Content
The White Swan potato is a recently bred variety that has already surprised many summer residents with its productivity. Each bush produces from 15 to 30 tubers, all of them large. The mass reaches 200-250 g, often 300-500 g. Therefore, up to 5-6 kg, sometimes up to 10 kg, can be collected from each plant. The variety is undemanding to care, but requires regular watering. Responds well to organic fertilizers.
Where and how was the White Swan potato variety obtained?
Not much is known about the origin of the White Swan potato variety. The exact data is not publicly available. Moreover, it appeared in Russia relatively recently. Not included in the register of selection achievements. However, some summer residents have already appreciated the variety for its high starch content, excellent taste and very high yield, which can reach 10 kg per bush.
Description of potato variety White Swan
In the description of the potato variety you can find the main characteristics of the bush and tubers.The data required for cultivation is presented below.
Bush
The White Swan potato bush is not very tall (up to 60 cm). The shoots are erect, the degree of foliage is average. Medium sized leaves and flowers. The color of the tops is dark green, the surface is wrinkled. The flowers range in shades from white to bluish.
Tubers
Each White Swan potato bush produces quite a lot of tubers - from 18 to 30 pieces. All of them are large in size, there are no small root crops, so medium-sized potatoes are selected for seeds.
The average weight of each tuber is 150-250 g, although some specimens reach 400-500 g, which is a kind of record. The peel is quite thin, the color is light pink. The eyes are violet, with a pinkish tint. The pulp is white and does not darken when cut.
The surface of the tubers is smooth
Characteristics of the White Swan potato
White Swan potatoes have a pleasant taste and good yield. The main characteristics of the variety are described below.
Taste qualities
The taste of potatoes is excellent, since the pulp contains a large proportion of starch - about 10-15%. Thanks to this, it boils well. The potatoes are crumbly. Suitable for making purees, potato pancakes, and, to a lesser extent, for frying.
White Swan potatoes are also distinguished by their high protein content - more than 2% by weight. It is this combination that provides high taste qualities. The composition also contains vitamins C, B1, B2 and B5. Therefore, root vegetables are not only tasty, but also healthy.
Ripening time
According to the ripening period, the White Swan potato belongs to the early varieties. From the moment of sprouting to harvesting, it takes from 80 to 90 days (depending on the weather and the characteristics of care).Therefore, if you plant tubers during the May holidays, the harvest can be harvested in mid-August. This is a completely acceptable period for most regions of Russia.
Productivity
The distinctive advantage of the White Swan potato variety is associated with its high yield. Each bush produces up to 30 large tubers. Therefore, even with minimal care, you can collect at least 3-4 kg from one plant, often 5-6 and even 10 kg. If we talk about the yield of one hundred square meters, the figure averages 400-500 kg and often more.
Where is it grown?
Potatoes of the White Swan variety are intended for cultivation in the Central region of Russia:
- middle zone, including the Moscow region;
- Volga region;
- Volga-Vyatka region;
- Chernozem region.
- Srednevolzhsky district;
- southern regions, including the North Caucasus.
The culture is quite demanding of light and moisture. The ripening period is short - within three months. Therefore, this variety can be cultivated in other regions, for example, in the Urals and in the south of Western Siberia.
Disease resistance
Another advantage of the White Swan potato variety is good immunity to common diseases. The culture is resistant to a number of fungal infections:
- late blight;
- rhizoctoniasis;
- rust;
- black mold.
Immunity to scab and black spot is less pronounced. Bushes can suffer from virus Y, as well as from Colorado potato beetles, nematodes and other pests.
Advantages and disadvantages
White Swan potatoes are characterized by several advantages. The most obvious thing is record yields. The tubers are large, and at least 15-18 of them appear on each bush. The pulp is truly tasty. This allows you to grow crops both for yourself and for sale.
The variety is characterized by very high productivity
Pros:
- excellent taste;
- early ripening;
- medium-sized bushes (do not take up much space);
- good immunity to common diseases;
- rapid formation of tubers.
Minuses:
- no resistance to scab;
- may be affected by virus Y;
- lack of drought resistance;
- demanding care - needs additional watering;
- All tubers are large and more difficult to store.
Landing rules
The rules for planting potatoes of the White Swan variety are standard. The site for it is chosen to be well-lit and without flooding by groundwater, as well as without stagnation of rain moisture. If the field is in a lowland, it needs to be dug up a little to create a hill.
It is first recommended to add organic matter (compost, humus) in the amount of 7-10 kg per square meter. If the soil contains a large proportion of clay, sawdust or sand is added to it when digging (up to 1 kg for the same area).
Potatoes grow well on sandy loam soils with a neutral reaction (pH within 6-7). If the soil is too acidic, dolomite flour should be added to it (200 g per 1 m2). You can measure the indicator using indicator paper or a pH meter.
On the eve of planting (3-4 weeks before), White Swan potato tubers begin to germinate. They are laid in 2-3 layers in a cool room (15 degrees) with access to natural light, and periodically sprayed with water. On the day of planting, treat with a solution of “Fitosporin” or another fungicide.
Planting of White Swan potatoes is planned for mid-May, although in the southern regions work can be planned for the end of April. Sequencing:
- Smooth the surface, clean from plant debris.
- Mark several rows at 60 cm intervals.
- Dig holes 10 cm deep.Maintain a distance of 40 cm between them.
- Plant a tuber per hole, sprinkle a little with wood ash.
- Lay a layer of soil and water with settled water.
If there is a threat of late spring return frosts, the planting date should be postponed by 1-2 weeks. If necessary, you can use cover at night.
Features of care
When caring for White Swan potatoes, you need to take several features into account. The culture is not drought-resistant; the plants do not tolerate heat well. If it is hot outside, watering should be given twice a week. In other cases, you can irrigate once every 7-10 days.
Potatoes are responsive to watering and fertilizers
The culture needs feeding. To do this, use organic matter - an infusion of mullein or bird droppings. It is necessary to water after planting, at the budding stage and immediately after flowering.
Hilling of White Swan potatoes is carried out at least twice per season. The first time the procedure is done after the seedlings grow to 10-15 cm. Then it is repeated 1-2 more times with an interval of 10-14 days. Moreover, the last hilling must be done before flowering.
Plantings are periodically weeded (both the furrows themselves and the inter-row spaces). At the same time, loosen the soil. This is especially important to do after heavy rains or heavy watering. Otherwise, the surface layer of soil will be compressed and the roots will lose access to air.
It is worth remembering that the White Swan potato is not immune to some diseases, so seedlings 10-15 cm high should be treated with any fungicide:
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Quadris";
- "Prestige";
- "Fitosporin".
White Swan potato bushes may suffer from Colorado potato beetles and other pests.Therefore, they should be periodically inspected and, if necessary, treated with insecticides:
- "Spark";
- "Fufanon";
- "Biotlin";
- "Decis".
"Fufanon" is one of the powerful drugs against common pests
Harvest and storage
The White Swan potato harvest is harvested in the middle or second half of August. To do this, choose a good, clear day without rain. 2-3 weeks before this, the bushes stop being watered, and the tops are also removed.
After digging, the tubers are allowed to lie in the furrow to dry. Then they are sorted and stored. The first two weeks are kept at temperatures up to 15 degrees, then put in a cool room (2-4 °C) with moderate humidity (70%).
Conclusion
The White Swan potato is a high-yielding variety. It has a pleasant taste, very large tubers and early ripening. The pulp is starchy and crumbly. Tubers are most often used for cooking. Agricultural technology is not very complicated, so even a novice summer resident can cope with cultivation.
Reviews from gardeners about White Swan potatoes
