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Not so long ago, a new variety of potatoes appeared on the market – Colette. The variety deserves the attention of gardeners and farmers, aimed at obtaining an ultra-early harvest of tasty tubers with a low starch content, suitable for long storage. An important characteristic of the Colette potato is its ability to produce twice a season. The taste and appearance of vegetables were highly appreciated.
Description and characteristics
Colette was bred by German breeders to obtain early ripening table potatoes. In 2002, the variety was entered into the State Register of the Federation and recommended for cultivation in the territories of the Central, Volga-Vyatka and North Caucasus regions. Colette is widely used for frying, making chips and french fries. Dense crunchy slices are obtained due to the low starch content.
The variety belongs to the early varieties of culture. Ripening occurs in 50-65 days from the moment of planting. Pre-germination of potatoes makes it possible to harvest as early as mid-June.
Colette forms vertical bushes of medium height. The foliage is rich green with slight wavy. The flower has a traditional yellow-violet color. The appearance of the root crop has a number of distinctive characteristics:
- Tubers have an elongated oval shape.
- Potatoes are characterized by a light beige skin and cream-colored flesh.
- The average weight of the root crop is 100-120 gr. Tubers from 90 to 130 gr are formed on one bush.
- The eyes are small, located on the surface without strong penetration.
The starch content in Colette tubers is 12-15%. Such a low rate allows the potatoes not to boil soft and keep their shape during the cooking process. The safety of the vegetable during storage is highly appreciated by experts, the figure exceeds 90%.
The yield of the variety depends on the growing conditions and the ripening period of the tubers. If you start harvesting after 45-50 days, you can get 110-130 kg of young potatoes from one hundred square meters. Upon reaching technical maturity, which occurs in 65-80 days, the yield is up to 250 kg per hundred square meters.
Advantages and disadvantages
For a short period of cultivation, the variety has received recognition from both individual gardeners and large farmers. In addition to early harvest, Colette potatoes have many positive characteristics. There are significantly fewer cons of the variety, their visual ratio is shown in the table.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
High palatability of tubers | Demanding on soil structure |
Early ripening variety | Tendency to phytophthora |
Ability to harvest 2 crops per season | Reduced yields in cold climates and lack of moisture |
Resistance to potato cancer and golden nematode |
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Long-term storage of tubers |
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The ability to grow in one place for several years without loss of varietal qualities |
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Harvesting potatoes 2 times per season is possible only if the seed material for planting undergoes a preliminary germination procedure. This method of planting allows you to shorten the ripening period and plant Colette twice.
The variety can be grown in the same area. Planting Colette after legumes, winter and annual grasses increases the yield. As an ideal predecessor of the variety, gardeners call mustard. The plant contributes to the enrichment of the soil with phosphorus and nitrogen, protects against tuber rot. The result is a high potato yield.
Significant yield losses from late blight, which affects the foliage and root crops of the crop, can be avoided due to the short vegetation period of the variety. Gardeners have time to dig up the bulk of the vegetables before the spread of phytophthora on the site.
Landing
The calendar date for planting Colette potatoes in the ground varies depending on the region of cultivation. The main indicator that the time has come to plant potatoes is soil warmed up to 10-12 ° C with a high degree of humidity. Earlier planting of Colette tubers is possible with preliminary germination of seed material. In this case, potato sprouts are able to develop at a temperature of 3-5°C. Late planting of the variety negatively affects the yield. Moisture in the soil decreases, and the development of the crop slows down.
Sprouted potatoes are planted at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. Row spacing should be at least 70 cm. Planting holes are dug 10 cm deep and fertilized with wood ash and humus.
Details about the various ways to prepare potatoes for early planting are described in the video clip.
Care
Colette needs regular care. The main efforts of the gardener should be directed to timely watering, loosening the soil and weed control. The variety is also demanding on the nutritional value of the soil. The gardener should be guided by several rules for caring for the crop.
- In dry weather, potato beds should be watered abundantly once a week.
- From the moment the first shoots appear until flowering, you should regularly loosen the ground around the bushes.
- The beds must be freed in a timely manner from weeds that steal nutrients from the soil.
- Culture needs constant protection from the Colorado potato beetle. Pest control must begin with preventive measures.
Hilling and top dressing
Gardeners protect the first potato sprouts from low temperatures by hilling. The procedure is recommended to be repeated until the formation of ovaries. The event contributes to an increase in productivity due to the active growth of the root system.
Early tuber formation requires a large amount of nutrients. During the season, it is recommended to carry out 2-3 main dressings. The variety needs additional fertilizer during budding and flowering. Pulling the tops, lightening the color signal that the potatoes need to be fed.
Diseases and pests
Colette is rarely affected by potato diseases. He has developed immunity to cancer and the golden nematode. Early maturity avoids phytophthora damage. The main danger is pests of culture.
Pest | Signs of defeat | Control measures |
Colorado beetle | From eggs laid on the back of the leaf, larvae appear that feed on shoots. | Manual collection of beetle and larvae. Spraying with Prestige or Batsikol |
Wireworm | Damage to tubers in which the pest makes moves | Processing seed potatoes before planting, using vegetable peeling traps |
Potato moth | Moth caterpillars eat green mass and upper tubers | Treatment of landings with the drug “Iskra” |
Harvesting
The Colette variety is suitable for manual and mechanical harvesting of tubers due to its dense skin that protects potatoes from damage. The drying of tops testifies to the technical maturity of root crops. From this point on, you can start collecting vegetables. Watering should be stopped 2 weeks before digging up the bushes. It is advisable to harvest in dry weather to avoid problems with the storage of vegetables.
Conclusion
An early variety, Colette produces a double crop of potatoes, which are praised for their great taste and long shelf life. Sweet tubers of young potatoes are ideal for frying. Commodity qualities of Colette are not lost for several months.