Contents
Siberia is a northern region with a rather difficult climate. Everything is possible in it: sudden spring or autumn frosts, intense heat in July, heavy rains in August – and this is not the whole list of weather surprises in this region. Such a Siberian climate seems very harsh to many vegetable crops. But this is no reason not to plant anything. Just for growing in such difficult climatic conditions, it is necessary to select more resistant varieties that can endure such a climate. In this article, we will look at potatoes, or rather, the best varieties of potatoes for Siberia.
Terms of planting potatoes in Siberia
Siberia occupies a rather vast area: it will be about 57% of the territory of the whole of Our Country. The whole of Siberia can be conditionally divided into Western and Eastern regions. The climatic conditions in them are slightly different, which means that the timing of planting potatoes also differs.
The eastern regions are distinguished by their severe long winters and short but very hot summers. It is in these regions that the weather has a wayward character: frosts, uneven precipitation, most of which falls in late summer or early autumn. Considering all these factors, potato planting dates in this region begin in mid-May, when the weather stabilizes a bit.
But the western regions were a little more fortunate. Their climate is a little milder, so you can plant potatoes in Western Siberia as early as early May.
According to these folk guidelines, you can plant potatoes only after the first buds begin to bloom on the birch.
Potato varieties for Siberia
Despite such a harsh climate, quite a lot of potato varieties can be grown in Siberia. The State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Federation allows planting 53 different varieties of potatoes in the Siberian climate. In addition to these varieties of selection, some Dutch, Ukrainian and German varieties can also be planted in the climatic conditions of Siberia. Below we will come up with a description of the very best of them, grouping them by:
- popularity;
- productivity.
Most Popular
For several years now, these varieties have occupied a leading position in cultivation in the expanses of Siberia.
Adretta
This German potato variety is perfect for growing in our Siberia. It has an average ripening time, so it makes no sense to dig potatoes before 60 days. The bushes of the Adretta potato are more compact than those of the varieties of our selection, but it is still not worth planting them often.
This table variety with smooth yellow tubers has earned its popularity due to its excellent taste. Small potatoes with an average weight of 100-150 grams are perfect for boiling and frying. Their light yellow flesh keeps its shape perfectly, and the starch content in it will not exceed 17%.
But Adretta is famous not only for its taste. Her bushes and root crops are not at all afraid of potato cancer and stem nematodes. In addition, they are not susceptible to late blight.
Alain
Potatoes of this variety will ripen quite early – within 70-75 days from the moment of germination. Alena’s potato bushes are quite sprawling, so when planting, you should adhere to the 60×35 cm pattern.
Alena potatoes have a smooth red surface with small eyes. She is not very large. Most often, its weight will be no more than 150 grams. She has good commercial and taste qualities. The white pulp of this variety contains 15–17% starch. Alena is perfect not only for frying and mashing, but also for cooking french fries.
This potato variety is distinguished by its high and stable yield. In addition, it is immune to the most common potato diseases and has excellent drought tolerance. It is also important that Alena potatoes can be harvested mechanically, which means that they are suitable for growing on an industrial scale.
Zhukovsky early
This early-ripening table variety can begin to be dug up on the 50th day from germination. It has fairly large strongly branched bushes. The smooth surface of the Zhukovsky early potato can be painted pink or red. The weight characteristic of the variety will be between 122 and 167 grams.
Many gardeners fell in love with early Zhukovsky potatoes due to their white flesh, which does not darken after cutting. The starch content in it will be from 10 to 15%. The excellent taste and marketability of potatoes of this variety are complemented by good resistance to potato cancer and nematodes.
Good luck
This early variety of table potatoes has earned its popularity due to its excellent taste. Its tubers, which can be dug up already after 55 days from the first shoots, have a thin and very smooth skin. On its light beige surface of a rounded shape, small and rare eyes will be visible. Weight parameters of potatoes will be 100-130 grams. Starch in the white pulp of Luck will not exceed 15%.
Potato Luck is extremely drought tolerant, so it is often used for cultivation in large areas. In addition, the variety has good resistance to viruses and late blight, but can be attacked by common scab.
The most productive
In the severe weather conditions of Siberia, not many varieties can boast of high yields, even if they are included in them at the selection level. Below we will consider 5 varieties whose productivity is not afraid even of the harsh Siberian climate.
Impala
This Dutch variety of potatoes in the expanses of Siberia shows simply incredible results: up to 360 centners per hectare of land. The first crop of tubers under the tall and dense bushes of the Impala will ripen in a month and a half from the moment of planting.
Like all early varieties, Impala cannot boast of a large tuber size. Their weight will be between 80 and 150 grams. But this does not affect its taste and commercial qualities. The surface of Impala potatoes is smooth and yellow. Small eyes are expressed on it, and light yellow flesh is hidden under it. The starch in the pulp will be about 15%.
Impala refers to those varieties that are resistant to all types of nematodes. But at the same time, it can be affected by late blight and rhizoctoniosis.
Lugovskoy
Lugovsky variety of table potatoes is a pearl of Ukrainian selection. It is actively grown throughout Our Country, including Siberia.
The first harvest of Lugovsky potatoes can be harvested after 75 days from germination. Its tubers are not so large in size, and their weight will be about 85-125 grams. The rind of Lugovskoy is smooth to the touch. On its light pink surface there are small eyes.
The white flesh of these small potatoes has a high starch content of about 19%. The taste and consumer characteristics of this variety are on top. In addition to the standard resistance to black leg, scab and potato cancer, Lugovskoy has resistance to late blight. But before some viruses, he can save.
Liubava
When grown in the climatic conditions of Siberia, the Lyubava potato variety shows almost record yields. When grown on an industrial scale, this variety will bring from 288 to 400 centners per hectare of land.
Lyubava potatoes can be attributed to early ripe varieties, the fruiting of which occurs in 65–70 days. The tubers of this variety have a rather rough red skin, on which eyes of medium depth are visible. The mass of one potato will be 109–210 grams.
Lyubava potato has good taste characteristics and very high keeping quality. The starch in its pulp will be between 11 and 17%.
Scarlet
An early ripe table potato variety that performs well when grown in Siberia. During the May landing, you can dig it up in late June – early July.
Scarlet tubers have a smooth red skin with small eyes. The average weight of potatoes will be 80-150 grams. The flesh of Scarlet is colored yellowish. The starch in it is at an average level, not exceeding 15%.
Scarlet has good resistance to potato cancer and tuber phytophthora.
Timo
Finnish high-yielding potato variety with early ripening – from 60 to 70 days. With the early harvesting of Timo potatoes, you can get up to 240 centners per hectare, and with a late harvest, even more – about 320.
Timo has small, neat, rounded tubers. Most often, their weight does not exceed 100 grams, but potatoes with a weight of 120 grams can also come across. On the smooth skin of Timo, eyes of medium depth are clearly expressed. The skin itself, as well as the flesh hidden behind it, have a light yellow color. The starch content of Timo pulp will be around 12-14%.
The resistance of this potato variety to diseases is not as good as its taste. Timo will not get potato cancer, but he can easily catch late blight and scab.
All varieties considered show excellent results when planted in this climatically difficult region. But when growing them, it is worth remembering that planting potatoes in Siberia is different from planting in more favorable areas. Therefore, before disembarking, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the video:
In addition, reviews of people who have already planted it can help in choosing a potato variety for Siberia. We will present some of them below.