Description of the Aurora potato variety
The Aurora potato variety was developed in Russia in 2006. Since then, it has been actively used for planting throughout Central Russia. Thanks to its high yield, rich taste and good storage, the variety has gained fame and love among gardeners and farmers.
Potatoes have tall bushes with dark green leaves with aquatic edges and lilac flowers with pink veins.
Aurora has an extensive tuber system - up to 30 potatoes of varying sizes from small to large are harvested from one plant.
The variety is famous for its good boiled qualities: the attractive appearance of the tubers, and is well preserved during transportation and storage.
Advantages and disadvantages
The variety has gained popularity among gardeners due to its advantages, of which Aurora has more than enough. Among the main advantages it is worth noting:
- Excellent taste.
- High yield.
- High levels of immunity.
- Excellent product quality.
- Well preserved. The keeping quality of tubers reaches 94%.
We recommend reading: “Description of the Uladar potato variety”
There are few disadvantages. The main thing is low resistance to late blight and a long ripening period.
Characteristics of the Aurora variety
Characteristics of tubers
The tubers are medium-sized, oblong in shape with a smooth skin. The inside of the potato is creamy in color and the outside is light brown with a few pale red eyes.
Their weight ranges around 130 grams, but there are also particularly large specimens weighing up to half a kilogram. The starch content in them reaches 17%.
Taste qualities of Aurora potatoes
Potatoes cook quickly due to their low starch content - 13-17%. When cooked, it becomes crumbly, so it is mainly used as a side dish and is not suitable for salads.
Productivity of the variety
This variety is considered high-yielding. With proper watering, hilling and loosening, it brings up to 250 centers per hectare.
The maximum yield obtained from this variety is half a ton per hectare, which is 500 kg per hundred square meters.
Aurora potato planting dates
Potatoes are planted when the ground temperature warms up to 10 degrees. The exact timing of planting potatoes depends on the growing region, most often it is May.
For planting, select whole potatoes without cracks or rotting.
Typically, potatoes are planted at a depth of 10 cm, with a distance of 30 cm, and 70 cm are left between rows for passage.
Before planting, the soil needs to be dug up, freed from weeds and debris and fertilized.
Ripening time
Aurora is a variety with mid-season ripening. Fruits can be dug up 80 days after planting; early potatoes are dug up 20 days earlier.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Aurora has good immunity to diseases. The only serious disease she is prone to is late blight.
Signs of late blight on potatoes
Of the insects, it is often attacked by Colorado potato beetles, wireworms and mole crickets. To combat them, chemicals such as “Concord” and “Prestige” are used. You can learn about the fight against late blight and other potato diseases here.
Landing
Only the healthiest root crops are selected for planting. There should be no cracks, stains, rot, etc. on the surface of the fruit.
Planting is carried out after the soil has warmed up to a temperature of +9 degrees Celsius. This time occurs approximately in the middle or end of May (depending on the growing area).
The standard planting pattern is 25-30 cm between holes and about 70 centimeters between rows. Planting depth is up to 15 cm. The standard planting depth is 10 cm. When grown in cold regions, the holes are made 5 cm deeper.
Aurora grows best after legumes, corn and cabbage. It is also advisable to plant potatoes in well-fertilized soil.
Photo of Aurora potatoes
In order not to be unfounded, we add a photo of the Aurora variety.
How to harvest and store crops
Shortly before harvesting potatoes, the tops must be cut off, leaving stems up to 10 cm high. Dig out the bushes carefully, trying not to damage the root crops with a shovel. The harvested potatoes are placed outdoors in the sun to dry. In rainy weather, the crop should be dried under a canopy.
After a few days, the dried tubers are transferred to a dry, cool, ventilated room for long-term storage. Subject to the specified conditions, Aurora shows excellent keeping quality, remaining until the new harvest.
Reviews about the Aurora potato variety
Nadezhda, Ekaterinburg
We have been growing this variety for many years in a row. European varieties do not take root here in the Urals, so we make do with Russian ones. I can't say anything bad about the variety. The yield is really high, we collect 8-9 from one planted bucket. It stays there all winter.
Vitaly, Rostov-on-Don
I didn't find anything special in this variety. Potatoes are like potatoes. I planted it for three years in a row. There seems to be a lot of harvest, but among it there are many small potatoes, like peas. It tastes good, I liked it, but everyone has different tastes.
Mikhail, Saratov
I have been planting this variety for a long time, which is why there is nothing unusual about it, but it suits me. I used to grow it for myself, but now I started selling it. They sell out quickly because they look beautiful - almost the same size, smooth, without eyes. Personally, this variety did not make much of an impression on me. But I can’t say anything bad about him either.
Diseases and pests
This variety is especially loved by many owners because it has good protection against many diseases and pests.
It is well protected from the golden potato nematode and the causative agent of cancer. It also has moderate protection against late blight of tops and tubers, and this, it is worth noting, is the most terrible enemy of potatoes.
Features of cultivation
This variety has no unusual growing characteristics. In cultivation, it is similar to other potato varieties. General recommendations can be found in the article on how to properly grow potatoes.
Potatoes the size of a chicken egg are suitable for planting; the size of the sprouts on them should be no more than 2 cm. 2 weeks before planting, they are taken out and laid out in one or two layers in a cool, bright room. To do this, use a covered balcony and veranda. After two weeks, the potatoes produce small sprouts.
For planting, choose a well-lit place. It is advisable to prepare it in the fall. Before digging the bed, scatter rotted manure and superphosphate over it. If you didn’t do this in the fall, you can put a handful of humus in each hole before planting. We recommend learning the most effective ways to plant potatoes.
Before planting, the tubers are treated with special insect repellent solutions Prestige, Matador or Maxim. And then wireworms are not dangerous until the tubers are set. See how to get rid of wireworms in a potato bed.
Potatoes are planted when the soil temperature rises above 10 degrees Celsius. Plant at a depth of at least 10 cm. The distance between rows is left at 70 cm so that the thick crown of potatoes does not interfere with each other.
They care for potatoes from the first sprouts until the tops dry out.
Aurora must be hilled as often as possible, otherwise its tall tops will fall to the ground.
- The first hilling is carried out after the sprouts appear.
- The second hilling is carried out when the tops have reached a height of 20 cm.
The second hilling is combined with fertilizing. To do this, fertilizer is scattered between the rows and during the hilling process it falls into the ground. Read about hilling potatoes here.
After each hilling, the potatoes are watered. Water the potatoes generously.
After germination and before flowering, water at least 2 liters per bush every week; during and after flowering, the dose of water is increased to 5 liters.
The plant is fed three times per season: after the first shoots appear, when buds appear and during flowering. For this purpose, saltpeter, urea and calimagesia are used. To ensure optimal feeding, we recommend reading the article on how to properly feed potatoes.
This variety loves air, so try to loosen the soil occasionally to break up the top crust of the earth.
Harvest 3 months after planting. When the tops are dry, the potatoes can be harvested. After harvesting, the potatoes are dried in the shade in a ventilated area. Undried potatoes can rot and ruin the rest of the crop. Look at the rules for storing potato crops.
Care
Caring for potatoes comes down to four pillars:
- Watering.
- Fertilizer.
- Hilling.
- Protection from diseases and pests.
Watering
You need to water the potatoes often, but do not overwater the tubers. Experienced gardeners recommend watering Aurora only 3 times. The first time after the tops appear (when they “peek out” 10-15 cm from the ground). The second time after the beginning of flowering and the third time before the end of flowering. After the potatoes have bloomed, it is not recommended to water the crop, as there is a risk of contracting late blight. And Aurora, by itself, has low protection against this fungus.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing potatoes is quite simple. Unlike many other crops that need to be fertilized systematically, to get a good potato harvest, it is enough to fertilize the soil only once - in the fall. Before preparing the soil for wintering, it is thoroughly loosened (plowed) and fertilized with humus. This is quite enough for Aurora to give peak birth. At the same time, it is worth limiting the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers in the soil. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of tops, which inhibits the development of root crops.
Hilling
Hill up the tops twice. The first time hilling procedures are carried out after the tops appear (when they reach 15-20 cm). The second time - as it grows (after about 2-3 weeks). During hilling, the area is also cleared of weeds, which negatively affect the development of root crops.
Protection from diseases and pests
As noted above, Aurora has a fairly strong immune system. The only problem that a gardener may encounter when growing this variety is late blight. To treat crops against this fungus, special fungicides are used.
As for parasites, Aurora is most often attacked by the Colorado potato beetle, mole cricket and wireworm. To combat the mole cricket and the Colorado potato beetle, you can use the good insecticide “Confidor”. To combat wireworms, the drug “Prestige” is perfect.
The best early ripening varieties
They are characterized by increased resistance to fungal and other diseases. They prepare for planting in early April - a month before planting in open ground. So, tubers with sprouts are planted in the soil in early May. As for the disadvantages, we can note the low or medium starch content, so the potatoes remain hard during cooking. The most popular varieties in this category can be found below.
Zhukovsky early
This is a variety developed by domestic breeders, which ripens in 60 days and gives an excellent harvest - from 400 to 600 centners per 1 hectare, and can grow in different soils and climatic zones. This potato has the following characteristics:
- oval shape;
- large sizes - from 100 to 150 g;
- starch content – 15%;
- smooth surface, pink or beige skin and white flesh that does not darken when cut and does not become soft when cooked;
excellent product and taste qualities (great for making chips); resistance to cancer, golden nematode, common scab, rhizoctonia and other diseases; tolerates drought and low temperatures well; in conditions of moderate temperature and humidity it can lie until mid-spring.
You can plant potatoes even in early April, but in order to protect them from frost, it is worth covering the seedlings with agrofibre, which also perfectly helps maintain normal soil temperatures. It should be removed after threats of frost and a drop in air temperature.
Izora
Refers to table fruit varieties. Ripens in 55-65 days. The bushes grow of medium height, the leaves are slightly dissected. The corollas appear moderately and are white in color. The plant is distinguished by a thick stem, which is colored with anthocyanin along its entire length.
The variety bears fruit with white round tubers, which are covered with eyes of medium depth. The pulp is white. The starch level is from 9.8 to 12.1%, and the protein level is from 1.5 to 1.7%. Tubers can be stored for a long time, are highly resistant to cancer, but less resistant to viral diseases. Most often they suffer from late blight and rhizoctonia.
Antonina
Often grown in the West Siberian region. It is a table variety of domestic selection. The tubers are obtained weighing from 104 to 153 g, oval in shape with light yellow flesh and slightly rough skin. Productivity is average - from 210-300 to 426 centners per 1 ha. One bush grows from 6 to 10 tubers. The level of starch content is relatively high - from 15.9 to 19.4%. Potatoes can be stored for a long time.
Sturdy
Excellent for planting in the Central region. The bushes grow medium in height, semi-spreading and stem type. The leaves of the plant have a light green color, medium size and moderate dissection.
The variety bears fruit in smooth oval tubers weighing up to 130 g, which are covered with light beige skin with predominantly small eyes. The color of the pulp is creamy, and the starch content is up to 11.2%. From 1 hectare you can harvest about 276 centners of crop, with one bush producing 7-8 tubers. It is distinguished by increased safety - about 97%.
Anosta
This is a table variety of Dutch selection that bears fruit with marketable tubers. The bush is of medium height, moderately or well leafy. As a rule, the stem is green and colored with anthocyanin at the base. The color of the corolla is white.
The tubers are light yellow in color and round-oval in shape. They have small eyes. The pulp itself has a yellow tint. The weight of one fruit is from 71 to 134 g, the starch level is from 12.7 to 15%, and the protein content is from 1.3 to 1.9%.
Among the disadvantages, one can note the strong susceptibility of tops to late blight (tubers are more resistant). In addition, it is moderately resistant to scab and viral diseases. It is practically not affected by cancer and nematodes.
Arrow
Refers to high-yielding table varieties. It is distinguished by its excellent presentation, does not darken after cooking and does not become soft. The tubers are large and oval in shape, covered with a yellow skin, and the flesh itself is white. Dry matter concentration – 18%.
Tubers are rarely affected by late blight, common scab and nematodes. More often, the plant suffers from late blight of tops and Y-virus.
Kholmogorsky
This is an early-ripening table hybrid that blooms with lilac flowers and bears red tubers. They weigh up to 90-120 g, are oval in shape, smooth skin with superficial eyes and light yellow flesh that does not darken when cooked and cut. The yield is average - up to 392 centners per hectare.
The plant is not afraid of cancer, golden nematode and severe viral diseases. It has average resistance to common scab and rhizoctonia. Tops and tubers can be affected by late blight, so proper chemical treatment is required.
How to store
The characteristics of the variety indicate the ability of the crop to be stored for a long time without loss of quality - up to 7-8 months. Storage for the winter must take place in suitable conditions. The best place for storage is a cellar or basement, where the temperature does not rise above +3° C.
The room must be equipped with ventilation and not have access to light. A month before storing the crop, the storage area is cleaned and disinfected. During winter storage, the tubers are periodically sorted to remove spoiled specimens, and the basement is ventilated.
Characteristics and description
This is a mid-season variety. Root crops begin to be dug no earlier than 70 days after emergence. Forms powerful bushes with tall, well-leafed tops and large light green foliage. Blooms with flowers of purple tones.
On average it produces yields of 250–300 c/ha, but under good conditions the yield can reach 416 c/ha. From one Aurora potato bush, 15–20 root vegetables with an elongated shape and smooth pinkish-brown skin are collected. The eyes have a reddish skin color. The eyes themselves do not stand out very much, they are small.
