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Not all gardeners are interested in the yield of potatoes, for many of them, especially for summer residents, the ripening time is more important. After all, the most favorite summer dish of many s is boiled young potatoes.
Photos and reviews of potatoes of early varieties will help you choose the right variety of this root crop. The article will present the classification of early varieties of potatoes, their characteristics, photos and descriptions.
What is the peculiarity of early ripe potatoes
Potatoes of early varieties are most in demand among gardeners for several reasons. First of all, this, of course, is an opportunity to enjoy young potatoes at the beginning of summer.
But besides this quality, early potatoes have several other advantages:
- you don’t have to take care of the bushes for a long time – it’s enough to water early-ripening potatoes two or three times a season and, if necessary, treat with insecticides;
- due to the short vegetative period, varieties of early ripe potatoes do not catch the peak of late blight – one of the most dangerous diseases of the nightshade family;
- two crops can be grown in one season, and in the southern regions, skilled gardeners manage to collect potatoes from their plots three times in one summer;
- modern varieties of early ripe potatoes are not inferior to the rest in terms of taste and yield.
According to the growing season, all early varieties of potatoes are divided into several types:
- Ultra-early varieties of potatoes have time to give the harvest in just 45-60 days after the first shoots appear.
- Early potatoes ripen within 60-70 days.
- Medium-early varieties of potatoes ripen 7-10 days later – tubers can be harvested 70-80 days after the first shoots appeared on the beds.
Varieties with later maturation are classified as mid- and late-ripening. It is this potato that is planted for the purpose of sale or long-term storage. Whereas early varieties are mainly used and sold in their “young” form, while the tubers are covered with a thin skin, and the pulp is tender and fragrant.
How to choose a variety of early potatoes
When choosing early or ultra-early varieties of potatoes for their plots, gardeners should remember that any kind of root crop has its own “requirements”:
- to the climatic features of the region;
- to the composition of the soil;
- to processing with fertilizers and other special means;
- to the frequency of watering and the regularity of care.
Therefore, when choosing a potato variety, you need to take into account several factors at once and analyze your own needs and capabilities. You should not recklessly buy the “most productive” or “tastiest” potatoes without knowing about the needs and characteristics of a particular variety.
“Alena”
An ultra-early variety of potatoes, root crops ripen in just 45 days after the first shoots have appeared. The average yield is 1,5 kg per square meter of garden, but with good care and sufficient watering, this figure can be increased to 4,5 kg.
Root crops of an oval form, are painted in pink color, have snow-white pulp. Potatoes are great for making mashed potatoes, it is also good to fry them or add them to soups and borscht. The percentage of starch content is average – about 15-17%. The average fruit weight is 130 grams. The appearance of root crops is highly marketable, potatoes can be stored for a long time, and have a pleasant taste.
Plants are protected from most viral diseases, are not dangerous for the Alena variety and fungal pathogens.
Ariel
Another ultra-early potato variety, the growing season of which is only 45 days. Due to this, root crops do not have time to catch the peak of late blight development, rarely get sick, the variety gives consistently high yields.
It turns out to grow “Ariel” twice a season, which cannot but rejoice those farmers who plant potatoes for sale.
Potatoes are colored yellow, the flesh is also yellowish. The shape of the tubers is oblong. The taste is high, the root crops do not darken after cutting and peeling, the puree is homogeneous, without dark blotches.
Despite the early ripening, the variety is suitable for long-term storage.
“Riviera”
Potatoes of this variety are considered super early – with the right approach, it is possible to grow a crop within 35 days. The bushes are low, bloom with red-violet inflorescences.
Potatoes have an oval shape, the peel and pulp of root crops are colored in a yellowish tint. The tubers have an excellent presentation, are able to be stored and transported. For commercial purposes, this variety can be grown two or even three times per season.
Potatoes of the Dutch selection are protected from most viral diseases, but do not tolerate late blight. Therefore, the bushes must be regularly inspected to prevent infection of the tubers by the fungus.
The taste of potatoes is excellent, the starch content is average.
“Timo”
The brainchild of Finnish breeders gives a low or medium bush, decorated with purple-blue inflorescences. The average weight of the root crop is 90 grams. Potatoes are round or oval, have slightly “recessed” eyes, and are colored yellow. The peel is smooth, the flesh is also yellow.
Potatoes are not boiled soft, they have a good taste and aroma. Up to nine potatoes ripen in each bush. To enjoy young potatoes, tubers can be dug up already 40 days after germination.
Plants do not like low temperatures, do not tolerate frost. This potato is resistant to many diseases, but scab or late blight can harm it. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the level of soil acidity in the area, and also not to overmoisten the soil with too frequent and abundant watering.
“Karatop”
Variety developed by German breeders. Potato bushes of medium height, bloom with white inflorescences. Root crops have an elongated shape, are painted yellow, have a minimum number of eyes.
The starch content is low – about 11%. The average weight of a potato is about 80 grams. Full maturation occurs 60-70 days after germination. The crop sings together, the taste of the tubers is high.
Up to 25 potatoes can be found in each hole, which ensures a high yield of the variety. In addition to other advantages, the Karatop variety boasts increased resistance to late blight.
“Rosara”
German universal potato with early ripening. The crop can be harvested 50 days after the tubers have sprouted and the first green shoots have appeared on the beds. Semi-spreading, undersized potato bushes bloom with red-purple inflorescences.
Root vegetables are oblong in shape, the peel has a red tint, and the flesh is yellow. There are few eyes on the tubers. After cooking, the potatoes do not boil soft and do not become dark, the taste is quite pleasant. Root crops can be stored for a long time.
14-16 tubers ripen in each hole, the average weight of each is 90 grams. The variety perfectly tolerates cold snaps, short-term frosts or too wet soil. The plant is protected from most diseases inherent in potatoes.
This variety is suitable for long-term cultivation – potato seeds can not be changed for 4-5 years. Such stability will not affect the yield of root crops in any way.
“Bellarose”
Delicious early ripe potatoes of German selection. Tubers ripen by the 45th day after germination. The bushes are quite tall, powerful, bloom with red-violet inflorescences.
Root crops have a rounded shape, their distinctive feature is a large mass. There are cases when Bellarosa tubers reached 800 grams. Of course, this is an exception, as a rule, the mass of potatoes does not exceed 200 grams.
In each bush, up to ten root crops ripen simultaneously, which, with such a mass, provides the variety with a stable yield. The potatoes themselves are even, have an excellent presentation, are painted in a pink hue, and have beige flesh. Potatoes boil well and are considered very tasty.
“Lark”
Domestic variety, belonging to the group of early ripening – potatoes ripen in about 50 days after germination. The bushes can be recognized by their high growth and leveled shape, they bloom with blue inflorescences.
The roots themselves are painted white. Their shape is slightly flattened, oval. Tubers with small eyes and soft creamy flesh. About 10-12 potatoes ripen in one bush.
The potato is very tasty, boils well, contains a large amount of starch. The plant is protected from many diseases, including scab and late blight.
Impala
One of the most beloved by gardeners and summer residents varieties of early ripe potatoes. The bushes of this potato are tall, erect, bloom in white. The roots are oval, their skin is yellow, the flesh is creamy, and the eyes are small.
Potatoes are quite large – the average weight is 120 grams. The variety is valued for early ripening, resistance to viruses and diseases, high yields, unpretentiousness, and excellent taste.
This potato can be stored in the winter, it is quite long-lived, well preserved.
Review of Impala potatoes
“Romano”
Early ripe potatoes of the Dutch selection – ripen on the 80th day after the first shoots appear. Plants erect, bushes tall. The tubers are oval, their peel is dense, painted pink, there are few eyes. The flesh of the roots is creamy.
This potato is considered universal: it is used for a variety of culinary needs. The tubers are really tasty and fragrant. The percentage of starch in root crops is 12. The average weight of potatoes is 70-80 grams.
It is believed that the variety “Romano” is unpretentious to the composition and type of soil, can tolerate drought, gives stable yields, is protected from many diseases and viruses.
How early ripe potatoes are grown in Our Country
It is necessary to plant ultra-early varieties of potatoes in warm soil. By the time of planting, the soil should warm up to at least six degrees. Experienced gardeners recommend pre-sprouting potato seeds to speed up the ripening of tubers and shorten the growing season.
Germinate early potatoes in this way:
- sort out the seed material and select potatoes the size of a chicken egg (their average weight should be 70-80 grams);
- sawdust is mixed with peat in equal proportions and poured into wooden boxes in a thin layer;
- the substrate prepared for germination must be watered with any complex fertilizer diluted in water;
- potatoes are laid out close to each other and slightly sunk in a mixture of sawdust and peat. It is impossible to completely bury the tubers, this will lead to stretching of the sprouts due to lack of sunlight;
- on hot and sunny days, the substrate in the boxes must be irrigated with warm settled water;
- the temperature in the room with landings should be maintained at 10-15 degrees;
- on the 25-30th day after planting the seeds, the plants, together with a lump of substrate, are transferred to a permanent place.
In central Our Country, potatoes are planted, as a rule, in early to mid-April, when the earth warms up enough and the danger of severe frosts disappears.
Photos and descriptions of various varieties of this vegetable will help you choose early potatoes. And the method of growing root crops with early ripening is practically no different from the usual one: the bushes need to be watered abundantly and organic fertilizers should be applied several times during the season.
