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Potato Baltic Rose – the development of breeders of the German company Norika. This variety is high-yielding and has increased resistance to diseases such as black leg, leaf curl virus. The Baltic Rose variety is one of the first candidates for inclusion in the State Register in 2019. The variety is popular with vegetable growers and can be found among the people under the name Red Gala.
Description of the Baltic Rose potato variety
According to the manufacturer’s description and expert reviews, Baltic Rose potatoes (shown in the photo) are a medium-early variety with attractive bright red tubers.
Oval-shaped tubers have small eyes. The peel is red, smooth, and the color of the pulp is yellow.
The bushes are medium in height, reach 50-60 cm. Potatoes bloom with white flowers, which are few on the bush.
Potatoes sprout together, large tubers of the same size are formed underground. Due to the early appearance of the crop, this variety is used commercially.
Taste qualities of Baltic Rose potatoes
According to consumer reviews, the taste of potatoes of this variety is excellent. According to the content of starch in tubers (12,5%), potatoes are classified as medium starchy. This means that potatoes can be fried, used for making salads, the tubers do not boil soft, they keep their shape well when cut.
Pros and cons of the variety
Every potato variety has advantages and disadvantages. Before purchasing planting material, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety, to study the pros and cons of growing.
The main advantages of the Baltic Rose variety:
- attractive appearance;
- small eyes;
- approximately the same size of tubers (110-180 g);
- high yield;
- does not boil soft, therefore it is suitable for frying;
- good transportability;
- long shelf life;
- high resistance to diseases (virus Y, black leg, leaf curl virus, late blight, rhizoctoniosis).
Among the shortcomings can be identified low starch content. Some prefer boiled potatoes, which make delicious soup, mashed potatoes. Baltic Rose is best used for frying and salads.
Planting and caring for Baltic Rose potatoes
To get a high yield of Baltic Rose potatoes, you must follow the recommendations for planting and care.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
A site for planting potatoes should be chosen in the fall. Waterlogged and wetlands are not suitable for growing potatoes. Shaded areas prevent the formation of tubers, so well-lit areas are chosen for planting potatoes. The land should be light, fertile. Heavy alumina is not used for potato cultivation.
If groundwater is located close to the surface, planting potatoes on ridges or ridges is recommended.
Autumn soil preparation consists in digging the earth with a shovel or a mechanized walk-behind tractor. With increased acidity of the soil, which is easy to detect with special acid meters, lime is added to the ground. It is recommended to apply 1-200 g of dolomite flour per 300 m² of area. If the site is fertilized with manure or humus, simultaneous liming is not carried out.
Pre-winter digging improves the composition of the soil, and is also one of the methods of pest control. Many larvae and beetles hibernate in the foliage, in the thickness of the earth, so burning fallen leaves and deep digging lead to the fact that pests are on the surface and freeze out.
In the spring, the site is dug up again, breaking up clods of earth. Mineral fertilizers and organics are additionally applied. On peat soils, humus and sand are added in equal parts, 1 cup of wood ash, 1 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate and 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate.
Preparation of planting material
Preparation of tubers for planting is carried out as follows:
- potatoes are sorted and sized;
- exposed to heat (sprout);
- treated with pesticides and growth-stimulating substances.
Small tubers selected for planting show no less yield than large ones. Therefore, for planting, it is best to select small tubers with a mass of 50 to 80 g.
Cutting tubers for planting is not recommended, because any wound is a gateway to disease. But if there is very little seed material and it needs to be propagated, the tubers are divided. Potatoes weighing up to 100 g are cut lengthwise into two equal parts. If the tubers are large, they are cut into several parts, it is necessary to control that at least 2-3 eyes are present on the resulting shares. Cutting potatoes is done immediately before planting, this will help to avoid rotting and tuber diseases. The knife must be treated with formalin after each tuber.
Baltic Rose potatoes begin to germinate 15-20 days before planting in the ground. In this case, the air temperature should be 12-16 ° C, humidity about 85%, and illumination 200-400 lux. High illumination is needed so that the sprouts do not stretch too much.
To prevent re-infection of tubers during sorting, they are treated with Ditan, Polycarbacin, Fundazol, Prestige fungicides. At the same time, you can treat with a growth stimulator. The soaking procedure in a stimulating solution is carried out 3-4 hours before planting potatoes.
Rules of landing
Many gardeners make a mistake when planting. With a minimum area for potatoes, they place the tubers close to each other. Practice shows that the correct placement of the beds and the distance between the seeds plays a big role in the formation of potatoes.
There are several popular schemes that allow you to increase the yield of Baltic Rose potatoes.
Landing in rows or under a shovel is carried out as follows:
- Limit the area of the site with pegs, the height of which is equal to the width of the aisle.
- Holes are dug with a shovel, the distance between them should be about 30-35 cm.
- The depth of the hole depends on the quality of the soil. On sandy soils, potatoes are deepened to 10 cm; on loamy soils, 5 cm is enough.
- Landing is more convenient to do together. One digs holes, the assistant puts fertilizer into the holes and carefully places the planting material.
- Sprinkle potatoes with earth from a neighboring hole.
- The adjacent row is placed at a distance of at least 70 cm from the previous one.
One of the disadvantages of this method is that during heavy rains, the potatoes in the ground will suffocate and begin to rot.
In regions with frequent and heavy rainfall, Baltic Rose potatoes are planted in ridges. The tubers located in the ridges do not suffer from stagnant water. During rains, water drains into the aisles, so the potatoes do not rot.
When cutting the ridges, a plow or cultivator is used. 60-70 cm are left between the ridges, the height of the ridge is at least 15 cm. Holes are dug 5 cm deep in the ridges, the distance between the holes is 30 cm.
On sandy, sandy soils, this planting method is associated with one drawback: the ridges dry out quickly and, in the absence of precipitation, require additional watering.
In regions with rare precipitation, the Baltic Rose potato planting method is used in trenches. In autumn, trenches up to 30 cm deep are prepared, manure, compost, and organic fertilizers are poured into them. Leave at least 70 cm between rows.
In the spring, tubers are laid out in the grooves, leaving 30 cm between them. From above, the potatoes are covered with earth and mulching materials.
Watering and top dressing
The first watering of Baltic Rose potatoes is carried out after germination. During the formation of bushes, the need for moisture increases. During budding, watering is mandatory, otherwise the ovary will be shallow. Water the bushes with warm water, pre-collected in containers. It is best to water early in the morning or after sunset.
In large areas, drip irrigation is used.
Top dressing helps to increase the yield of Baltic Rose potatoes. It is advisable to carry out this procedure three times:
- during the formation of bushes. For 10 liters of water, dilute 1 tbsp. l. urea. You can use 0,5 liters of mullein per 10 liters of water. 0,5 l of nutrient mixture is poured under each bush;
- during budding. It is necessary to dissolve 1 glass of wood ash in a bucket of warm water and pour 0,5 liters of the composition under each root;
- during flowering. For 10 liters of water you need 2 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 glass of chicken manure. This solution is enough to feed 20 potato bushes.
If the area of the site is large, top dressing can be carried out with dry fertilizers.
Loosening and weeding
In the process of loosening, the roots are saturated with oxygen, and small weeds are also eliminated. The procedure is carried out carefully so as not to damage the sprouts and not expose the tubers. The first loosening is carried out a week after planting. In the future, loosening and weeding of weeds is carried out as necessary: after watering and rains, with a strong growth of weeds.
Hilling
To increase the yield of potatoes allows a simple procedure – hilling. This event is held 2-3 times per season. It is advisable to carry out the first hilling at the moment when the tops are extended by 15 cm. Around the bush, wet earth is raked with a hoe, a small mound is obtained. The second time spud is not earlier than 2 weeks later. The third time spud as needed.
Diseases and pests
The Baltic Rose potato variety has good resistance to common diseases: black leg, Y virus, rolled leaf virus. To protect against rot and insect pests, pre-planting treatment of tubers is carried out. When signs of late blight appear, spraying the bushes with copper sulphate is used.
When the Colorado potato beetles invade, they are harvested by hand, and Fastak, Karate, Benzophosphate are used for processing. You can set up a trap for beetles: lay out chemically treated potato peels in the aisles.
To prevent the appearance of a wireworm, it is imperative to carry out pre-winter digging of the site.
Potato yield
The Baltic Rose potato yield index ranges from medium to high. From 10 to 25 tubers are harvested in each bush. The yield of the Baltic Rose variety depends on climatic conditions, as well as on the timely application of fertilizers and irrigation.
Harvesting and storage
The Baltic Rose potatoes are harvested in late July – mid-August. It all depends on the timing of landing and weather conditions in the region. After harvesting the potatoes, they are left in the shade to dry and weather, then they are sorted out and sent for storage. The temperature is reduced gradually. Small tubers for planting are selected immediately in order to shorten the time for searching for seed in the spring.
Conclusion
Potato Baltic Rose is a high-yielding variety that allows you to harvest up to 2,5-3 kg of crop from each bush. Compliance with the rules of agricultural technology allows you to increase the yield. Preventive treatment of seed material protects against various diseases and pests.
Reviews about Baltic Rose potatoes
