips is a common practice. The peel has a red tint, but the flesh is a beautiful cream color. For a high yield, you should maintain a distance between rows of 50-60 cm. Excellent taste, together with good storage properties, automatically make the variety a leader.
Late potato varieties are confidently gaining popularity due to their positive characteristics and good taste, and the choice of which variety to grow this season is yours.
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General description and characteristics of early, late and mid-late varieties
Early potato varieties are classified according to ripening dates as follows:
- ultra-early ones ripen within 45-55 days;
- early ripening requires 50-60 days to reach ripeness;
- mid-early ones are used for food after 60-85 days.
Late varieties according to ripening dates are distributed as follows:
- mid-season tubers are harvested after 85-95 days;
- medium-late ones are consumed after 95-110 days;
- later varieties require 95 or more days to reach ripeness.
When choosing seed material, it is recommended to be guided by how quickly the variety ripens, where it comes from, and in what climatic conditions it will be planted. When considering late potato varieties for planting, read the description of the crop and look at photos of the future harvest so as not to make a mistake in your choice.
Important! Tubers of early ripening varieties and hybrids are rarely subject to fungal infections.
When choosing a variety for planting in the difficult climatic zone of the Moscow region, you should remember about protection from pests and diseases. In this region, it is better to plant early and mid-early potatoes, since late ones may not have time to ripen.
In the southern regions of Russia, late varieties are cultivated, since summer weather lasts there from May to September.
Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins
The main indicator of the quality and nutritional value of potato tubers is their chemical composition. The amount of water in early potatoes is 78-87%, in mid-ripening potatoes it ranges from 73 to 82%, and in late potatoes – 70-83%. The rest is the proportion of dry matter.
The main component of dry matter is starch, its share in grams:
- for early varieties – 9.7-18.5;
- for mid-season - 14.9-20.6;
- The largest amount is contained in late varieties - 12.3-26.3.
The amount of sugar, proteins, acids and vitamins is presented in the table:
| Potato varieties by ripening time | Sugar, g | Proteins, g | Acids, g | Vitamin C, mg | Energy value, kcal |
| Early | 0,5-1,3 | 0,7-1,6 | 0,1 | 15-18 | 61 |
| Average | 0,5-0,8 | 0,8-2,6 | 0,1 | 16-20 | 76 |
| Late | 0,5-0,9 | 0,7-2,1 | 0,1 | 12-17 | 80 |
Potato tubers also contain mineral salts - 1%, fiber - 1%, fats - 0.1%, organic acids - 1.6%.
Characteristics of tubers and yield
The most popular early varieties in Russia are Timo, Impala, Zhukovsky early, Kholmogorsky, Gala, Romano. They are distinguished by a short growing season and strong immunity, that is, resistant to diseases. A harvest of 35-60 tons is obtained from each hectare. The tubers are medium-sized, weighing from 80 to 190 g.
Late: Asterix, Saturna, Zarnitsa, Picasso. These potatoes contain a lot of starch, so the tubers boil quickly. The harvest is stored for a long time. The weight of the tubers ranges from 60 to 150 g.
The yield of late potatoes reaches 300 centners per hectare, depending on the variety and climatic conditions. Due to the long growing season, late species are susceptible to late blight and scab.
When choosing planting material for mid-season varieties, it is necessary, first of all, to pay attention to resistance to late blight disease, since the growing season coincides with the timing of its spread. The harvest of mid-season potato varieties is harvested and stored in August.
Region for cultivation and planting dates
For each climatic zone, the types of potatoes suitable for cultivation are zoned. Only if the planting material is correctly selected can you achieve a good harvest and not waste time and energy.
Moscow region
Belongs to the zone of problematic agriculture. Summer here is not always warm and dry. The climate is moderate continental, its main distinguishing features are mild winters and rainy summers with night and day temperature changes. The first frosts may occur in early September. In such conditions, early varieties should be planted. The best for this climate: Impala, Zhukovsky early, Spring, Udacha, Sineglazka.
It is recommended to begin preparing planting material on the 20th of March. Tubers are germinated until sprouts appear at a temperature of +20...+24°C. Then they are placed in a cool place for hardening.
Reference. Folk omens advise watching dandelions: as soon as the first buds appear on these plants, this means that the ground has already warmed up enough for potatoes to be planted in it.
Siberia
The region has a sharply continental climate with spring frosts and a short summer with heavy rains in August. Early and mid-early varieties have been bred for this region : Tuleevsky, Nevsky, Adretta, Impala, Udacha, Lyubava. Tubers in Siberia are planted from mid-May to mid-June.
Siberia is located in three time zones, so there are no average potato planting times for such a vast territory. Local summer residents are guided by the time of the last frost on the ground.
Many people follow folk signs and look at a birch leaf not far from the site. If it has reached the size of a penny, this means that the soil has warmed up to the required temperature and it is time to plant potatoes.
To ensure that the seedlings germinate quickly and receive as much spring sun as possible, in Siberia the seed material is germinated before planting. The harvest is harvested in early September.
Ural
It is famous for its short warm period, so early and mid-season potatoes are cultivated here : Udacha, Timo, Riviera, Impala, Gala, Nevsky. Frosts are a common occurrence here even in June.
The best time to plant potato tubers in this region is June 10-12, when the danger of frost has already passed. In the Urals, it is customary to plant potatoes under straw, which, being above the plantings, releases a large amount of nitrogen. In this case, the bushes grow powerful and the tubers grow large.
Central Russia
This region is characterized by a temperate climate and high humidity. It is summer-like warm here from May to October. Varieties developed for these areas:
- early - Bellarosa, Impala;
- middle ones - Rosara, Sante, Slavyanka;
- late – Picasso, Zhuravinka.
Potatoes in the middle zone are planted at the end of April - beginning of May in soil heated to 8°C.
South
For the south of Russia, hot summers and lack of moisture are common. In this region, they manage to harvest early varieties twice a season: Udacha, Impala, Alena, Zhukovsky.
To plant for the winter, late varieties are grown : Temp, Picasso, Nikulinsky. The warm summer period in the south of the country lasts from March to October.
