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Not all gardeners are interested in potato yield; for many of them, especially for summer residents, timing is more important maturation. After all, the favorite summer dish of many Russians is boiled new potatoes.
Photos and reviews of early varieties of potatoes will help you choose the appropriate variety of this root vegetable. The article will present the classification of early potato varieties, their characteristics, photos and descriptions.
What is special about early-ripening potatoes?
Early varieties of potatoes are most in demand among gardeners for several reasons. First of all, this is, of course, an opportunity to enjoy young potatoes at the beginning of summer.
But besides this quality, early potatoes have several more advantages:
- you don’t have to take long to care for the bushes - it’s enough to water early-ripening potatoes two or three times a season and, if necessary, treat them with insecticides;
- thanks to the short growing season, early-ripening potato varieties do not experience the peak of late blight - one of the most dangerous diseases of the nightshade family;
- you can grow two crops in one season, and in the southern regions, skilled gardeners manage to harvest potatoes from their plots three times in one summer;
- modern varieties of early-ripening potatoes are not inferior to others in terms of taste and yield.
According to the growing season, all early potato varieties are divided into several types:
- Ultra-early potato varieties manage to produce a harvest in just 45-60 days after the appearance of the first shoots.
- Early potatoes ripen within 60-70 days.
- Mid-early potato varieties ripen 7-10 days later - tubers can be harvested 70-80 days after the first shoots appear on the beds.
Varieties with later ripening dates are classified as medium- and late ripening. It is these potatoes that are planted for the purpose of sale or long-term storage. While early varieties are mainly used and sold in their “young” form, while the tubers are covered with thin skin and the pulp is tender and aromatic.
How to choose an early potato variety
When choosing early or extra-early potato varieties for their plots, gardeners should remember that any variety of root crop has its own “requirements”:
- to the climatic features of the region;
- to the composition of the soil;
- to treatment with fertilizers and other special means;
- to the frequency of watering and regularity of care.
Therefore, when choosing a potato variety, you need to take into account several factors at once and analyze your own needs and capabilities.You should not recklessly buy the “most productive” or “tastiest” potatoes without learning about the needs and characteristics of a particular variety.
"Alyona"
An ultra-early ripening potato variety, root crops ripen in just 45 days after the first shoots appear. The average yield is 1.5 kg per square meter of garden, but with good care and sufficient watering this figure can be increased to 4.5 kg.
The root vegetables are oval in shape, pink in color, and have snow-white flesh. Potatoes are great for making mashed potatoes, they are also good to fry or add to soups and borscht. The percentage of starch content is average - about 15-17%. The average fruit weight is 130 grams. The appearance of root crops is highly marketable, potatoes can be stored for a long time, has a pleasant taste.
Plants are protected from most viral diseases; fungal pathogens are not dangerous for the Alena variety.
"Ariel"
Another ultra-early ripening potato variety, the growing season of which is only 45 days. Thanks to this, root crops do not have time to catch the peak of development of late blight, rarely get sick, and the variety produces consistently high yields.
It is possible to grow “Ariel” twice per season, which cannot but please those farmers who plant potatoes for sale.
Potatoes are colored yellow, the flesh is also yellowish. The shape of the tubers is oblong. The taste is high, the root vegetables do not darken after cutting and cleaning, the puree is homogeneous, without dark inclusions.
Despite the early ripening period, the variety is suitable for long-term storage.
"Riviera"
Potatoes of this variety are considered super early - with the right approach, it is possible to grow the crop within 35 days.The bushes are low, bloom with red-violet inflorescences.
Potatoes are oval in shape, the peel and pulp of the root crops are colored yellowish. The tubers have an excellent presentation and can be stored and transported. For commercial purposes, this variety can be grown two or even three times per season.
Potatoes of Dutch selection protected from most viral diseases, but does not tolerate late blight. Therefore, the bushes must be regularly inspected to prevent the tubers from becoming infected with fungus.
The taste of potatoes is excellent, the starch content is average.
"Timo"
The brainchild of Finnish breeders produces a low or medium bush, decorated with violet-blue inflorescences. The average weight of the root crop is 90 grams. Potatoes are round or oval, have slightly “recessed” eyes, and are colored yellow. The peel is smooth, the flesh is also yellow.
Potatoes do not get overcooked and have a good taste and aroma. Each bush ripens up to nine potatoes. To enjoy young potatoes, the tubers can be dug up 40 days after germination.
Plants do not like low temperatures and do not tolerate frost well. This potato is resistant to many diseases, but it can be harmed by scab or late blight. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the level of acidity of the soil in the area, and also not to over-moisten the soil with too frequent and abundant watering.
"Karatop"
A variety developed by German breeders. Potato bushes of medium height, bloom with white inflorescences. The root crops have an elongated shape, are colored yellow, and have a minimal number of eyes.
The starch content is low - about 11%. The average weight of a potato is approximately 80 grams.Full ripening occurs 60-70 days after emergence. The harvest is ripe, and the taste of the tubers is high.
In each hole you can find up to 25 potatoes, which ensures high yield of the variety. Among other advantages, the Karatop variety boasts increased resistance to late blight.
"Rosara"
German universal-purpose potatoes with early ripening. The harvest can be harvested 50 days after the tubers have sprouted and the first green shoots have appeared in the beds. Semi-spreading, low-growing potato bushes bloom with red-violet inflorescences.
The root vegetables are oblong in shape, the skin has a red tint, and the flesh is yellow. There are few eyes on the tubers. After cooking, the potatoes do not become soft and dark; the taste is quite pleasant. Root vegetables can be stored for a long time.
In each hole, 14-16 tubers ripen, the average weight of each is 90 grams. The variety tolerates cold weather, short-term frosts or too wet soil. The plant is protected from most diseases inherent in potatoes.
This variety is suitable for long-term cultivation - potato seeds can not be changed for 4-5 years. Such stability will not affect the yield of root crops in any way.
"Bellarose"
Very tasty early ripening potatoes of German selection. Tubers ripen by the 45th day after emergence. The bushes are quite tall, powerful, and bloom with red-violet inflorescences.
Root crops have a round shape, their distinctive feature is their large mass. There are cases when Bellarosa tubers reached 800 grams. Of course, this is an exception; as a rule, the weight of potatoes does not exceed 200 grams.
In each bush, up to ten root crops ripen at the same time, which, with such a mass, provides the variety with a stable yield. The potatoes themselves are smooth, have an excellent presentation, are colored pink, and have beige flesh. Potatoes boil well and are considered very tasty.
"Lark"
A domestic variety belonging to the group of early ripening varieties - potatoes ripen in about 50 days after germination. The bushes can be recognized by their tall growth and leveled shape; they bloom with blue inflorescences.
The root vegetables themselves are painted white. Their shape is slightly flattened, oval. Tubers with small eyes and soft creamy flesh. About 10-12 potatoes ripen in one bush.
Potatoes are very tasty, boil well, and contain a large amount of starch. The plant is protected from many diseases, including scab and late blight.
"Impala"
One of the most beloved varieties of early ripening potatoes by Russian gardeners and summer residents. The bushes of this potato are tall, erect, and bloom white. The root vegetables are oval, their skin is yellow, the flesh is creamy, and the eyes are small.
The potatoes are quite large - the average weight is 120 grams. The variety is valued for its early ripening, resistance to viruses and diseases, high yield, unpretentiousness, and excellent taste.
These potatoes can be stored in winter; they are quite shelf-stable and keep well.
Review of Impala potatoes
"Romano"
Early ripening potatoes of Dutch selection - ripen on the 80th day after the appearance of the first shoots. Plants are erect, tall bushes. The tubers are oval, their skin is dense, pink in color, and there are few eyes. The pulp of the root vegetables is cream-colored.
This potato is considered universal: it is used for a wide variety of culinary needs. The tubers are truly tasty and aromatic. The percentage of starch content in root vegetables is 12. The average weight of potatoes is 70-80 grams.
It is believed that the Romano variety is unpretentious to the composition and type of soil, can tolerate drought, produces stable yields, and is protected from many diseases and viruses.
How early ripening potatoes are grown in Russia
It is necessary to plant ultra-early potato varieties in heated soil. By the time of planting, the soil should warm up to at least six degrees. Experienced gardeners recommend pre-germinating potato seeds to speed up the ripening of tubers and shorten the growing season.
Early potatoes are sprouted in this way:
- they sort through the seed material and select potatoes the size of a chicken egg (their average weight should be 70-80 grams);
- mix sawdust with peat in equal proportions and pour it into wooden boxes in a thin layer;
- The substrate prepared for germination must be watered with any complex fertilizer diluted in water;
- The potatoes are laid out close to each other and slightly buried in a mixture of sawdust and peat. It is impossible to bury the tubers completely, this will lead to the sprouts stretching due to lack of sunlight;
- on hot and sunny days, the substrate in the boxes must be irrigated with warm, settled water;
- the temperature in the planting room should be maintained at 10-15 degrees;
- On the 25-30th day after planting the seeds, the plants along with a lump of substrate are transferred to a permanent place.
In central Russia, potatoes are planted, as a rule, in early to mid-April, when the ground has warmed up sufficiently and the danger of severe frosts has disappeared.
Photos and descriptions of different varieties of this vegetable will help you choose early potatoes.And the method of growing root crops with early ripening is practically no different from the usual: the bushes need to be watered abundantly and organic fertilizers must be applied several times a season.
