Potato variety White Swan: characteristics, photos, reviews, where obtained

Description of potato variety White Swan

In the description of the potato variety you can find the main characteristics of the bush and tubers. The data required for cultivation is presented below.

Bush

The White Swan potato bush is not very tall (up to 60 cm). The shoots are erect, the degree of foliage is average. Medium sized leaves and flowers. The color of the tops is dark green, the surface is wrinkled. The flowers range in shades from white to bluish.

Tubers

Each White Swan potato bush produces quite a lot of tubers - from 18 to 30 pieces. All of them are large in size, there are no small root crops, so medium-sized potatoes are selected for seeds.

The average weight of each tuber is 150-250 g, although some specimens reach 400-500 g, which is a kind of record. The peel is quite thin, the color is light pink. The eyes are violet, with a pinkish tint. The pulp is white and does not darken when cut.

The surface of the tubers is smooth

Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews about the White Swan variety

Experienced gardeners advise :

1. Regularly treat bushes with fungicidal preparations. This will avoid infection with fungi and darkening of the tubers inside. Such potatoes are unsuitable for storage and sale.
2. Do not get carried away with nitrogen fertilizers. This will increase the wateriness of the potatoes.
3. Do not store the harvested crop together with other vegetables and fruits. This increases the risk of contamination and product spoilage. It is permissible to have potatoes next to beets only.
4. A couple of apples in boxes with potatoes will help prevent germination.

Reviews about the White Swan are not always positive . The reason is the low taste qualities - watery, tasteless tubers. Many people don’t like the fact that potatoes darken when cooked. However, for sale this variety is considered one of the best, as it is large, beautiful to look at and grows quickly.

Vladimir Gordienko, Krasnodar : “Last year we planted for the first time. We are quite happy, since we got two large buckets from one bush. But many of the tubers were sprouted. This, of course, is a minus - you can’t put these in the basement, you need to eat them right away. Otherwise we are satisfied. The potatoes are clean, smooth, and have a pleasant color.”

Svetlana Kirova, Saratov : “I’ve been planting a white swan for sale for three years now. Unpretentious variety. I'm happy with everything. Buyers quickly take apart such beautiful and clean potatoes, since they actually do not need to be peeled. You can cook it and eat it like that.”

Pavel Toptunov, Bakhchisarai : “Excellent variety - I recommend it to everyone. When digging, dirt does not stick to it, which means there is no need to clear lumps of earth. Swan grows quickly and produces a harvest that no other variety has produced in our country so far.”

Characteristics of the White Swan potato

White Swan potatoes have a pleasant taste and good yield. The main characteristics of the variety are described below.

Taste qualities

The taste of potatoes is excellent, since the pulp contains a large proportion of starch - about 10-15%. Thanks to this, it boils well. The potatoes are crumbly. Suitable for making purees, potato pancakes, and, to a lesser extent, for frying.

White Swan potatoes are also distinguished by their high protein content - more than 2% by weight. It is this combination that provides high taste qualities. The composition also contains vitamins C, B1, B2 and B5. Therefore, root vegetables are not only tasty, but also healthy.

Ripening time

According to the ripening period, the White Swan potato belongs to the early varieties. From the moment of sprouting to harvesting, it takes from 80 to 90 days (depending on the weather and the characteristics of care). Therefore, if you plant tubers during the May holidays, the harvest can be harvested in mid-August. This is a completely acceptable period for most regions of Russia.

Productivity

The distinctive advantage of the White Swan potato variety is associated with its high yield. Each bush produces up to 30 large tubers. Therefore, even with minimal care, you can collect at least 3-4 kg from one plant, often 5-6 and even 10 kg. If we talk about the yield of one hundred square meters, the figure averages 400-500 kg and often more.

Where is it grown?

Potatoes of the White Swan variety are intended for cultivation in the Central region of Russia:

• middle zone, including the Moscow region;
• Volga region;
• Volga-Vyatka region;
• Chernozem region.
• Srednevolzhsky district;
• southern regions, including the North Caucasus.

The culture is quite demanding of light and moisture. The ripening period is short - within three months. Therefore, this variety can be cultivated in other regions, for example, in the Urals and in the south of Western Siberia.

Disease resistance

Another advantage of the White Swan potato variety is good immunity to common diseases. The culture is resistant to a number of fungal infections:

• late blight;
• rhizoctoniasis;
• rust;
• black mold.

Immunity to scab and black spot is less pronounced. Bushes can suffer from virus Y, as well as from Colorado potato beetles, nematodes and other pests.

High-yielding potato variety "White Swan" with large tubers

White Swan is a potato variety with large and light-colored tubers.
It is considered one of the most productive on the market. Contains a record proportion of tuberin, a valuable vegetable protein, as well as vitamin C. The tubers are perfectly boiled, although they darken a little when cooked at high temperatures. Our article contains all the details about the variety, features of agricultural technology, photos and reviews from summer residents about the White Swan.

Description of the variety

This potato variety appeared relatively recently and has not yet been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. The white swan is actively cultivated in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

Summer residents appreciate the variety for its heavy tuber weight and high yield - up to 10 kg per bush. It is not grown on a production scale in the Russian Federation.

The White Swan is characterized by:

• light large tubers with a pinkish tint of regular oval shape, weighing from 200-500 g;
• thin peel that is easy to peel off;
• high starch content;
• semi-spreading bushes of medium height;
• white color of the pulp.

The White Swan is mainly raised by private farmers and hobbyists. It ripens by September if you follow the watering regime and first take care of processing the tubers for planting.

Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins

100 g of vegetable contains:

• 11.4% carbohydrates;
• 2.84% water;
• 2.13% protein.

This variety contains the most ascorbic acid, tuberin, B1, B2, B5, B6 , potassium, calcium, silicon, magnesium and other trace elements. Potatoes traditionally contain a lot of starch (up to 36.8%), fiber, and pectin.

The predominant mineral salts in tubers are potassium and phosphorus salts , and the organic acids are citric, oxalic, and malic. White Swan makes excellent dietary dishes such as puree or crumbly boiled tubers.

Ripening period, climate requirements and disease resistance

White Swan is considered an early ripening potato - 70-90 days . Already in early autumn, it is dug out of the ground and eaten.

The variety is demanding on soil , but during pre-planting treatment of tubers it demonstrates disease resistance. Rarely susceptible to potato blight and nematode, but susceptible to late blight.

Potatoes grow in light sandy soils with a neutral or slightly acidic pH . If the acidity levels exceed the pH range of 5.5–7.0, then it is better not to plant. The variety is suitable for cultivation in the Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, Middle Volga and other regions of Russia.

The main advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the advantages of the White Swan:

• excellent presentation - white color and smooth surface, which gave the name to the culture;
• early ripeness;
• high yield.

There are also disadvantages:

• potatoes have a neutral taste, which not everyone will like;
• medium crumbly, darkens when cooked;
• Doesn't last long.

Difference from other varieties

White Swan ripens faster than other varieties and is considered not particularly demanding on soil quality. Potatoes also differ in weight: if other varieties have tubers of 100-130 g, then White Swan is much larger - up to 500 g.

Features of planting and growing

Plant potatoes when the ground warms up to +6...+9°С . Planting is carried out at a depth of 10-15 cm, the distance between the beds is 55-60 cm. On the day of planting, the tubers are cut lengthwise into three parts with eyes. Each fraction is planted separately. Renew the landing site every 2-3 years.

Preparing for landing

A month before planting, the tubers are laid out in the sun for half a day . This activates their growth. During germination, the optimal air temperature is at least +8...12°C.

Tubers are treated before planting with growth stimulants and insecto-fungicidal agents . Sometimes a solution of copper sulfate is also used. Treatment with nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers will ensure the ripening of the crop a week earlier and 7-10% more than planned.

Soil requirements

It is best to plant potatoes in black soil, flavored with manure, wood ash and superphosphate, or in sandy, loamy soil. Do not sow in dark places. This will lead to the appearance of small tubers. The soil should be moderately moist. Peat areas are not suitable for sowing.

Features of cultivation

For a bountiful harvest, it is advisable to harrow the soil and destroy weeds . Seed tubers are planted at a temperature of at least +8…+10°C.

Hilling is carried out after the appearance of 10-centimeter shoots. This procedure is performed at least three times during the entire growing season. The soil is loosened after every heavy rain.

Potato growth is stimulated:

• slurry, pet urine, stale bird droppings;
• regular watering;
• ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate in the form of fertilizer;
• loosening and hilling the soil.

Attention! No earlier than a week before harvest, the tops are mowed, leaving a minimum for reference, so that all the useful substances go to the growth of the tubers, and the peel is denser.

Nuances of care

Potatoes do not require constant care . It is necessary to occasionally weed, hill up and feed the soil, as well as ensure a normal level of humidity.

Advantages and disadvantages

White Swan potatoes are characterized by several advantages. The most obvious thing is record yields. The tubers are large, and at least 15-18 of them appear on each bush. The pulp is truly tasty. This allows you to grow crops both for yourself and for sale.

The variety is characterized by very high productivity

Pros:

• excellent taste;
• early ripening;
• medium-sized bushes (do not take up much space);
• good immunity to common diseases;
• rapid formation of tubers.

Minuses:

• no resistance to scab;
• may be affected by virus Y;
• lack of drought resistance;
• demanding care - needs additional watering;
• All tubers are large and more difficult to store.

Potato "White Swan": high-yielding new product

The White Swan potato relatively recently began to be cultivated by Russian gardeners. This new product has not yet been included in the state register and has not been zoned for cultivation in our country. Today, this potato variety has gained the greatest popularity among potato growers in the Vitebsk region.

Features and Benefits

Potato "White Swan" forms medium-thick bushes with average foliage indicators. The tubers are quite large; with proper care, the average weight of a root crop can vary from 250 to 500 g or more. The peel is relatively thin. Potatoes are white, with pink or purple eyes. When cut, the flesh is milky white in color and moderately starchy.

The variety is characterized by high productivity. At the end of the season, each potato nest consists of 15-30 large tubers. Seed and fine fractions are almost completely absent.

Landing rules

Very good predecessors for potatoes are corn, cabbage, cucumbers and various root vegetables, as well as strawberries and any legumes, except beans. The area of ​​garden plots does not always allow for proper rotation of vegetable crops, so it is advisable to prepare the soil for planting in the fall.

The best soil for potatoes is chernozem, which must be fertilized with high-quality manure, wood ash and superphosphate before planting seeds. In the prepared area, even rows should be made with a distance of 50-60 cm between them. In such rows, planting holes are dug with a depth of no more than 10-15 cm.

Almost all potato seed material called “White Swan” is imported and not certified, so high-quality pre-planting treatment of tubers requires special attention. It is very important to carefully inspect the potatoes prepared for planting and be sure to reject all suspicious specimens. Before planting, tubers are treated with growth stimulants, as well as microelements and insecto-fungicidal preparations. You can carry out pre-planting treatment of potatoes with a weak solution of copper sulfate at the rate of 2 g of the substance per 10 liters of water. The drug "Prestige" shows very high efficiency.

Features of care

The White Swan variety is very responsive to proper care and is demanding of soil and climatic conditions in the cultivation region.

For potatoes, the germination phase is an important period. To ensure that potato sprouts are not delayed in development and that the seedlings are as friendly as possible, it is recommended to harrow the soil. This allows not only to destroy weeds, but also to destroy the soil crust, which prevents the penetration of air to the root system and increases the rate of moisture evaporation.

Hilling begins after the seedlings have reached 10-15 cm in height. Hilling of plants is carried out at least three times, the last such procedure is important to perform before the potatoes bloom.

Excessive application of nitrogen-containing fertilizers can delay tuber formation and also enhance the growth of potato tops. Nesting application of manure or a solution of bird droppings under each potato bush is a more useful and economical way of feeding.

Reviews from vegetable growers

Reviews about the taste of White Swan potatoes are not very complimentary. According to the majority of potato growers, this variety is much inferior in taste and quality of potato pulp to most well-known and widespread varieties, such as “Nevsky”, “Udacha”, “Zhuravinka”, “Skarb”. In addition, the pulp is characterized by a fairly rapid color change after cooking.

Landing rules

The rules for planting potatoes of the White Swan variety are standard. The site for it is chosen to be well-lit and without flooding by groundwater, as well as without stagnation of rain moisture. If the field is in a lowland, it needs to be dug up a little to create a hill.

It is first recommended to add organic matter (compost, humus) in the amount of 7-10 kg per square meter. If the soil contains a large proportion of clay, sawdust or sand is added to it when digging (up to 1 kg for the same area).

Potatoes grow well on sandy loam soils with a neutral reaction (pH within 6-7). If the soil is too acidic, dolomite flour should be added to it (200 g per 1 m2). You can measure the indicator using indicator paper or a pH meter.

On the eve of planting (3-4 weeks before), White Swan potato tubers begin to germinate. They are laid in 2-3 layers in a cool room (15 degrees) with access to natural light, and periodically sprayed with water. On the day of planting, treat with a solution of “Fitosporin” or another fungicide.

Planting of White Swan potatoes is planned for mid-May, although in the southern regions work can be planned for the end of April. Sequencing:

1. Smooth the surface, clean from plant debris.
2. Mark several rows at 60 cm intervals.
3. Dig holes 10 cm deep. Maintain a distance of 40 cm between them.
4. Plant a tuber per hole, sprinkle a little with wood ash.
5. Lay a layer of soil and water with settled water.

Advice! White Swan potatoes grow well in warm conditions.

If there is a threat of late spring return frosts, the planting date should be postponed by 1-2 weeks. If necessary, you can use cover at night.

How to harvest and store crops

To preserve the harvest, it must be collected on time. Potatoes are harvested from the fields after the tops fall, in late August - early September. After the entire harvest is harvested, it is laid out on the ground. The tubers need to be given time to dry. After this, they are collected in a box and sent for storage.

Additional Information! Before storing potatoes, you can optionally select tubers that will be used for planting and food.

Storage features and shelf life of the White Swan variety

To better preserve the tubers, they are treated with copper sulfate.

For long-term storage of tubers:

• Boxes with potatoes are placed in a dry, cool, dark room.
• The temperature should not exceed +4 degrees, and not fall below +2 degrees.
• There should be good air circulation in the room.

In order for fruits to be stored for a long time, they must be ripe and undamaged.

Additional Information! To extend shelf life, it is advisable to store root vegetables next to fern, rowan and elderberry.

The room where the White Swan is stored must be dry and dark

Features of care

When caring for White Swan potatoes, you need to take several features into account. The culture is not drought-resistant; the plants do not tolerate heat well. If it is hot outside, watering should be given twice a week. In other cases, you can irrigate once every 7-10 days.

Potatoes are responsive to watering and fertilizers

The culture needs feeding. To do this, use organic matter - an infusion of mullein or bird droppings. It is necessary to water after planting, at the budding stage and immediately after flowering.

Hilling of White Swan potatoes is carried out at least twice per season. The first time the procedure is done after the seedlings grow to 10-15 cm. Then it is repeated 1-2 more times with an interval of 10-14 days. Moreover, the last hilling must be done before flowering.

Plantings are periodically weeded (both the furrows themselves and the inter-row spaces). At the same time, loosen the soil. This is especially important to do after heavy rains or heavy watering. Otherwise, the surface layer of soil will be compressed and the roots will lose access to air.

It is worth remembering that the White Swan potato is not immune to some diseases, so seedlings 10-15 cm high should be treated with any fungicide:

• "Bordeaux mixture";
• "Quadris";
• "Prestige";
• "Fitosporin".

White Swan potato bushes may suffer from Colorado potato beetles and other pests. Therefore, they should be periodically inspected and, if necessary, treated with insecticides:

• "Spark";
• "Fufanon";
• "Biotlin";
• "Decis".

"Fufanon" is one of the powerful drugs against common pests

Features of caring for the variety after planting

The main advantage of the White Swan is its high productivity. However, to achieve high performance it is necessary to create appropriate conditions. This also applies to the use of agricultural techniques and the application of fertilizers. Among the agrotechnical techniques that contribute to obtaining a high potato yield, the need to pick off potato flowers during the flowering period should be highlighted.

Important! Do not overuse nitrogen fertilizers during tuber formation

—
the mineral suppresses their development, but enhances the growth of green mass (tops).

Fertilizer and irrigation

During the flowering period, the seedlings are fed with nitrogen fertilizers. During the formation of ovaries, they are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate (0.05%) or boric acid. Bird droppings or manure are good as organic fertilizers. These substances have a strong effect on plants (they can burn), they should be used carefully.

You can properly prepare fertilizer based on them in this way:

1. Take 100 liters of water and 4 kg of litter or manure, stir well, place in a warm place, out of direct sunlight.
2. After some time (5–10 days), a characteristic smell will be felt, which will indicate the readiness of the product.
3. Water the pre-moistened soil around the trunk with the prepared fertilizer (1 liter of fertilizer/1 bush).

After the formation of buds, the plants are fertilized with a mixture of ash and potassium sulfate. The components are mixed and sprinkled on the rows of bushes. For 1 m of potato rows, a mixture prepared from 1/3 cup of ash and 2 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate. As for watering, under normal climatic conditions, three additional waterings are sufficient throughout the entire growth period.

These irrigations are carried out at the following stages of the growing season:

1. When the bushes grow to 8–11 cm, at this stage watering is needed for the growth of tops.
2. Flowering - to produce more tubers.
3. After flowering ends - so that the tubers are larger.

Did you know? Finding out whether the acidity of the soil in an area for growing potatoes is simple: if you notice clover, wheatgrass, dandelion and coltsfoot among the wild grass, the acidity is suitable.

If there is little rainfall in spring and summer, additional watering is necessary. On average, row spacing needs to be watered once every 7–10 days; the amount of water depends on how dry the weather is. The drip method is also used for watering potatoes. It is simple and effective.

Drip irrigation is carried out in this way:

1. Take a hose of suitable length and make holes along its entire length (diameter - 2 mm). Install a plug at one end of the hose, the other will connect to the water source.
2. Connect the free end of the hose to a source of moisture (faucet, reservoir, pump), and place the hose itself between the rows.
3. As the soil becomes moist, move the hose from one row to another.

After watering, it is necessary to harrow between the rows to avoid the formation of a crust on the soil surface.

Weeding

Weeding and hilling are the most important procedures that promote potato growth and yield. In addition, these measures prevent the emergence and development of diseases and pests.

Check out

Why do you need hilling potatoes, and how to do it correctly? The first weeding is carried out 7–10 days after the appearance of the first shoots. During the growing season, bushes should be weeded at least four times. After weeding, weeds should be removed from the area outside the garden, where they are destroyed - do not forget that these are potential sources of disease.

After the bushes reach 12–15 cm in height, they should be hilled. The procedure is carried out at least 3 times (more is possible), the last hilling should be done before the bushes bloom. Hilling is the most important activity when growing potatoes.

The procedure is carried out for the purpose of:

• an increase in the number of side shoots, respectively, a larger number of tubers;
• better protection from wind and cold;
• removing crust from the soil surface;
• weed removal;
• to prevent potatoes from turning green;
• to facilitate subsequent harvesting and care of potatoes during growth.

You can cover potato bushes with mulch (peat, hay, sawdust). In this case, hilling is not carried out, and the mulch is removed immediately before harvesting.

Disease and pest control

The extent to which the variety is able to resist diseases and pests is a controversial issue; gardeners have differing opinions on this matter. In this regard, when growing it, one should proceed from the consideration that it is better to protect the plantings from most known diseases and pests.

The most common crop diseases:

• scab;
• golden nematode.

Did you know? The nematode does not tolerate growing the following crops next to potatoes: rye, marigolds, calendula, legumes, mustard, clover. If you sow rye in the first half of September, 9 out of 10 pest larvae die in this place.

By following the rules below, you can significantly reduce the risk of these diseases:

• for planting, use only whole, undamaged tubers of the same variety;
• disinfect garden tools;
• follow the rules of crop rotation;
• do not use greenhouse soil in open-air beds;
• carefully and deeply dig up the soil in the fall, removing remnants of weeds from outside the garden;
• before planting potatoes, the tubers need to be treated with fungicides (copper sulfate solution, Albit), and the soil with urea (2 tbsp/3 m²);
• fertilizing with potassium, ash, and superphosphate increases nematode resistance;
• treat the tubers before planting with a solution of potassium permanganate (0.5 g/10 l of water);
• if cabbage was grown on the site before potatoes, you should carefully inspect the area for the presence of larvae, which often remain after this vegetable.

To treat potatoes against possible diseases, fungicides and copper-based products (vitriol) are used:

1. "Nemabakt", according to the instructions.
2. "BI-58" or 0.02% mercaptophos solution. Bushes affected by the disease are sprayed once a week.

By following the laws of crop rotation, the threat of scab development is minimized. Timely feeding with minerals is very useful for prevention. But organic matter should not be overused, especially with incompletely rotted manure. If, nevertheless, the bushes and tubers are affected by scab, Fungazil and Aquaflo are used for treatment, according to the instructions.

Read more about how to deal with potato diseases.