The Colombo potato, or more correctly “Colomba”, was developed by Dutch scientists from the agricultural company HZPC HOLLAND BV. Colombo was created by crossing varieties such as Carrera and Agata.
In 2013, Colombo was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation and is positioned for cultivation in 5 regions: Northwestern, Central, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth and North Caucasus.
The variety instantly gained recognition among gardeners, in particular due to its rapid ripening period (about 2 months).
Today we will present a description of the variety, photos and reviews of gardeners who have managed to get acquainted with this young crop.
In which regions of Russia can the Colombo variety be grown?
Early potato varieties are good because they can ripen in almost any climate zone, except for the tundra and the Arctic.
Ural
Due to the threat of frost, which is not uncommon in this region even in June, potatoes are planted here late - in the first ten days of June.
Siberia
In the eastern regions of Siberia, they are planted at the same time as in the Urals. But the western ones, with a slightly milder climate, allow planting at the end of May.
Moscow region and central Russia
Here they start working on potato beds in mid-May, but you need to keep an eye on the forecast - in the Moscow region there are also frosts in early June, but rarely.
Southern regions of Russia
The heat here comes early in spring; at the end of April – beginning of May the temperature on some days reaches +30°C. Potatoes are planted early, usually at the very end of March - beginning of April.
Diseases and pests
Varieties of Dutch selection, including Colombo, are traditionally characterized by high resistance to late blight of tubers, as well as increased resistance to late blight of tops. In addition, the declared variety has complete and partial immunity to:
- Potato cancer,
- Three types of golden nematode: Ro1, Ro4, Ro5
- Parshe
- Root rot
Attention! After a few years of growing Colombo, its high resistance to disease decreases. It is necessary to completely change the planting material every 3-4 years.
Regarding pests, here the four leaders are unchanged: the Colorado potato beetle, the May beetle larva, the wireworm and the mole cricket. Treating the roots and plants with insecticides, as well as manually sampling pests when digging up the area, will allow you to minimize damage to the beds.
Reviews about the variety
Amateur gardeners evaluate the Colombo variety differently, but they are unanimous on one thing - its precocity is a big plus. By growing Colombo on a plot, you can get a harvest in early July, and in the southern regions in June. Many people note the good taste of the tubers, especially when preparing main courses and salads from these potatoes.
Of course, there are also weaknesses. Almost everyone notes that Colombo is not stored for long - at best until February, and in order to preserve seed tubers for planting, you need to create ideal conditions for them - low temperature, optimal humidity at 80-90%, etc. At amateur farmsteads this is not always possible. But farmers who grow early potatoes for sale are quite satisfied with the Colombo variety.
There are also reviews, mainly from residents of the southern regions, in which this variety is recommended for obtaining two harvests in one season. The issue is very controversial, because... seed material is poorly stored, and tubers for the second harvest should be planted in early July using old, last year’s tubers. And this is very problematic.
Features of cultivation
Choosing a site for Colombo potatoes should begin with an analysis of soil acidity. It should not exceed indicators 5-7. If the acidity is higher, then in the fall it is necessary to lim the area and limit the application of organic fertilizers and composts.
Light sandy loam and loamy soils are optimal for growing potatoes of this variety. The variety shows good results on black soils. Groundwater should not be located close to the surface.
Important to remember! Colombo extracts as much nutrients as possible from the soil, especially if you grow two crops per season. It is necessary to change the planting site annually. In the fall, in the place where the potatoes grew, it is necessary to apply mineral or organic fertilizers and sow green manure.
Colombo requires solarization and germination before planting. If by the beginning of April the seed material has produced long thin sprouts, they must be removed and the potatoes placed in boxes in a well-lit place 3-4 weeks before planting. 7 days before planting, it is a good idea to treat the germinated material with Kornevin or a similar preparation to develop a network of roots.
Attention! Colombo potatoes are not recommended to be cut before planting. Cut seed material most often dies. Leave potatoes the size of a chicken egg for seeds with as many eyes as possible.
The variety does not require deep planting. The optimal depth is up to 10 cm. Ideal for cultivation in furrows. The distance between rows is recommended 60-70 cm, between bushes of the same row - 30 cm. The soil temperature at the time of planting should be about 10 degrees at the planting depth.
This exactingness to temperature of the early variety determines the popularity of agricultural technology in herds. Planting in a herd does not require a long wait for the soil to warm up by 10-15 cm. The potatoes are laid out on a dug surface according to the required planting pattern and then covered with earth, often mixed with straw or compost.
If Colombo is planted to obtain a super early harvest, then the danger of spring frosts remains. It is recommended to cover the planting area with textiles.
The variety responds very well to harrowing and loosening. These procedures should be carried out as often as possible, possibly every week. Colombo cannot fully develop tubers if an airtight crust forms on the surface of the soil. At the same time, weeds are removed between the rows.
The first hilling of potatoes should be carried out when the bushes grow by 15 cm, all subsequent ones should be carried out every two weeks. The minimum number of hillings is 2. During the first hilling, it is recommended to apply 30-50 g of dry bird droppings or manure under each potato bush, or fertilize with a solution of the same droppings according to the following scheme:
Dilute 300 g of litter in 10 liters of water, leave in a warm place for 48 hours. Watering is carried out at the rate of 1 liter of mixture per 1 bush. Feeding is carried out in cloudy weather or in the evening.
Regular watering is the key to a high yield of the Colombo variety. It is better to combine watering with hilling and fertilizing. The variety is most sensitive to watering during the flowering period. Immediately after germination, complex fertilizers based on manganese and magnesium should be applied to the site. They do not stimulate the early development of root crops.
Attention! With insufficient watering at prolonged temperatures above +25 degrees, the yield of the Colombo variety is halved.
A week before the expected harvest date, the tops must be cut off so that the tubers are prepared for long-term storage. After digging in good weather, the potatoes must be thoroughly dried, avoiding direct sunlight. A well-ventilated, warm room is ideal.
Tubers should not be removed for storage without mechanical damage. Root crops of the Colombo variety lose moisture very quickly and damaged material will quickly lose nutritional value and can also become a source of rot. Potatoes keep well under standard storage conditions until January-February. Further, its presentation deteriorates.
Seed material of the Colombo variety has its own peculiarity of storage. To ensure that the seeds do not wrinkle and maintain maximum germination, it is recommended to select the planting material immediately upon digging and place it in direct sunlight for a couple of hours. The potatoes will turn green and this will extend their shelf life and also protect them from rodents and insects. Such potatoes are no longer suitable for food, but are optimal for planting.
Landing
The Colombo potato (the description of the variety and photos of the plant contain step-by-step illustrated instructions for its cultivation) is a hybrid, although unpretentious in care, but quite selective in the quality characteristics of the soil.
The presented variety grows best on the following soils:
- loams (light);
- sandy loam;
- drained peatlands with acidity values (pH) less than 5–7;
- chernozem.
When choosing a place for planting, you should give preference to a site that is located away from groundwater; if this is not possible, plant the plant on ridges at least 40 cm high or use the ridge method.
If the area for growing potatoes is significantly limited in size, summer residents prefer to plant seed material in boxes. This method is convenient for propagating a hybrid, leads to a reduction in the cost of fertilizing, does not require manual digging, and makes it easier to weed the soil.
To plant potatoes in box beds, you need to do the following:
- select boxes made from pine boards and bars without a bottom, saturate the container with antiseptic agents. It is not advisable to use very tall containers to avoid excessive watering;
- place the prepared boxes on pre-formed ridges, fill the boxes with soil;
- Place the sprouted potatoes on the ground, sprinkle the greenish tubers with soil.
Further care (watering, fertilizing, protection from pests) should be carried out as usual. Several boxes (15–20 pcs.) will allow you to provide your family with an excellent harvest throughout the summer.
Another popular method of growing Colombo is planting in ridges. With this technique, which is especially popular in regions with cold climates and heavy and wet soils, the soil is well ventilated and warms up well.
For this technique you need to perform the following algorithm of actions:
- It is advisable to begin preparatory work in the fall, which requires cutting ridges approximately 12–16 cm high. Between each wave, oriented from north to south, it is necessary to maintain a distance of about 50–60 cm;
- Since organic fertilizers (especially manure) decompose very slowly, they must be applied to the ground at the same time as the formation of ridges at the rate of 3 kg/m². In spring, humus can be added to such fertilizing;
- To plant tubers, you will have to dig holes up to 7–10 cm deep in increments of about 50 cm (3 holes per 1 m).
In order for the seed material to germinate faster, you should not bury the tubers/seedlings deep into the ground. After placing young seedlings in the ground, it is advisable to cover them with agrofibre or film, which will speed up germination.
Description of the bush, tubers
Judging by the description of the Colombo potato variety, the plant is an upright growing bush, reaching a height of 50 cm. The leaves are oblong, dark green in color. The flowers are small in size, painted in light lilac tones.
The tubers reach a weight of 110 g, have a rounded-oblong shape, and a light beige color. The integumentary membrane is without roughness and has eyes located on it. The pulp is light yellow in color and becomes crumbly when cooked. The potato tastes great.
The Colombo variety is characterized by early ripening. According to reviews from potato growers, harvesting can begin 60 days after planting. Productivity in any year is always high. Under the bush there can be up to 15 tubers, reaching a good size by the time of harvesting.
On industrial plantations, 40 tons of Colombo potatoes are harvested per hectare. In the south of the Russian Federation, where the warm period lasts for a long time, it is possible to grow 2 crops per year. However, the soil is depleted.
Photo. Colombo potato variety
Colombo tubers have good taste. The amount of starch in the pulp is 15%. The tubers are stored quite well without loss of taste.
Caring for Colombo potatoes
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Caring for Colombo potatoes involves a series of standard procedures.
- 5 days after planting, it is recommended to carry out harrowing to break up the upper lumps of earth. This will allow the sprouts to break through to the surface much faster.
Watering is carried out in the evening, between the rows
- Watering is carried out in the evening, between the rows. But sprinkling for potatoes is an undesirable procedure. There is more than enough natural rain for it during the ripening period of root crops.
- Loosening the soil allows you to saturate the soil with oxygen and fluff it up so that it is easy for root crops to develop in the ground. You need to loosen the soil after watering or rain. At the same time, it is worth uprooting weeds that interfere with the growth of the crop and spread pests and diseases.
- Hilling with a hoe or hoe is done 2 times. The first time this procedure is necessary is when the sprouts reach 15 cm. A repeat procedure will be required after another 2 weeks, not earlier. This allows the potatoes to be protected from cool temperatures at night and to develop strong roots.
- Fertilizers can significantly increase the yield of these potatoes. But, since the variety ripens in just 2 months, only 2 feedings per season are enough. The first is done in the spring, before flowering. At this time, nitrogen substances are added. The second time, after flowering, you can add a potassium-phosphorus mixture.
Disease prevention is done 2 times during potato ripening
- Disease prevention is done 2 times during potato ripening. If the potatoes on the site are not usually affected by diseases, one treatment with fungicides (Fitosporin M, Gamair, Maxim) in early spring will be sufficient.
- Colombo potatoes can be affected by insects, like any other species. It is possible to prevent them, but most gardeners fight pests only after they appear. Such products are used as “Arrivo”, “Inta-Vir”, “Regent”, “Bi-58” and the like.
Interesting!
River sludge is a high-quality fertilizer that can be used on the site. It is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen, so it can be used to feed various crops.
