Potatoes occupy a significant place in human nutrition. Therefore, there is hardly a garden plot without space allocated for its planting. A huge number of delicious and favorite dishes are prepared from potatoes. Russian gardeners consider planting potatoes obligatory and devote significant areas to the crop.
The right variety is the key to a good harvest. The abundance of varieties makes it possible to select a crop with desired characteristics and taste properties. The Sante variety was obtained by Dutch breeders and was included in the State Register of Russia in the early 90s. Since that time, it has been successfully grown by domestic gardeners and enjoys well-deserved popularity.
Description of the variety
The Sante variety is mid-early, 80-90 days pass between planting and harvesting. Productivity depends on soil fertility, weather conditions and where the variety grows. Nevertheless, the yield indicators are quite high: from 275 to 500 centners per hectare. Experienced gardeners give a positive description of the Santa variety potatoes, confirming them with reviews and photos.
- The bush is small, compact, of medium height;
- The plant does not produce abundant green mass;
- The root system is well developed, which contributes to abundant tuber formation. One bush produces up to 20 potatoes;
- The tubers have a round or oval-round shape;
- Each weight reaches 150 g;
- The tubers are the same size;
- The peel is yellowish in color, thin but dense, protecting the tubers from damage. Potatoes are well transported and have a marketable appearance that is attractive to buyers and is well stored;
- There are many ocelli, but they are superficial and shallow. The tubers are easy to clean and remain smooth;
- When cut, the potatoes are colored a pleasant yellow color, the taste is very good;
- A special feature of the Sante variety is its small proportion of starch (10 - 12.5%). This means that the potato tubers will not boil over during cooking, but will retain their shape. The Sante variety is best suited for making French fries, fried potatoes, seasoning soups, baking and stuffing. The tubers have an excellent taste, peeled, and do not darken for a long time. When cooked, a crispy crust forms;
- The variety is rich in vitamins B, C, amino acids and microelements;
- The choice of Sante potatoes is also supported by the fact that this variety is resistant to diseases that usually affect early and mid-early potato varieties. The Sante variety is resistant to late blight, the most dangerous potato disease, which can cause loss of more than 70% of the harvest. The variety is not affected by potato scab, viruses and nematodes.
The Sante variety has a number of advantages. That's why Russian gardeners fell in love with it. Many remain faithful to the variety for many years also because it is not capricious when grown. Looking at the photo, it becomes clear that the description of the Santa variety potatoes is true.
Features of cultivation
To enjoy the rich harvest of the Sante variety, you should follow simple agricultural practices.
For planting, choose flat areas without slopes. The soil should be prepared in the fall.Dig up and apply fertilizer. Manure and mineral fertilizers, ash should also be applied in the fall, since during the winter they turn into a form convenient for assimilation by plants. Moreover, applying fresh manure in the spring can cause potato diseases. Potassium and phosphorus are what potatoes need, but excess nitrogen, on the contrary, can cause a decrease in yield.
In the fall, take care of the seed material. Correct selection of tubers is important for the future harvest. For planting, select medium-sized Santa potatoes, about the size of a chicken egg. A common mistake is when very small tubers that are not suitable for food are left for seeds. This approach leads to degeneration of the Sante variety and deterioration in yield indicators.
To get an earlier harvest and strong, friendly shoots, it is recommended to germinate Santa potatoes before planting. In 3-4 weeks, seed potatoes are lifted from storage places and placed in a bright room with a temperature of at least 15 degrees. Tubers are placed in boxes or bags with holes, or scattered on the floor if space allows. Sprouts should be no more than 5 mm before planting, since longer ones break off during transportation.
High temperatures during germination accelerate the formation of seedlings, but also weaken the tuber itself. Watch the video on how to prepare Santa potatoes for germination:
When planting the Santa variety, certain agrotechnical standards must be observed.Since the variety has a developed root system, plant the tubers at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other. The row spacing should be at least 50-60 cm. Maintaining the recommended distance between plants will allow you to have a supply of soil during hilling, and Santa potato bushes will feel the best, since this variety is a light-loving variety.
The question of how deep to deepen the tubers when planting directly depends on the type of soil. If the soils are clayey and dense, then it is better to plant tubers in prepared ridges, deepening them to 5 cm. When planting in sandy soils, potato tubers should be placed at a depth of 13-15 cm.
The Santa variety loves warmth. Therefore it's too early planting potatoes into the ground is impractical. You should wait until the time of return frosts has passed and the soil warms up to +9 degrees. At lower temperatures, plant growth stops, and it will be very difficult to wait for a good harvest from plantings that are lagging behind in development. The optimal conditions for the growth and fruiting of Sante potatoes are a temperature of no more than +28 degrees and moderate humidity.
Regular potato care involves timely removal weed, watering, hilling and fertilizing. If watering is required and you have the opportunity to organize it, then you should take advantage of it, as you can significantly increase the yield of your plantings. Santa potatoes respond best to drip irrigation. Fertilize regularly, alternating organic fertilizers with mineral ones.
Weeding and hilling are traditional activities when growing potatoes. When hilling, additional tubers are formed and the oxygen supply to the potatoes is improved, which is especially important if the soils are heavy. In addition, weeds are destroyed. Hilling collects potato branches and gives them a vertical position. Thus, the foliage will receive maximum sunlight, which is especially important during the period of bud formation, since at this time tubers are laid in the underground part of the plant.
Harvesting of the Sante variety occurs 80-90 days after planting. Before harvesting, experienced gardeners mow the tops and leave the tubers in the ground for about another 1.5 weeks. Such actions increase the preservation qualities of potatoes; the peel becomes stronger and is not damaged during harvesting and transportation.
The Sante variety stores well. Before storing potatoes for long-term storage, they must dry thoroughly.
Conclusion
Sante variety potatoes are suitable for growing in small private farms and large farming companies selling vegetables. The variety is very promising, high-yielding, and disease-resistant. It is a godsend for restaurateurs, as it retains its attractive appearance when cooked, keeps its shape, and forms a crispy crust when fried. For farmers, the variety is attractive because it is well stored, produces consistently high yields, and is undemanding in growing conditions.
