Content
Not long ago, a new variety of potato appeared on the Russian market - Colette. The variety deserves the attention of gardeners and farmers aimed at obtaining an early harvest of tasty tubers with a low starch content, suitable for long-term storage. An important characteristic of the Colette potato is its ability to produce twice a season. The taste and appearance of the vegetables were highly appreciated.
Description and characteristics
Colette was bred by German breeders to produce early-ripening table potatoes. In 2002, the variety was entered into the State Register of the Russian 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 crispy slices are obtained due to the low starch content.
The variety belongs to the early varieties of the crop. Ripening occurs 50-65 days from planting. Pre-sprouting 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:
- The tubers have an elongated oval shape.
- Potatoes are characterized by light beige skin and cream-colored flesh.
- The average weight of a root crop is 100-120 grams. Tubers from 90 to 130 grams are formed on one bush.
- The eyes are small, located on the surface without deep recess.
The starch content in Colette tubers is 12-15%. Such a low indicator allows the potatoes not to overcook and maintain their shape during the cooking process. The safety of vegetables during storage is highly rated 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 new potatoes from one hundred square meters. Upon reaching technical maturity, which occurs after 65-80 days, the yield is up to 250 kg per hundred square meters.
Advantages and disadvantages
Over the short period of cultivation, the variety has gained recognition from both individual gardeners and large farmers. In addition to early harvesting, Colette potatoes have many positive characteristics. There are significantly fewer disadvantages of the variety; their visual relationship is reflected in the table.
Advantages | Flaws |
High taste qualities of tubers | Requirements for soil structure |
Early ripening of the variety | Tendency to late blight |
Possibility to harvest 2 crops per season | Reduced yields in cold climates and lack of moisture |
Resistance to potato blight and golden nematode |
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Long-term preservation of tubers |
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Ability to grow in one place for several years without loss of varietal qualities |
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Harvesting potatoes twice a season is possible only if the seed material for planting undergoes a pre-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. Gardeners call mustard as an ideal predecessor of the variety. The plant helps enrich the soil with phosphorus and nitrogen and protects against tuberous rot. As a result, high potato yields are achieved.
Significant crop losses from late blight, which affects the foliage and root crops of the crop, can be avoided due to the short growing season of the variety. Gardeners manage to dig up the bulk of the vegetables before late blight spreads on the site.
Landing
The calendar date for planting Colette potatoes in the ground varies depending on the growing region. The main indicator that it is time to plant potatoes is soil heated to 10-12°C with a high degree of humidity. Earlier planting of Colette tubers is possible with preliminary germination of the 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. Soil moisture decreases and crop development slows down.
Sprouted potatoes are planted at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. The row spacing must be at least 70 cm. Planting holes are dug 10 cm deep and fertilized with wood ash and humus.
The various methods of preparing potatoes for early planting are described in detail in the video clip.
Care
Colette needs regular grooming. The main efforts of the gardener should be aimed at timely watering, loosening the soil and combating weeds. The variety is also demanding on soil nutrition. A gardener should follow several rules for caring for crops.
- In dry weather, potato beds should be watered generously once a week.
- From the moment the first shoots appear until flowering, you should regularly loosen the soil around the bushes.
- The beds must be promptly cleared of weeds that steal nutrients from the soil.
- The crop needs constant protection from the Colorado potato beetle. Pest control should begin with preventive measures.
Hilling and feeding
Gardeners protect the first sprouts of potatoes from low temperatures by hilling. It is recommended to repeat the procedure until the ovaries form. The event helps to increase productivity due to the active growth of the root system.
Early tuber formation requires large amounts of nutrients. It is recommended to carry out 2-3 main feedings during the season. The variety needs additional fertilizer during bud setting and flowering. Pulling out the tops and lightening the color indicate that the potatoes need to be fed.
Diseases and pests
Colette is rarely affected by potato diseases. He has developed immunity to cancer and golden nematode.Early ripening avoids damage from late blight. The main danger is from crop pests.
Pest | Signs of defeat | Control measures |
Colorado beetle | Eggs laid on the back of the leaf give rise to larvae that feed on the shoots. | Manual collection of beetles and larvae. Spraying with “Prestige” or “Batsikol” |
Wireworm | Damage tubers in which the pest makes passages | Processing seed potatoes before planting, using traps from vegetable peelings |
Potato moth | Moth caterpillars eat green mass and upper tubers | Treatment of plantings with Iskra |
Harvesting
The Colette variety is suitable for manual and mechanical harvesting of tubers due to its dense peel that protects the potatoes from damage. The technical maturity of root crops is indicated by the drying of the tops. From this moment 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 storing the vegetable.
Conclusion
The early Colette variety allows you to grow a double harvest of potatoes, which are praised for their excellent taste and long shelf life. The sweetish tubers of new potatoes are ideal for frying. The commercial qualities of Colette are not lost for several months.
