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Late ripening potato varieties They are not very common in Russian gardens. It's all about the features potatoes with a long growing season. It takes 95 to 140 days for root crops to ripen after the first shoots appear; warm weather does not last that long in all regions of the country. Therefore, most often late varieties of potatoes are grown in the southern regions, where the summer season covers May and September.
What is special about late potatoes, and what varieties of this vegetable are best to prefer for your garden - this article is about this.
Characteristics of late potatoes
Late varieties of potatoes are divided into two categories:
- mid-late;
- late.
Mid-late potato varieties ripen 95-110 days after the first shoots appear in the beds. At the same time, late potatoes have a growing season of 110-140 days.
The features of both mid-late potatoes and simply late potatoes are the same:
- These root vegetables contain the largest amount of nutrients and carbohydrates - potato dishes are filling and very tasty.
- The percentage of starch in tubers ranges from 12 to 20%, which is an average figure, that is, the tubers boil well, but at the same time can retain their shape in soups and other dishes.
- Potatoes of late varieties have the best shelf life - these root crops can last until next summer without losing their presentation and taste. Therefore, late varieties are more often grown than others for the purpose of long-term storage.
- Due to the long growing season, potatoes catch the peak development of all diseases, from late blight to scab, therefore, when choosing a variety for your site, it is necessary to give preference to well-protected hybrids and varieties, and also regularly treat the bushes with special preparations.
- Tubers of late varieties should only be dug up in dry weather; there should be no soil left on the potatoes, otherwise they will not be suitable for long-term storage.
"Asterix"
These potatoes belong to the varieties Dutch selection, but it is perfectly zoned for the Far Eastern and Middle Volga regions of Russia.
The bushes grow up to 80 cm, erect, not spreading. Potatoes bloom with red-violet inflorescences. The growing season of the variety is 110-120 days after emergence.
The shape of the root crops is oval, the tubers are colored red. The taste characteristics of potatoes are excellent. This variety is often used for french fries or the industrial production of potato chips.
The variety is quite productive - up to 300 centners of vegetables can be harvested from each hectare of land. Each bush ripens approximately 2 kg of potatoes.
Plants are hardened against most diseases such as fusarium, golden nematode, canker and scab. Potatoes are also not afraid of viral diseases and have immunity against late blight.
"Crane"
This variety was selected in Belarus, but has taken root well in the central part of Russia. The ripening period ranges from 100 to 110 days, which makes it possible to classify the variety as medium-late.
The plants are medium-sized – up to 60 cm high, spreading, blooming with red-violet inflorescences. The skin of the potatoes is also red, the tubers are quite large and round.
The variety is distinguished by a very high yield - with proper care, up to 600 centners of root crops can be harvested per hectare of field. About 16 medium-sized tubers ripen in each bush.
The Zhuravinka variety is resistant to weather and climatic conditions; potatoes tolerate periods of drought and sharp drops in temperature. But the weak point of the variety is considered to be its predisposition to infection with late blight; potato leaves and tubers most often suffer from this disease.
The late variety is protected from nematodes, cancer and scab, and is not afraid of blackleg.
"Zarnitsa"
Another potato native to Belarus, which can also bear fruit well in southern and central Russia. This variety takes from 120 to 140 days to ripen, so gardeners from the middle zone need to carefully analyze the climate in their locality before choosing this variety for planting.
The bushes are low, only 60 cm, the plants bloom with red-violet inflorescences, and the root crops have a red skin. The potatoes are quite large, the average weight of each is about 120 grams.
About 15 tubers ripen in each hole at the same time.The yield of the variety is considered high - more than 500 centners per hectare of land.
A distinctive feature of the Zarnitsa variety is its unpretentiousness to the soil composition - potatoes bear fruit equally well on any soil. Another plus is drought resistance.
But the variety is “afraid” of viruses and diseases; late blight and other fungal diseases can be destructive for it. But the variety is protected from blackleg, scab, nematode and potato cancer.
"Zdabytok"
Potatoes with a purely Belarusian name also grow well in Russia. The growing season ranges from 120 to 140 days after planting the tubers.
Bushes of medium height, bloom with red-violet inflorescences. The tubers are colored red and have a fairly large mass - 100-120 grams.
Up to 15 potatoes ripen in each hole, which allows you to collect up to 320 centners of potatoes per hectare of land, suitable for storage and transportation.
This variety is distinguished by a high percentage of starch in its composition - up to 28%, which significantly affects the boilability and nutritional value of the tubers. These potatoes make wonderful mashed potatoes and casseroles.
Plants are partially protected from late blight and do not suffer from nematodes, scab and cancer.
"Lorch"
One of the oldest potato varieties, selected in Russia, acclimatized for the central part of the country and southern regions. Tubers ripen after 120-140 days from the planting date.
The bushes are quite tall - up to 0.8 meters, erect, bloom with inflorescences of a red-violet hue. Root vegetables are colored in a light beige shade. The average weight of potatoes is 120 grams.
In each hole at the end of the season you can find up to 15 large potatoes. The yield of the variety is considered good and amounts to about 350 centners per hectare of fields.The taste of potatoes is excellent, there is a lot of starch in it (about 20%). Tubers can be stored until the next season without loss of taste and nutritional value.
Plants are protected from late blight, bacteriosis and various viruses. But this variety will have to be protected from cancer and scab; Lorch has no immunity against these diseases.
Potatoes do not like drought and too much heat, so you need to provide regular artificial watering of the area and monitor the condition of the soil between the bushes.
"Saturn"
A mid-late potato variety, which is most often used for processing and producing potato products. The taste is normal, but tastier potatoes can be found for family consumption.
But for industrial scale, for the production of alcohol and starch, these potatoes are ideal. The plants are tall and bloom with white inflorescences.
The tubers are oval in shape, yellowish in color, the skin of the root vegetables is rough, and the flesh is yellow. The starch content is high – up to 21%. The average weight of root vegetables is 100 grams.
Potatoes keep well, transportable, can be grown for sale. The yield is good - up to 280 centners per hectare. The most important advantage is that potatoes are not afraid of viral and bacterial diseases and are protected from late blight, cancer and scab.
"Gull"
Late-ripening variety of domestic selection, intended for consumption. The growing season is a maximum of 120 days after planting. It is preferable to grow potatoes in the Volga-Vyatka and North-Western regions of Russia.
Medium-sized potatoes, each weighing from 75 to 120 grams. The tubers are colored yellow, the flesh inside is light yellow.The taste qualities are quite high - potatoes are suitable for preparing almost all dishes. The percentage of starch content is low - up to 15%.
Up to 11 tubers ripen in a hole. The yield of the variety is high - up to 400 centners per hectare of land. The storage capacity of root crops is very good - about 92% of the harvest will last until the next season.
Potatoes are resistant to cancer, moderately susceptible to nematodes and late blight of leaves and tubers, and may be affected by scab in some seasons.
The methods of caring for plants are standard; experts recommend germinating the tubers before planting them in the ground.
"Atlant"
Belarusian potatoes, “useful” in most of Russia. The growing season of the variety is 100-120 days from the date of planting the tubers.
The tubers are yellow in color, have a thick skin and dense light yellow pulp. The taste qualities are very high, potatoes are suitable for preparing any dishes, as well as for processing and making chips.
The shape of the root vegetables is round-oval, they contain a large amount of starch - up to 21%. Potatoes weigh from 90 to 120 grams.
The Atlant variety copes well with viruses and diseases and is able to resist nematodes and late blight. Potatoes produce consistently high yields - up to 650 centners per hectare, regardless of weather conditions and temperature.
Recommendations for growing late potatoes
It is clear that with such ripening periods, late-ripening potatoes do not qualify for harvesting two or three times per season, which, of course, affects the yield.However, this drawback is more than compensated by the excellent taste of the tubers, as well as the ability of the potato to retain its presentation for a long time and feed the gardener’s family until the next harvest.
When growing late varieties of potatoes in the southern part of the country, you do not have to worry that the root crops will not have time to ripen - the potatoes will have enough time to fully ripen. Already in the central regions of Russia, late potatoes need to be planted with caution - there is a high probability of being caught in spring frosts or not being able to dig up tubers from dry soil (autumn rains can take them by surprise).
For the northern part of the country, growing late potatoes is the exception rather than the norm. If a gardener nevertheless decides to take such a risky step, he is recommended to pre-germinate the tubers, and then plant the finished bushes in the beds. This is the only way to reduce the time the plants spend in the garden and manage to get a good harvest.
Late varieties of potatoes have their own advantages, so they are in demand by gardeners no less than early-ripening varieties. When growing such potatoes, you must follow some rules and choose high-quality seed material.
I'm looking for a potato variety. I don't know what it's called. Dark crimson color with yellow flesh. Late or mid-late. Round oval.