For many crops, including potatoes, the southern regions of our country have the best climatic conditions. Gardeners living in these areas are incredibly lucky, because for a rich harvest they do not have to put in as much effort as gardeners from middle and northern latitudes. Due to not entirely favorable weather conditions, they have to approach the choice of a variety of a particular crop with special attention. In this article we will talk about potatoes and their best varieties for growing in the Moscow region.
The best varieties by ripening time
The choice of potato planting material, in addition to other criteria, should also be based on how long the crop will take to ripen.
To achieve greater potato yields, potato growers advise picking off the flowers of the plant at the beginning of the budding phase. This ensures that beneficial substances accumulate in the fruits and are not consumed by the flowers.
Early ripening
Potatoes are considered early ripening, the period of fruit ripening is 70-80 days, but if necessary, they can be harvested even 50-60 days after planting. These include “Ariel”, “Timo”, “Riviera”, “Izora”, “Anosta”, “Detskoselsky”, “Antonina”, “Krepysh”, “Red Scarlett”.
Mid-season
“Riddle of Peter”, “Kolobok”, “Pirol”, “Skarb”, “Rosinka”, “Coretta”, “Lugovskaya”, “Saturna”, and other varieties of potatoes are classified as mid-season varieties. The listed crops are distinguished by good yields, fairly long shelf life, and most importantly, excellent taste.
The ripening period of these varieties ranges from 90 to 110 days.
Late ripening
The most popular representative of this category is the Zdabytak potato. This also includes “Asterix”, “Crane”, “Seagull”, “Atlanta”, “Lorch”, “Zarnitsa”, etc.
Experienced gardeners warn that growing late-ripening potato representatives in Russian conditions should be treated with extreme caution. The fact is that the climate does not always allow time to harvest
The best varieties by yield
An important factor when choosing potato seeds for subsequent cultivation is the yield indicators of a particular type of crop, because yield is one of the main goals pursued by every potato grower, even an amateur.
Early
One of the most generous early potato varieties for yield is Red Scarlett.
About 450-600 centners of fruit can be collected from one hectare of crop planting. Productivity depends not so much on the plant itself, but on the efforts of the gardener and the climate of the region.
Among the high-yielding leaders are o (250-420 c/ha), “Zhukovsky early” (300-600 c/ha), “Bellarose” (from 320 c/ha), “Roko” (about 400 c/ha), “Visa” "(approximately 500 c/ha). “Timo” is not only distinguished by its high yield (350-600 c/ha), it leads the potato varieties that are the most resistant to disease. Potato growers who grow early potatoes should know that breeders have specifically bred crop varieties that do not bloom. This is due to the fact that the plant spends too much effort, energy and nutrients on flowering, and early ripening potato species simply do not have time for all this. Therefore, before choosing planting material, it is worth considering the fact which potato variety does not bloom. These, for example, include “Timo”, “Empress”, “Roko”.
Average
The category of the most productive mid-season potato varieties includes “Peter’s Mystery” (180-300 c/ha), “Kolobok”, “Pirol” (180-220 c/ha).
Late
High yields of late potatoes can be achieved by growing the following varieties: “Zarnitsa” (530 c/ha), “Suzorye” (about 550 c/ha), “Sintez” (550 c/ha), “Orbita” (340 c/ha). ha), "Vytok" (about 420 c/ha).
Features of variety selection
The Moscow region, more often called the Moscow region, is a fairly vast territory that surrounds Moscow and ends at the border with neighboring regions. When growing potatoes in the Moscow region, it is not always possible to achieve the desired results. But you can increase your chances of getting a bountiful harvest by choosing the right variety of planting material. Moreover, there are quite a lot of potato varieties from both ours and foreign breeders and gardeners will have plenty to choose from.
When choosing a variety, you should pay attention to factors such as:
- Terms of ripening. The climate of the Moscow region does not allow the use of varieties with late ripening periods for planting. With traditional planting at the end of April - beginning of May, these varieties simply do not have time to ripen. Preference should be given to early, mid-early and mid-ripening varieties.
- Geographical location. When planting, you should choose only potato varieties zoned for the Moscow region. Zoning is compiled taking into account the composition of the soil of a particular territory and its climatic characteristics.
- Disease resistance. The peculiarities of the climate and soil of the Moscow region often provoke various potato diseases, as well as their infection by all kinds of pests. Therefore, when choosing a variety, you should pay attention to its immunity to disease.
Important!
You should not believe sellers who claim that a particular variety is not capable of developing late blight. To date, there is not a single variety that has 100% immunity to this ill-fated disease.
Below we will look at the best potato varieties for the Moscow region, selected taking into account all these factors.
The best potato varieties for the Moscow region
The following varieties best meet the listed conditions, and I will delight you with a good harvest.
- Potato variety Priekulsky early. It is one of the earliest varieties. The mass of tubers can reach 100g. It is well stored and does not lose its presentation during transportation. Has resistance to cancer. Susceptibility to late blight is leveled out by early ripening, until the disease spreads.
- Potato variety Early rose. One of the best tasting early varieties. The mass of the tuber often reaches 120g. The eyes are sparse and superficial. It has the widest regionalization due to its taste.
- Potato variety Phalensky. A very productive early potato variety. The tubers reach a weight of 170g. every. It has good keeping quality and presentation, but in rare cases it can develop cracks and voids. Has resistance to cancer.
- Potato variety Penza early ripening. Early potato variety. The mass of the tuber reaches 150g. average. It has good taste and presentation. Relatively resistant to most diseases, as well as to dry periods.
- Potato variety Detskoselsky. Fruitful early variety. The tubers have a flat shape and an average weight of up to 100g. Gives high yields when fertilizers are applied to the soil. Well protected from various potato diseases.
- Potato variety Provento. Fruitful mid-season variety. The color of the pulp and peel is yellow. It has good keeping quality and presentation. Resistant to most potato diseases and some pests, such as nematodes.
- Ostara potato variety. A productive variety of early potatoes. It has large tubers with cream-colored pulp. The number of ocelli is relatively small. It has excellent taste parameters and good resistance to a number of diseases.
- Potato variety Favorite. High-yielding variety with good taste. Potato tubers are quite large, weighing up to 190g. Has average keeping quality. Resistant to most diseases and viruses.
- Potato variety Lorch. A common late-early potato variety. The tubers grow round, less often oval. The weight of each can reach 120g. It has excellent taste and shelf life. Resistant to a number of viruses and bacteriosis.
- Potato variety Lugovskoy. Mid-season potato variety with stable yield. The tubers reach a weight of 150g. under good conditions and care. Retains the presentation of tubers for a long time and has good taste parameters. Resistant to cancer and moderately resistant to viral diseases.
- Potato variety Nevsky. Early variety with high yield. Famous for its taste parameters and long shelf life. Tubers grow weighing up to 130g. It is not recommended to use for pureeing or frying. It is highly resistant to most diseases.
- Potato variety Magician. An early variety of domestic selection, resistant to drought conditions. The average weight of tubers is 120g, but under good conditions it can be much more. It is considered one of the most delicious varieties. Resistant to nematodes and scab.
- Potato variety Sineglazka. Mid-season variety, common among amateur gardeners. It has remarkable disease resistance and stores very well in small quantities, but difficulties arise when storing in large quantities.
- Potato variety Luck. Early drought-resistant variety with stable yield. Potato fruits are large, reaching 200g. It has very good shelf life and a percentage of marketable tubers per bush (up to 100% if grown correctly). Resistant to physical damage, viral diseases, rhizoctonia, wrinkled mosaic, black leg, wet rot.
- Potato variety Zhukovsky early. Ultra-early variety with stable yield. The weight of the tubers reaches 150g. Very tasty with good transportability and keeping quality. Resistant to nematodes, potato blight and scab.
Criteria for choosing potatoes for planting
Experienced gardeners identify several criteria by which to choose one or another potato. It is important that the species be resistant to pathogens, germinate only during the warming period, and also be classified as early, mid-early or late-early. If the tubers begin to ripen late, they may not germinate at all as a result of a change in weather towards cooling and may not bring the desired harvest. Also, when grown in July, they can be affected by late blight, which is best prevented in advance.
The best potato varieties for the Moscow region: Zhukovsky early, Priekulsky early, Early Rose, Falensky, Gala, Detskoselsky, Udacha, Sineglazka, Lugovskoy, Nevsky, Lorkh, Peredovik. They are characterized by high yields and are frost-resistant, however, they may be susceptible to some diseases. For this reason, it is recommended to immerse the seeds in a manganese-based solution before planting in order to prevent the slightest appearance of diseases or parasitic insects.
Where can potatoes be grown?
Speaking about where potatoes can be planted, one cannot fail to emphasize the fact that potatoes rank fifth in nutritional value after such well-known grain crops as corn, wheat, as well as barley and rice.
The peculiarity of this vegetable is that it is grown on absolutely all continents, including Antarctica. The main leaders among the states that cultivate this crop are considered to be not only the USA and the Russian Federation, but also Belarus and India.
Of course, growing potatoes is a labor-intensive process that requires a lot of free time, but due to the fact that it is a universal food product, its popularity is only growing every year.
That is why the question of how to plant potatoes remains always popular. Many people are accustomed to planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor, but fertilizer for potatoes also has a great influence.
When are potato treatments carried out against late blight?
The timing of preventive treatments of potatoes against late blight is as follows:
- When the first sprouts appear, it is recommended to treat the soil in the potato beds with the Shirlan contact preparation. This treatment is carried out in order to prevent the possibility of early damage to potato bushes by late blight. After treatment, the fungal spores will stop moving through the capillary vessels from the affected root crops to the soil surface, in this case the growing bushes will remain healthy;
- The second treatment of potatoes against late blight is carried out 1.5 weeks after the first, but before the start of flowering. In this case, systemic substances are used, which include phenylamides (Unomil or Ridomil Gold);
- final treatment of potatoes is carried out with the drug Shirlan, which protects ripening tubers from late blight;
- During the summer season, the potato plantation must be treated for preventive purposes at least 6 times, with the interval between spraying being 1.5 weeks. If it rains constantly at the end of summer - beginning of autumn, then the interval between treatments is reduced to 5 days;
- The last treatment with chemicals should be carried out 18-20 days before harvesting root crops, no later.
Planting potatoes and treating late blight - video
The most famous early varieties
Sedov
Tall. The flowers are white. Stores well. The tuber is white, weighing up to 140 g.
Arrow
Arrow
Dutch variety. The harvest can be harvested 2 times - 35 - 60 t/ha. The tubers are yellow on the outside. When cooked, the pulp does not darken. Crumbly.
Delicious. Disease resistant.
Dnepryanka
Dnepryanka
Ukrainian variety. Can be collected 2 times per season. Yellow both inside and outside. Doesn't darken after cooking. Resistant to diseases.
Impala
Impala
Drought resistant. In regions with a warm climate, you can harvest 2 crops. It has good gastronomic qualities. Productivity – 15 – 35 t/ha. Tall. The flowers are white.
Potatoes are yellow inside and out. One plant produces up to 13 tubers. Not resistant to late blight.
Domodedovo
To plant this variety, fertile soil is required. The inside of the tuber is white. Under one bush you can collect up to 16 pieces, weighing up to an average of 100 g.
Coleta
Coleta
In warm regions of the country, you can harvest 2 crops per season. Productivity – 23 – 45 t/ha. The taste is pleasant. The peel is white. The pulp is yellow. Under favorable conditions it can be stored for a long time.
Resistant to many diseases.
Blame it
Blame it
Productivity – 25 – 40 t/ha. Tall. Flowers, purple tubers. The pulp is creamy. It has a pleasant taste. Resistant to many diseases.
Red Scarlett
Red Scarlett
Dutch variety. Short. The flowers are purple. The tubers are large, red on the outside, yellow on the inside. High-yielding – up to 50 t/ha. Not susceptible to late blight.
Vyatka
Vyatka
Obtained by Russian breeders. It has good gastronomic qualities. Cream-colored potatoes, weighing up to 140 g.
On the cut it is white. The flowers are purple, with a blue tint. Does not turn black when cooked.
Vineta
Vineta
German variety. The flowers are white. Potatoes are yellow. On one plant it grows up to 12 pieces. Productivity – 40 t/ha. Resistant to diseases.
Fresco
Fresco
Dutch variety. Suitable for growing for industrial purposes. Bushes of medium height. The tuber is yellow outside and inside. High-yielding – 23–42 t/ha.
Crumbly. Resistant to many nightshade diseases.
Svyatkova
Svyatkova
An abundant harvest of this variety can be obtained in regions with a warm climate - 50 t/ha. Peel color is white. The pulp is light straw-colored.
Has good disease resistance.
Rosalind
Rosalind
Well suited for growing in summer cottages. High-yielding – 50 t/ha. Not demanding. Does not turn black after heat treatment. The peel is red. The tubers are yellow inside.
You can collect up to 16 pieces from one plant. The taste is pleasant. It is not susceptible to many diseases.
Serpanok
Serpanok
High-yielding – 40 t/ha. In the southern regions, the harvest can be harvested 2 times. Tall. The skin is red. The pulp is yellow. The taste is pleasant. The flowers are purple with a blue tint.
Can be stored under appropriate conditions. Resistant to bacterial rot, cancer, nematode.
Early varieties are planted for cooking immediately after they have been dug. They are not suitable for long-term storage.
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Harvesting, transportability and storage
The potato crop is harvested when the tops dry out. In the Moscow region, harvesting begins in mid-June, since early varieties are often planted here. You should not delay this procedure if ripe fruits lie in the ground for a long time, they give up some of their beneficial properties and become looser
Therefore, it is important to observe timing, especially when planting different varieties; each has its own ripening time.
Harvesting occurs in several stages:
- 7-10 days before harvesting, it is worth cutting off the tops so that the last week of the plant’s energy is spent on ripening the fruits.
- Carefully dig up the beds to make it easier to remove root crops without damaging them.
- Place the dug up potatoes on bags, newspapers or fabric material to dry.
- After harvesting, the empty crop area is compared, sometimes immediately prepared for the next season.
- Potatoes are sorted, sorting seed for planting.
Transportation of root crops has some features:
- the place of transportation must be dry with constant air circulation;
- the temperature during transportation should be within 12-14 °C, large changes should not be allowed;
- If the car body is open, the crop should be covered with waterproof material and insulated if the temperature outside is low.
Before storage, vegetables are dried in a warm room, then sent to the basement or cellar, packaged in bags or boxes.
Important! In order for potatoes to be stored for a long time, the room must be well ventilated and not be too cold or damp. Suitable temperature for long-term storage is 4-5 °C
The temperature must be constantly maintained so that the tubers do not spoil. It is also necessary to sort through the potatoes from time to time, throwing out rotting roots.
Below are lists of the most suitable varieties for growing in the Moscow region.
I bought Velina potato seeds, what can you tell me? did you plant potatoes with seeds?
Olesya
you need to grow seedlings like tomatoes, but potato seedlings are more tender, and you need to plant seedlings here in Western Siberia at the beginning of April on the 10th, in the soil on the 10th of June 50 * 50 per bed, if planted earlier, then cover with something from return frosts, in the second year plant tubers that will grow in the first and get a good harvest, the tubers will be smooth and disease-free.
New day
Once I cooked it. It is better to do this with seedlings, planting seeds in pots. Potato seeds for seedlings are sown in late March - early April. Shoots appear in about a week. Before planting in the ground, seedlings need to be hardened off and taken out into the open air. By the time of planting in the ground, good seedlings should have 5-6 leaves and reach a height of 12-15 cm. Plant in open ground when the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up sufficiently.
Where and when is it formed?
The causative agent of scab is in the soil, so it is not always possible to completely destroy it. The bacteria mainly overwinter in fallen leaves, and the peak of the disease worsens in the spring, when it becomes warm and humid outside.
Also, for the successful development of such a disease, certain parameters are important:
- air temperature +25-30°C;
- sandy, loose, dry soil;
- the presence of a large amount of organic fertilizers in the soil, in particular humus;
- alkaline earth;
- lack of manganese and boron in the soil, and an excess of calcium and nitrogen;
- air humidity not less than 70%;
- lack of immunity in the root crop to this disease.
The best potato varieties
Below are selected the most successful cultivations for potato varieties in Russia. A brief description of them is also given, which will still allow you to select the potato variety suitable for your particular cultivation.
Potato variety Zhukovsky This
early early ripening variety, ripening time 75-80 Variety. days is very plastic, easily adapts to different soils and growing climatic conditions. After planting in the ground, the tubers sprout very quickly, even at low temperatures. The fruits store well and have excellent taste. Tubers weigh 100-110 g. The variety is resistant to various diseases.
Variety Spring white
This variety also belongs to the early ripening varieties. Ripening time is 75-80 days, although the first digging can already be done on the 60th day. The variety is distinguished by high tubers and marketability. Mainly, roll-shaped, weighing up to Stored gr. 180 is good, but, in most cases, it is used as food, early fresh potatoes. Moderately resistant to various diseases.
Potato varietyTimo Hankkiyan
one Another early-ripening potato variety. This variety was bred in Finland. Refers to table varieties. good, characterized by productivity, can be grown on all types of soil. The tubers are white, round, and have good shelf life. Fruit weight is on average 100 g. The fruits ripen together. The variety is resistant to large changes in humidity temperature or, conversely, drought. diseases to Resistant.
Variety Luck
The variety Udacha is an early ripening table variety. It enjoys great popularity due to its productivity and good taste. Although the variety is early ripening, the tubers store well and are suitable for both summer and winter consumption. Tubers are white, oval, 100, weighing 120 g. The variety produces fruitful plants already, and you can start sprouting in June. It is stable. dig into most diseases and the defeat of Colorado Contents. starch beetle is 12-15%.
Variety Variety
Sante Sante of Dutch selection, mid-early - 80-90 days of ripening, high-yielding, universal use. The tubers are oval, large in shape, yellow in color, with light yellow flesh. Tall bush, Variety. erect is resistant to most diseases. Suitable Excellent for making French fries.
potato varietyCondor
This variety was also bred in Holland. Refers to mid-early table varieties of 80-90 days of ripening. The tubers are oval, red in color with yellow flesh, weighing 100-180 g. It has excellent taste. Has good keeping quality. starch content up to 14%. Productivity is high - up to 330 hectares per centner. Resistant to most diseases, except Cv.
Late blight Romano
Another representative of the school of Dutch selection. Belongs to the mid-early varieties of Tuber. ripe, regular oval shape, weighing 70-80 g, pink in color, flesh light creamy taste. The color of the tubers is excellent. Drought resistant. scab Affected by ordinary scab.
Potato variety Nevsky
one of the best varieties of Russian selection. often serves as a standard for assessing yield, keeping quality, and starch content of other potato varieties. Refers to mid-early table varieties. low bush, branched. The tubers are oval in shape, weighing 150 to grams, the skin is white, and the flesh is white. The variety is distinguished by high taste qualities, high yield, excellent content, starch keeping quality reaches 17%. Resistant to most diseases. The variety is recommended for cultivation in all regions of Russia.
Variety Fairy Tale
Mid-early table variety, destination variety. The bush is low and erect. high yield. The tubers are oval-shaped, yellow-white with colored flesh, weighing from 80 to 130 g. Contents Keeping quality from 13 to 17%. tuber starch is high. The variety is susceptible to the golden nematode pathogen.
Potato variety Lugovskoy
Lugovskoy Variety belongs to the mid-season (90-110 days) table varieties. Bush of medium height, erect. high yield. The tubers are oval-shaped, pink flesh, white in color, tuber weight up to 125 g. taste Excellent quality. Starch content up to 19%. The variety is resistant to most viral diseases. Grown in most regions of Russia.
Variety Agria
The variety Agria belongs to the medium-late ripening varieties - 110 days 120. A variety of universal use. Productivity is stable and high in different growing regions. The tubers are oval in shape, weighing up to 140 g. Starch content up to Flavor. 16% quality is good. The variety is resistant to the late blight nematode.
Principles of protection and struggle
However, the positive point in this situation is the fact that scab can and should be fought . To do this, a whole range of measures must be planned for the treatment of root crops.
How to get rid of it?
- For planting, choose a variety that is resistant to scab and suitable for the conditions of your region.
- Before planting, tubers should be carefully examined; sick ones should not be planted.
- Store potatoes in a cool, dry place.
- Poison root seeds with strong chemicals. For example, Maxim, Fitosporin, Polycarbocin.
- Try to change where you plant potatoes. After all, pathogenic microorganisms can live in one place for up to 5 years.
- Do not plant potatoes in a bed where carrots and beets grew, because they also suffer from this disease.
- After entry and during flowering, treat the bushes with growth stimulants Epin and Zircon.
- Fresh manure should not be added to the soil before planting.
How to treat the earth?
After harvesting the potatoes, in the fall the beds should be planted with green manure, for which it is better to use mustard, legumes or cereals.
They are natural antiseptics and disinfectants, prevent the proliferation of pathogenic fungi, and protect crops from attack by harmful insects.
When the synderata grow by about 20 cm, the area is dug up, mixing the sprouts with soil. In spring, you can sprinkle mustard powder on the soil.
Because scab develops well in alkaline soils with a lack of manganese and boron. Therefore, it is recommended to add the following types of mineral fertilizers to the soil in spring:
- ammonium sulfate;
- superphosphate;
- potassium magnesia;
- copper sulfate;
- manganese sulfate;
- boric acid.
Diseases and parasites
According to the characteristics of the Unica potato described above, the plant has high immunity. However, if the rules of care are not followed, the bushes are still susceptible to diseases such as scab, late blight, and powdery mildew. Let's look at the description of each disease.
Scab
Scab is a fungal infection that causes damage to the tubers, root system and stems of the plant, which are located underground. Since it is impossible to notice damage to bushes underground, it is worth paying attention to the external characteristics of the disease: infected potatoes become covered with small spots, and also slow down in growth and development.
Late blight
Late blight, or brown rot, is a disease that results in the loss of almost the entire harvest of the Unika variety. As a rule, the disease manifests itself on potato tubers. However, the infection can also appear on the tops of the bushes: brown spots and white plaque appear on the stems and leaves, and the tubers become covered with gray spots.
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that appears as a result of increased humidity and temperature. As a rule, powdery mildew affects the tops of bushes (stems and leaves), as a result of which the tubers stop growing and developing.
The main symptoms of powdery mildew are the formation of small round spots of brown color, as well as the appearance of a white coating on the back of the leaves.
Pests and diseases
The most common disease is late blight. Not a single variety has 100% immunity to this disease. The best method of control will be preventive treatment with special preparations. When the first signs appear, the affected tops should be removed and the plant treated. Potatoes are also often affected by common scab, which leads to the formation of ulcers and warts on the surface.
Pests also cause great damage to the crop. The most common is the Colorado potato beetle. After the beetles and larvae eat the leaves and tops, they move into the ground and destroy the tubers.
Timely spraying with chlorophos or another special preparation will save the crop. Treatments are stopped approximately a month before harvesting. Wireworms can also damage tubers.
The larvae love wheatgrass, so it is important to carry out timely weeding. Regular liming of the soil when digging will help remove this pest from the soil.
As you can see, today gardeners have a large number of early potato varieties to choose from for planting in the Moscow region. With the right choice and proper care, even in such difficult conditions you can get a tasty, good result. But you should also not forget about compliance with the rules of agricultural technology, because no matter how good a variety is chosen, without caring for it, you will not get a harvest.
The best potato varieties for the Leningrad region
First of all, in the Leningrad region you need to take into account high humidity and a small number of sunny days. The warmth lasts from late May to mid-September.
Spring is white
Tubers of medium and large size reach up to 140 g. The variety is sensitive to late blight, but is resistant to Alternaria, scab and most possible viruses.
Aurora
One of the most popular varieties in Russia gives a stable yield of up to 300 centners per hectare of land. Moreover, the weight of one oval-shaped fruit ranges from 90 to 150 g.
Naiad
Medium sized oval potatoes up to 125g with smooth yellow skin and white flesh are suitable for sale. It is immune to cancer and highly resistant to nematodes.
Pushkinets
A very productive variety produces medium-sized tubers - up to 105 g, but up to 32 tons of crop are harvested per hectare. It has excellent taste, resistance to nematodes and cancer, and beautiful snow-white flesh.
Latona
One of the most productive varieties produces a record 50 tons per hectare, and the tubers themselves are large - up to 140 g. The variety tolerates both constant rain and hot drought.
Why are potatoes affected by late blight?
Phytophthora fungus spores can spread through areas in the following ways:
- with the help of the wind;
- rodents;
- a person carries them on his shoes or clothes;
- pets;
- birds;
- with the help of insects - the Colorado potato beetle, various butterflies.
Photo of potatoes affected by late blight
Phytophthora fungus can be introduced into the soil:
- if infected planting material is planted in the beds, late blight may not appear on it immediately;
- when using undisinfected garden tools or containers;
- if compost is used as a top dressing, in which tops affected by late blight were placed;
- with affected mullein;
- if irrigation is carried out with contaminated water from artificial reservoirs or containers;
- If conditions favorable for the development of fungal spores arise, the air temperature decreases and the rainy season begins.
The best tasty varieties of potatoes that give a high yield
According to the speed of their ripening, all varieties can be divided into early, mid-ripening and late. Let's look at the most productive and delicious “representatives” of each category.
Early
Early potatoes take 70-80 days to mature. The most popular and productive varieties of this species are.
Khabinsky early
Has excellent taste. Its root crops reach a weight of 100-150 g and are distinguished by pinkish skin. Fruits well at relatively low temperatures.
Alyona
High yield. It has oblong oval-shaped tubers that reach a weight of 140 g. It is widely used in table settings, as it has an excellent taste. The peel has a red tint.
Impala
A very early variety with a good harvest. The peel is usually yellow in color. The tubers are large in size with an oval shape and small eyes. Fruit weight is about 90-150 g. Resistant to viruses. A very tasty variety. Read more here.
Mid-season
Varieties from this group bear fruit in 80-120 days on average. Based on the speed of maturation, this group is conventionally divided into two subgroups: mid-early and mid-late. Let's consider each subgroup and its representatives separately.
First group
The first group includes mid-early varieties. The ripening speed of this species is 80-100 days on average. The most popular and fruitful varieties of this class are.
Detskoselsky
Mid-early potato variety with high yield. It has elongated oval tubers weighing 100-110 g. The peel has a pink tint, small eyes and white flesh.
Amorosa
Mid-early. It has yellow flesh and a reddish skin. Tubers with small eyes. High yield. The root vegetable is oblong with an oval shape.
Fairy tale
Very productive mid-early variety Skazka. It has excellent taste. The tubers have a beautiful round shape with very small eyes. The peel and pulp are light in color.
Axon
High harvest. The root crop is oblong and oval in shape. Very beautiful in appearance: it has a red skin with medium eyes, and the flesh is creamy. It has excellent taste.
Lugovskoy
The peel of this variety is light pink. Super-yielding variety Lugovskoy. The tubers are very large with an oval shape. There are small eyes. Also very tasty.
Second group
The second group includes mid-late varieties. This class of potato takes longer to fully ripen, averaging 100-120 days. Its high-yielding representatives are.
Lorch
Most often, Lorch tubers have a beautiful round shape, but sometimes they are oval. The peel is usually a light beige color. Small eyes, white flesh and excellent taste. Note that this is the most perennial Russian variety of them preserved.
Crisper
This variety is known for being great for making chips. It tastes perfect. The peel is yellow and has small eyes. The fruits are oval or round in shape. Weight is 80-150 g.
Sante
The fruits of this potato are large in size and oval in shape. The peel and pulp are yellow in color. There are small eyes on the surface. Note that this variety requires more space between rows.
Late
This type is characterized by a longer ripening period, about 120-130 days. Prominent representatives of the late group are.
Mondeo
It is characterized by oval tubers with small dots, light flesh and a yellowish skin. The weight of the fruit is 105-150 g. It has an incomparable taste.
Pace
This is a high-yielding late potato variety with yellow tubers and creamy flesh. Differs in starch level of 22%. It overcomes infectious diseases very well and is excellent for long-term storage.
Simple Red
The variety is distinguished by beautiful tubers with a red tint. Its starch level is about 19%. The flesh is creamy. The fruits are medium in size and oval in shape. It is notable for the fact that it does not become soggy when cooked.
How to detect?
The appearance of this disease is noted on tubers, trunks, leaves and even flowers.
The microscopic parasite infects the skin and looks like dark, dry spots that are unpleasant to the touch. As the disease develops, the fruits become deformed, the leaves become weak and fall off prematurely.
Unfortunately, the disease is practically not diagnosed in the early stages. It can be recognized only after potato tubers are dug out of the ground.
Scab actively progresses in damp, rainy weather. This is due to the fact that fungal spores develop in a liquid-droplet environment, where after one tuber is damaged, it spreads to the next one until everyone gets sick.
Features of planting and growing in different climatic zones
Growing potatoes in different climatic zones has its own characteristics. In order to avoid making an annoying mistake and not being left without an early harvest, you need to choose varieties suitable for growing in a particular area.
Middle lane
Central Russia is its European part, characterized by a moderate continental climate, snowy and frosty winters and humid summers. Average daily temperatures throughout the year range from -10°C to +24°C. The soils are not very rich in nutrients. Potatoes are often susceptible to diseases due to high humidity. Late varieties do not have time to form fruits. Therefore, for growing here you need to choose early varieties with better adaptation to any type of soil. Most popular in the middle zone:
- Vyatka;
- Arina;
- Spring;
- Ural early;
- Zhukovsky early;
- Uladar;
- Red Scarlett;
- Volzhanin;
- Nevsky.
Nevsky is the most common variety in Russia
Moscow region
The climate of the Moscow region also does not allow the cultivation of late potato varieties, because planting is carried out in late April - early May. Local vegetable growers have to choose from early, mid-early and mid-ripening. It is necessary to grow zoned varieties adapted to local climatic conditions. Since the soil and climate of the Moscow region often cause the spread of potato diseases, you need to choose varieties that have good immunity. Early Zhukovsky is suitable for this region, as it has good disease resistance and can grow in any climatic conditions and on any soil. In addition, the following varieties grow successfully in the Moscow region:
- Gala;
- Nevsky;
- Red Scarlett;
- Rosara;
- Uladar;
- Caprice.
Caprice is very unpretentious to grow
Southern regions
The southern regions are not the most favorable area for growing potatoes due to the too warm climate. Potatoes grow well in moderate humidity and average temperatures. In hot weather, the processes of growth and formation of tubers slow down. The soils in the south are predominantly dense chernozems. They interfere with the normal growth of tubers and cause their deformation. Nevertheless, potatoes are grown quite successfully in the southern regions, choosing varieties that are zoned and well adapted to elevated temperatures and black soil:
- Impala;
- Zhukovsky early;
- Good luck;
- Red Scarlett;
- Dita;
- Rocko;
- Romano;
- Picasso.
Romano can grow in any soil
Far East
The climate of the Far Eastern region is contrasting, but in general it is too cold for growing potatoes: the average daily temperature in July is only +11...+13.5°C. However, daylight hours are long; in July-August their duration is about 19 hours. Thanks to this, the plants have time to increase green mass and even form tubers, but only ultra-early varieties with the shortest growing season. Late potato cultivation is not expected in the Far East, since the frost-free period here lasts from 52 to 111 days. Suitable for growing in this area:
- Priekulsky early;
- Yenisei;
- Spring;
- Falensky;
- Amur and others.
The short growing season allows you to grow Vesna even in the Arctic
Central Black Earth Region
The mild climate of the Central Black Earth Region is the most favorable conditions for growing potatoes. 55 varieties of this vegetable are cultivated here. Compared to the Moscow region, the yield here is a third higher. Good weather conditions allow for two harvests per season. And yet, experts recommend growing only zoned varieties to obtain high yields and save fertilizers and pesticides. The most common varieties here are Red Scarlett, Ramos and Nevsky.
Red Scarlett is a widespread variety in Kuban
Signs of late blight on potatoes
As for potatoes, the lower foliage is first affected and brownish-brown spots form on it. On the back side you can find a white coating - fungal spores. Over time, the manifestations of the disease spread throughout the plant, including the stem. After a few days, the green part darkens, dries and curls. At the same time, the fruit itself is affected; it is important to know how the disease manifests itself on the root crop, because it is the source of infection of neighboring tubers. The vegetable becomes covered with dark and compacted spots, which later turns into rot.
Why is late blight dangerous for potatoes and humans?
I was not surprised when I read that up to 25% of the crop is lost annually due to late blight. In rainy, cool years, gardeners lose much more. Under favorable conditions, late blight spreads very quickly, is transferred to other crops, and enters the ground and water. Spores remain viable in soil and compost for at least 4 years.
Against the background of putrefactive lesions, other diseases develop; spots are the gateway for other infections. The chemicals used by some farmers to disinfect harvested root vegetables end up in the pulp. It is not safe to eat such potatoes.
Treatment of potatoes for late blight
From personal experience I know that the best control measures are prevention. Basic measures to reduce the risk of late blight infection:
- In late autumn, I always treat all buckets, rakes, shovels, and other equipment with a concentrated solution of furatsilin or potassium permanganate.
- In spring, the seed must be greened and kept in the sun for several days. The corned beef formed under the skin is poisonous; such tubers rarely get sick. When planting, neighbors throw a handful of a mixture of wood ash and Fitosporin into the holes in a 4:1 ratio. Agronomists advise carrying out fungicidal treatment: keeping the tubers prepared for planting in a solution of preparations for up to 30 minutes.
- If the fungus appears among your neighbors or on greenhouse nightshades, you need to urgently treat the potato plantings, then it will be too late.
- In the place where I plant tubers every year, I sow rye every fall. In the spring, green manure sprouts are embedded in the soil when digging. This is an effective way to improve the health of the land, plus fertilizing. I noticed that as soon as you don’t sow the rye, the potatoes store worse. No, no, you might come across a tuber with foulbrood.
Is it possible to eat potatoes infected with late blight?
It is undesirable to eat an infected product, because the affected areas change not only their structure, but also their nutritional properties. In order to save money, it is allowed to feed such root crops to animals, after first removing the changed parts and subjecting the product to heat treatment.
A responsible approach to care and harvesting significantly reduces the likelihood of late blight. Select phytoresistant potato varieties, adhere to agrotechnical standards, and regularly carry out preventive measures against the development of fungi.
Processing times
It is recommended to treat fields when the first signs of the disease appear. But treatments up to this point are considered more effective. It is important to monitor temperature and humidity indicators, because they directly determine the start of infection.
Conditions for the development of late blight include:
- high humidity combined with low temperatures;
- budding and beginning of flowering.
Based on this, measures should be taken before and after the above points in order to exclude any manifestations of the disease. It is also possible to carry out regular treatments taking into account the duration of the drug used, so copper-containing substances protect the plant for 10 days, and Ridomil in combination with mancozeb - 12 days, provided there is no precipitation. It is interesting that each of the methods brings the same result, but in the second case high costs are required for medicinal solutions.