There are about 5 thousand varieties of potatoes, and new ones appear regularly. In 2022, 426 new products were admitted to the Russian Register of Varieties. Madeira potatoes are one of them. It was created by one of the leaders in European seed potato breeding - the German company Europlant.
Europlant is famous for its careful approach to the selection of varietal material. Each variety, before it hits the market, is given 8-9 years of breeding work. Famous works of this originator: potatoes Bernina, Captiva, Madison, Donata, Ricarda, etc.
Madeira potatoes
History of selection
Madeira potatoes became available for sale in Europe in the early 2010s. The variety was bred by breeders of the company Europlant Pflanzenzucht GMBH, for brevity most often called simply “Europlant”. She specializes in potatoes and has a thoughtful and thorough approach to her work. The creation of a new variety takes 8-10 years.
An application for registration of Madeira potatoes in the Russian Federation was submitted in 2014. In three years, it successfully passed all the necessary variety tests and was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. Now you can buy tubers produced not only by the originator, but also by its Russian subsidiaries - RusEuroPlant JSC and RusEuroPlant-Trade LLC. Licenses are also issued to domestic companies, for example, Agrosfera LLC.
Important! The company that created the Madeira potato is well known to gardeners for its varieties Bernina, Richarda, Madison, Donata, and Captiva.
Video
Madeira is one of the most popular holiday destinations on our planet. Royalty and celebrities, show business stars and actors love to come here. Pristine forests and ancient temples have been preserved here, there are picturesque mountains and waterfalls, stunning beaches and museums.
The Madeira Archipelago consists of several landmasses that together form an autonomous region. There are both inhabited islands (for example, Porto Santo, Selvagens, Ilhas Desertas, etc.) and uninhabited ones, where nature reserves have been created.
The total area of Madeira is 801 square meters. km, its maximum width reaches 27 km, and its length is 57 km. About 20% of the territory is occupied by laurisilva forests, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Relict, rare, and endemic plant species grow here (more than 1220) and rare species of animals, birds, insects and fish live here, for example, the Madeiran pigeon, black saber fish and monk seal.
Where is Madeira Island?
If you look at the world map, you can see that the island of Madeira is located off the northwestern coast of Africa and is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The distance to the nearest point in Portugal is about 1000 km.
Population of Madeira
The number of local residents is 267,785 people. Most of the population lives on the island of Madeira in Funchal, the capital of the archipelago and one of the most visited cities in Portugal. Tourism and the service sector are highly developed here.
In large cities there are factories producing sugar, pasta and cement. In the highlands of the archipelago there are pastures that provide the basis for the production of meat and dairy products. Madeira has vineyards that produce the best wine in Portugal, and orchards where fruit trees are grown.
The archipelago was discovered by the navigator Joao Zarque in the 15th century. The traveler was amazed by the picturesque nature and named the islands with the word Madeira, which translates as “forest”. Christopher Columbus stopped here several times; today a monument dedicated to him and a house-museum remind of this.
In one of the cities of Madeira - Santana - you can see unique triangular houses with thatched roofs. The outstanding football player on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo, was born here.
When is the best time to go to Madeira?
Most of Madeira has a mild subtropical climate, with the northern part showing signs of temperate weather and the southern part tropical. This change of belts is explained by winds and mountainous terrain. It is never hot on the islands, and the average air temperature is +20 °C.
The Gulf Stream flows near the coast, so the coastal waters are always warm. The season in Madeira lasts all year round, in summer the air warms up to +33 °C, and in winter – up to +18 °C. In the northern part of the archipelago, the precipitation rate is 2000 mm, and in the south – up to 500 mm.
What to see and visit in Madeira?
The archipelago is famous for its beautiful nature and amazing architecture. If, while vacationing in Madeira, you want to take mesmerizing photos of the island and its surroundings, then climb Mount Monte or stroll through the botanical garden and national park.
The main attractions of the archipelago are concentrated on the island of Madeira. These include:
- Monte
– at the top of the mountain there is an ancient palace surrounded by a tropical garden. On its territory there are artificial reservoirs, fountains and observation platforms. - Pico Ruivu
– this is the highest point of the island (1862 m above sea level). - Cathedral
– located in Funchal. This is a Catholic church built in the Gothic style in the 15th century. The temple has survived to this day almost in its original form. It is made of lava, and its ceiling is inlaid with wood and ivory. - Madeira Aquarium
– located in Porto Moniz. It was built on the site of a former fort in 1998. More than 70 species of marine life live here. - Historical Museum
– it is dedicated to the most significant events of the archipelago. There are interactive exhibits featuring different scents. - Drakensberg Park
– unique Micronesian plants grow on its territory, which are on the verge of extinction. - The water park
is a favorite vacation spot for tourists who come to Madeira with children. It is located in the town of Santa Cruz. - Museum Quinta das Cruzes
is an old mansion that belonged to Joao Zarco. Here you can see works of art, statues, antique furniture, china, etc. - Curral das Freias
is a small settlement where an ancient monastery is located, surrounded by inaccessible cliffs.
If you are traveling around Madeira on your own, then pay attention to excursions such as sport fishing, boat trips, diving, and ecotourism. You will also be offered to rent a yacht, play golf or tennis, and visit a casino.
Article on the topic: Potato variety “Labadia” - description and photo
Local residents love to organize various celebrations and events. In 2022, Madeira will host the Carnival and Flower Festival, as well as celebrations dedicated to Columbus and the Atlantic Ocean. The grape harvest is also celebrated here every year. On such days, it is customary to dress up in national and masquerade costumes; parades are held throughout the island and music is played.
The best beaches in Madeira
The archipelago is famous for its luxurious beaches covered with pebbles, volcanic or golden sand. The coast of Madeira depends on the resort you choose. Here you can take advantage of swimming pools, yacht clubs and sports grounds. On the embankment there are cafes, restaurants, shops, diving and surfing schools.
The most famous beaches in Madeira are:
- Kalheta - it was created artificially, covered with sand and is popular with local residents;
- Praia da Faja - located under a rock, you can get to it by cable car;
- Pisquinas das Salinas is a beach complex with modern infrastructure.
In Madeira there are 4* and 5* hotels that are distinguished by a high level of service. There are private villas and gated apartments designed for vacationers who dream of a quiet holiday. Almost all establishments have elite spas and massage rooms, saunas and solariums. The most famous hotels are:
- Pestana Casino Park Hotel 5*;
- Suite Hotel Jardins Da Ajuda 4*;
- Casa Serena Apartments.
The food in Madeira is delicious and unusual, made from exotic fruits and freshly caught seafood. Here it is worth trying swordfish or tapas with ham. The most popular restaurants are:
- Taberna Do Petisco – Mediterranean cuisine;
- Cris's – Portuguese cuisine;
- La Vaca Negra is an establishment suitable for vegetarians.
What to bring from Madeira?
The archipelago has a huge variety of brand stores, shopping centers, and markets, so shopping lovers will have plenty to do in Madeira. Here you can buy branded clothing and shoes (C&A, Pull & Bear, Zara), paintings, costume jewelry, jewelry, dishes, wines, food and exotic fruits.
Transport in Madeira
From the capital of Portugal - Lisbon - you can get to Madeira either by ferry or by plane (there is an international airport on the archipelago). It is customary to travel here by car, bus, cable car and even helicopter. Portugal is part of the European Union, so to get to Madeira, do not forget to apply for a Schengen visa.
Description of Madeira potatoes with photos
Madeira potatoes have appeared on the market relatively recently. But the existing cultivation experience and reviews from gardeners are enough to confirm its compliance with the description given by the originator.
Bush
The bushes are of medium height (50-60 cm), not too spreading. Stems are semi-erect. The leaf blades are of a typical rich green color, relatively small, and can be either completely open or “intermediate.” The flowers are most often large, white or very lavender.
You can plant Madeira potatoes in the beds quite tightly
Important! The bush belongs to the so-called leaf type - its leaves are concentrated mainly in the upper third of the stems, and are not “distributed” along their entire length.
Tubers
The average weight of a Madeira potato tuber is 105-135 g. The shape is regular, round-oval. “Eyes” are few in number, superficial (less often of medium depth). The peel is thin, quite durable, beige-yellow, slightly mesh. The flesh is creamy or has the shade of butter. There is little starch in it (13-16%). Therefore, it is quite dense and does not lose its shape during heat treatment, despite a certain “wateriness”.
The external presentability of Madeira potato tubers is undoubtedly one of the “captivating” points influencing the choice of gardeners
Important! When harvesting, the percentage of tubers of “marketable appearance” is 80-95%. In optimal or close to optimal conditions, they demonstrate very good shelf life - at the level of 94%.
How to properly care for the variety
Madeira responds well to good care, which includes weeding, weed removal, watering, hilling, and fertilizing.
Features of watering
Madeira potatoes are drought-resistant varieties; frequent watering is not necessary. If the summer is very hot and dry, then the bushes need to be watered during flowering and during the formation of ovaries.
Feeding and fertilizing
With the help of fertilizing, you can increase the yield and weight of tubers. Fertilizers should be applied three times per season:
- before landing;
- during flowering;
- during the formation of tubers.
As soon as the first ovaries appear, feeding should be stopped.
For fertilizing, it is better to use a solution of bird droppings (10 liters of water per 1 kg of droppings). This solution must be added to each bush. A urea solution is also often used (1 tbsp per bucket of water). This solution should be used to water the bushes at the very roots.
Characteristics of Madeira potatoes
Madeira is characterized as a mid-season table potato variety. But the list of its characteristics important for gardeners does not end there.
Taste qualities of Madeira potatoes
The Madeira potato tastes officially "good". The variety cannot boast of anything outstanding in this regard, but there are no complaints about it, even from professional tasters.
For “culinary” purposes, from an amateur’s point of view, Madeira potatoes are universal. It is suitable for any first or second course, salad, side dish. However, experts classify it as the BC type, considering it most suitable for cooking, frying and baking.
The taste of the tubers cannot be called “memorable” and “delicious”, but many are quite satisfied with it
Ripening time
The first harvest of Madeira potato tubers can be harvested 50-65 days after the appearance of “massive” shoots. Accordingly, despite the fact that it is characterized as mid-season, in regions with a climate favorable for gardening, or if you are simply lucky with the weather during the growing season, it can also be mid-early. However, tubers require more time to fully ripen - 75-90 days.
Productivity
Data from Russian variety trials and information from the originator suggest that when grown on an industrial scale, Madeira potatoes demonstrate consistently high yields (200-480 centners per hectare). According to this indicator, it was strongly (by 50-170 c/ha) “ahead” of the varieties chosen as control - Aspiya and Petersburgsky.
The “record” yield was recorded in the Sverdlovsk region - 632 c/ha
Important! “Amateur” yield of Madeira potatoes is up to 3 kg per bush. Each plant produces 20-30 tubers.
Growing regions
The State Register recognizes the Volga-Vyatka region as the most suitable for cultivating Madeira potatoes. However, not only local gardeners managed to “try it out”. Almost everywhere in Russia, Madeira potatoes perform very well, especially with high-quality agricultural technology.
Disease resistance
If you provide the Madeira potato with minimal standard care and choose the right place for the garden bed, it is extremely rarely affected by diseases and pests. The only exception is moderate susceptibility to late blight.
Late blight can affect both Madeira potato tubers and the above-ground parts of the plant.
The Madeira variety has “innate” immunity against the golden potato nematode. The originator also provided it with protection against culturally dangerous viral and bacterial diseases that cannot be treated:
- mosaic virus;
- leaf curling;
- bacterial cancer.
Important! Also in the description of the originator it is indicated (photos and reviews of gardeners confirm this) that Madeira potatoes are practically not affected by scab and brown spot.
Reviews of early, mid-late and late varieties
Experienced gardeners help beginners by leaving reviews and sharing their experience of growing different varieties of potatoes.
Sergey, Tver: “I have been growing the mid-season Nayada potato variety for several years now, after I saw a photo of one farmer’s crop, and then read the description and reviews about it. I’m happy with everything about these potatoes, I especially like the large tubers - the harvest is harvested quickly and without shaking up all the soil around the bush.”
Anna, Pskov : “The soil on my site is depleted, so I planted Madeira - it doesn’t need a lot of nitrogen, and in general it’s an unpretentious variety. I got a good harvest without much effort.”
Irina, Krasnodar : “Last year I planted the late potato variety Atlant, after reading its description and reviews about it and looking at the photo. I was surprised that he wasn’t sick all summer. I planned it for winter storage, it stayed until February. I sorted through it often - there were almost no spoiled tubers.”
Advantages and disadvantages
Madeira potatoes resist pathogenic microflora much more successfully than pests. In case of “massive” invasions of neighboring areas, it requires preventive treatments to protect against the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm (click beetle larvae) and mole cricket.
The Madeira potato variety is drought-resistant and, accordingly, is quite suitable for the south of Russia
Pros:
- unpretentious in care, undemanding to the climate in the region of cultivation;
- the presence of “innate” immunity against some “deadly” diseases that are dangerous to the culture, good resistance to other pathogens;
- protection against golden potato nematode;
- drought resistance, the ability to tolerate short-term cold snaps and sudden temperature changes;
- consistently high yields, little dependent on the vagaries of the weather;
- good keeping quality and transportability;
- external presentability, one-dimensionality of tubers;
- versatility of Madeira potatoes.
Minuses:
- good but not outstanding taste;
- tendency to become infected with late blight if the weather and other factors favor the activation of the pathogen;
- the need for timely prevention to avoid pest damage.
Medium potato varieties
Three subgroups can be distinguished here:
- mid-early potato varieties - ripen in 60–80 days;
- mid-season potato varieties – 80–100 days;
- mid-late potato varieties – 100–120 days.
Among the mid-early potato varieties, Nevsky, Elizaveta, and Ryabinushka are the leaders. Among the mid-season varieties, Aurora is in the first position, followed by Skarb, Peterburgsky, Lugovskoy.
Landing rules
To plant Madeira potatoes, choose a well-lit and sun-warmed area with neutral or slightly acidic, fairly nutritious, but loose soil. The bed is prepared in the fall, digging deeply and adding humus (3-4 l/m²). A few days before planting, the soil is well loosened, at the same time enriched with complex mineral fertilizer.
Preliminary preparation of Madeira potato tubers for planting involves germination (it takes 3-3.5 weeks). It is also advisable to sequentially pickle them in a solution of fungicide and biostimulator. The first drug is an effective prevention of late blight and other fungal infections, the second is useful for strengthening the immune system, general endurance and resistance to negative weather and climatic factors.
Sprouted tubers sprout much faster
Important! Some gardeners practice landscaping before planting by leaving the tubers in direct sunlight for several days. For Madeira potatoes, this procedure is very useful - it becomes inedible for mole crickets and wireworms.
Madeira potatoes are planted when the substrate warms up to 8-10 ° C, and the likelihood of return frosts is minimized. In central Russia this is approximately the end of April or the beginning of May.
The depth of the holes varies from 5-7 to 10-12 cm, depending on the “heaviness” of the soil. The approximate interval between them is 45-50 cm, the row spacing is about 40 cm.
It is advisable to throw about a handful of sand at the bottom so that water does not stagnate around the tubers
Diseases and pests: how to deal with them
Madeira potatoes suffer from attacks by the Colorado potato beetle, mole cricket and wireworm. When these pests appear, all bushes must be sprayed with special chemicals. The Madeira variety can be affected by late blight of tops and tubers. For prevention, bushes should be sprayed with fungicide solutions.
Madeira belongs to the worthy representatives of the class of mid-early varieties. It will also satisfy those who just want to grow good potatoes. This variety is worth growing for gardeners who value an even caliber, beautiful appearance of tubers, and good taste.
Features of care
Madeira potatoes respond to proper care by increasing productivity. It is also an effective preventive measure against diseases and pests.
Agricultural technology includes:
- Watering. Madeira potatoes can withstand even prolonged droughts without much damage to the volume and quality of the crop, so for most of the season they successfully cope with natural precipitation. The only exception is the flowering period and 1.5-2 weeks after it, when the “rudiments” of tubers are formed. If the soil dries out at this time, it must be moistened, spending 4-5 liters of water per bush.
- Feeding. Even if the soil in the Madeira potato bed is quite fertile, it is not recommended to refuse fertilizers. They are applied at the stage of bud formation and 5-7 days after flowering. Complex store-bought fertilizers are best suited for this variety.
- Hilling. During the season it is carried out at least twice - when the stems reach a height of 12-15 cm and after about 2-3 weeks, during the period of mass flowering. Then the procedure is repeated as necessary, but not more than twice a month.
Hilling is necessary, for example, if the stems begin to “fall” or tubers appear from under the ground
Important! Madeira potatoes absorb nitrogen very well. Therefore, it is especially important not to “overdo it” with this macronutrient in feeding.
Seed potatoes: how to choose
Since potatoes are propagated mainly by tubers, the main share of success depends on the quality of planting material.
Why shouldn't you use your own potato planting material?
Potatoes, like no other crop, are easily affected by diseases: viral, bacterial, fungal and other infections penetrate through the leaves and accumulate in the tubers. In addition, varieties tend to degenerate. Therefore, you should not constantly use your own planting material - this will affect the harvest. Once every 3-4 years it needs to be updated by purchasing elite planting material grown in a specialized farm. The process of obtaining the “elite” is long and expensive; it begins with growing healthy plants in vitro and takes five years.
What size should tubers be for planting?
When choosing planting material, pay attention not only to taste, color, yield, but also to where the varieties are zoned, as well as to the ripening periods: early, middle, late. The characteristics of the variety are also important, for example, resistance to diseases, nematodes, etc.
It is better to choose large potato tubers (50–100 g) for sowing; only from them can strong plants grow that can produce a large harvest.
It is possible that some sellers may offer ordinary potatoes under the guise of “elite”, so when purchasing elite seeds, ask for a quality certificate.
- Author: Maria Sukhorukikh
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Harvest and storage
In central Russia, Madeira potatoes are harvested in the last ten days of August or at the very beginning of September. It is impossible to indicate a specific period, so they are guided by the condition of the tops. You need to wait until it is completely dry and lies on the ground.
If you rush into harvesting, not only the taste, but also the keeping quality of Madeira potatoes may suffer.
Amateur gardeners dig up tubers using a shovel or pitchfork. When growing this variety on an industrial scale, mechanized harvesting is practiced.
Harvested Madeira potatoes should not be stored immediately. First, the tubers are sorted out, getting rid of any “substandard” and setting aside planting material separately for the next season. Madeira potatoes suitable for long-term storage are dried for at least 2-3 hours in the open air under a canopy, excluding direct sunlight, or in a cool room with good ventilation.
The method of storing Madeira potatoes is not of fundamental importance. It is much more important to provide him with optimal or close to optimal conditions:
- air humidity about 70%;
- temperature 2-4 °C;
- good ventilation (drafts are eliminated at the same time);
- lack of light.
If the temperature drops below optimal - the tubers rot, if it rises above - they germinate
Important! The approximate shelf life of Madeira potatoes is 4.5-6 months. It depends on the created microclimate, the initial state of the tubers and other factors.
Potato varieties for frying
For frying, it is better to choose potatoes with a high dry matter content (at least 20–24%) and the ability to “keep” starch from breaking down into sugars - reducing sugars should not be more than 0.5%. Thanks to this property, potato slices retain their shape when fried. These potatoes can be fried; they will not crumble in a frying pan or deep fryer and will not acquire a bitter chocolate “tan.”
The best varieties of potatoes for frying: Leader, Nadezhda, Kolobok, Bryansky early, Zhukovsky early, Impala, Felox.
how to choose a potato variety
Agricultural technology
The variety is unpretentious. Thorough digging of the soil is required. When planting, tubers should be buried no more than 17 cm.
On a note. Madeira potatoes absorb nitrogen well, so they should be fed slightly less nitrogen fertilizers than other varieties.
The variety is recommended for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka region. Of course, there will be nuances in agricultural technology from region to region; let’s look at the features of growing the Madeira variety using the example of the Sverdlovsk region:
- Planting - no earlier than mid-May. You should wait until the soil warms up to +8-10°C;
- Seed tubers are pre-vernalized - thus, seedlings will appear already 8-10 days after planting. Without vernalization, you will have to wait 18-22 days for germination, which will delay the harvest date;
- In the absence of rain, water weekly, spending up to 5 liters per bush;
- Weeds or grass are placed at the base of the stems, achieving the effect of natural mulch;
- Early first hilling is desirable as a way to protect against return spring frosts.
Use methods for stimulating the yield that are also suitable for other varietal potatoes: transverse and annular cuts on seed tubers, watering during the formation of tubers, if the summer is dry, 3 fertilizing per season, partial breaks of the stems. Madeira has excellent potential; it is possible to double the average yield.
Harvest obtained during variety testing in 2022
Ripening time and yield
Madeira potatoes ripen in the mid-early period. The entire growing season of the plant is 80-95 days.
The productivity of the variety is very high. From one bush you can get up to 3 kg of potatoes, that’s about 30 pieces. The maximum yield per hectare is 632 centners. The average yield is 202-481 centners per hectare.
Potatoes "Bellarose", early
Potato "Bellarose" (Bela Rosa, Bella Rosa) is an early, amazingly resistant and one of the most delicious varieties, famous for its large tubers. Universal, medium-rich in taste and aroma, unusually airy in mashed potatoes for early potatoes, not watery, retaining its shape (type B, starch from 12 to 16%). Suitable for all types of processing, its taste is better when fried, baked and in soups.
The tubers are oval, with red rough skin, light cream pulp and small eyes, very large - from 130 to 210 g, individual - more than 500 g. Tall, straight bushes are distinguished by unusually large leaves and flowers of a light lilac hue. It grows faster than all varieties, pours quickly, and sometimes the tubers ripen to flowering.
It takes only 45-60 days for the crop to ripen. The marketability of tubers is from 82 to 99%, each bush produces from 7 to 15 large tubers, and from 310 to 550 kg can be obtained from one hundred square meters.
Other benefits:
- stress resistance - insensitivity to drought, heat, sudden temperature changes;
- resistant to cancer, nematodes, mosaics, spots, late blight of tubers, scab;
- keeping quality unique for an early variety - from 93% to 98% without germination until May;
- the taste only improves with storage.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- vulnerability to late blight of tops;
- non-compact growth of tubers, which are easily damaged when digging.
Potatoes "Bellarose" (Bela Rosa, Bella Rosa, Bellarosa). miracleclub
Disease resistance
The Madeira variety is resistant to viral and bacterial infections; in the rainy season it can be affected by late blight.
For preventive purposes, contact fungicides are used. The seedlings are sprayed with Alirin-B or Gamar to protect against pathogens. Repeat with a frequency of 1 time in 10 days. When brown lesions appear, irrigate with Kuproksat, Abiga-pik, Sectin. The frequency of treatment depends on the contamination, varies from 2 to 8 times.
Madeira potatoes are a promising competitive variety. It is superior to such productive mid-early species as Vector, Lugovskoy, Adretta. Potatoes are valued for their excellent taste, keeping quality, and culinary versatility.
