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For those who have just decided to try to grow potatoes in their area, it is always not easy. The experience of previous generations, on the one hand, shows that this is not an easy task, it requires good physical shape, on the other hand, there are so many varieties around that the eyes run wide. But you want everything to work out the first time, otherwise then your hands will drop. Therefore, beginners should take the choice of planting material very seriously so that the work is not in vain. And the variety must be proven and reliable. As if the Aurora potato was created specifically for beginners. In terms of reliability, unpretentiousness to a variety of weather conditions and productivity, few varieties of potatoes can compare with it, and it is also tasty. So, first things first.
Variety description
A description of the Aurora potato variety is best started with its history. This potato variety was obtained by a group of breeders of Vsevolzhskaya Breeding Station CJSC more than 10 years ago. The same organization is also the originator of the variety. In 2006, it was registered in the State Register of Our Country with recommendations for use in nine regions of Our Country. It is interesting that these regions occupy almost the entire European part from the North to the North Caucasus and the Far East region is included separately.
Bushes of this variety are characterized by high height and power, so they receive more sunlight, but also tend to fall apart. Therefore, the hilling of plants of this potato must be carried out repeatedly, otherwise most of the stems will simply lie on the ground. The leaves are also large, the foliage is above average. The leaves themselves are light green, there is a slight waviness along the edges.
Potato bushes of the Aurora variety bloom for a short time, but very beautifully. Corollas of flowers are large, purple-red.
Characteristics of a variety
The potato variety Aurora belongs to the mid-season in terms of ripening. That is, you can harvest in 75 – 90 days after planting.
Potatoes have a fairly high yield. On average, from one hectare you can get 250-300 centners of potatoes. The maximum yield is about 400 centners per hectare.
The safety of potato tubers is also very good and is 94%.
The characteristics of the Aurora variety would be incomplete if not to mention its resistance to diseases. The Aurora variety is highly resistant to golden potato nematode and potato cancer. Resistance to phytophthora of tubers and the aerial part of the bush is rather average.
Tuber characteristics
Aurora potato tubers are distinguished by their oblong shape and rather large size. On average, the weight of one tuber is from 90 to 150 grams. But quite often there are tubers weighing 300 and even 500 grams. The pulp is creamy. The starch content varies from 14 to 17%. A similar percentage of starch content allows you to feast on crumbly tasty boiled potatoes.
Aurora potato peel color is light brown, the peel itself is smooth and thin. The tubers of this variety have a fairly attractive appearance.
There are usually few eyes, they are small in size and not very noticeable, which creates comfortable conditions when peeling potatoes.
The marketability of tubers is quite good and ranges from 85 to 95%.
The flavor profile is just great. It is for its taste that Aurora potatoes are often chosen for re-planting. Almost any potato dish can be made from it.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Aurora variety has many advantages due to which it is planted year after year, even despite the emergence of new interesting varieties.
- High yield;
- Excellent taste qualities – when cooked, the potatoes are fragrant and crumbly;
- Resistance to many diseases;
- Attractive presentation;
- Good keeping quality.
There were no shortcomings in the Aurora variety, except for its mid-ripening. In order to enjoy fresh potatoes as quickly as possible, you will have to choose from other, earlier varieties. But its productivity and good preservation of tubers allow you to provide your family with tasty and healthy potatoes for the whole winter.
Peculiarities of growing
Aurora potatoes, as you probably already understood, are not at all whimsical to growing conditions, but to get record yields, you still have to do everything possible to make the plants feel comfortable.
For faster and more reliable germination of tubers, they must be planted and germinated in a bright and preferably cool place about a month before planting. To plant potatoes, you need to make sure that the earth is already warm enough.
Planting should be done in the manner accepted in your area – in the north it is better to do this in ridges, and in the south, on the contrary, deepening into the ground to protect the tubers from drying out. However, the method of planting also depends on the composition of the soil; on heavy soils, even in the south, it is better to plant potatoes in ridges.
This variety of potatoes tolerates drought very well, therefore, when grown in the middle lane, there may not be a need for watering.
Hilling Aurora potatoes will not only help protect tubers from frost, but also save enough moisture in potato plantings. Since the variety has a sufficient height of the bushes, hilling continues until the beginning of flowering.
A good technique to allow the tubers to ripen as well as possible is to cut off the entire above-ground part of the potato about two weeks before harvesting. After harvesting, the tubers must be well dried and stored.
Testimonials from truck drivers
Despite the fact that the Aurora potato variety has been grown for just over 10 years, it has received many excellent reviews from people who have already recorded it as their favorite and are not going to change their preferences in the coming years.
Conclusion
Aurora potatoes enjoy well-deserved love throughout Our Country, including even the Far East.
