Content
Potato Evolution is a variety originally created for cultivation on an industrial scale. But, thanks to its significant advantages, it was quickly appreciated by amateur gardeners. It consistently produces good yields, despite not particularly favorable climatic and weather conditions, has good immunity, and requires minimal care.
History of origin
The Evolution potato was bred in 2011 in the Netherlands by breeders from the company AGRICO U.A., based near the city of Emmeloord. An application for official registration in the Russian Federation was submitted a year later. The necessary variety tests were successful; in 2015, the variety was included in the domestic State Register of Breeding Achievements.
In the description of the variety, the originator draws attention to early ripening, presentability and good immunity.
Description of Evolution potato variety with photo
The appearance of tubers is the first thing many gardeners pay attention to when choosing a variety. Potato Evolution looks very presentable. Undoubtedly, this is one of the factors that ensured the rapid growth of its popularity not only in its homeland, but also in many other countries.
Bush
The bushes are quite tall, growing up to 70-80 cm. Depending on the climate and weather, the densely leafy stems can be either semi-erect or lodging. The leaves have a typical shape for the crop, a rich green hue, large or very large. The flowers are bright purple, sometimes lilac-burgundy.
The shape of the bushes varies from fairly compact to spreading
Tubers
The tubers are large, weighing 85-145 g. The shape varies from oval to noticeably elongated. There are almost no “little things” unsuitable for long-term storage and inconvenient to clean in the “nests”.
The peel is reddish-pink or brown-crimson. The “eyes” are superficial, small, concentrated mainly in the upper third of the tuber. The pulp is creamy-yellow, quite dense and elastic; when boiling, frying, slicing after heat treatment, it retains its shape and does not “fall apart.”
The percentage of marketable tubers in Evolution potatoes is high – 76-97%
Characteristics of Evolution potatoes
Evolution is a table potato variety. Its taste is included in the list of characteristics that gardeners and farmers take into account when choosing. But there are more important criteria to determine its suitability for cultivation in a particular area.
Taste qualities of Evolution potatoes
The taste is officially recognized as “good”. The Evolution potato does not show anything outstanding in this regard, but many gardeners and “consumers” are quite happy with it, there are no complaints about the variety.
In culinary terms, Evolution potatoes are universal; experts classify them according to type AB (dense, slightly boiled pulp). It can be boiled, fried, baked, and used to prepare any soups, main courses, and side dishes. It is also suitable as a “raw material” for chips and French fries.
The starch content is quite high - 11.5-15.5%
Ripening time for Evolution potatoes
In terms of ripening time, Evolution is a mid-early potato. Between the appearance of mass shoots and digging it out, 90-100 days pass. But the harvest time largely depends on climatic and weather conditions. In the southern regions of Russia, it can be considered an early ripening variety; the ripening period is reduced to 70-85 days.
Potato yield Evolution
According to official data, during variety trials, Evolution potatoes in different regions demonstrated a yield of 240-420 centners per hectare, more than 45 centners per hectare “ahead” of the Elizaveta variety, chosen as the “reference” variety. Record figures (548 c/ha) were noted in the Vologda region. According to the originator, and this is not the limit, yields of up to 600 c/ha are possible.
The volume of the Evolution potato harvest is little affected by weather during the summer
Growing regions
In Russia, Evolution potatoes are recognized as almost universal.It is officially recommended for cultivation throughout the European part of its territory, as well as in Western Siberia and the Urals.
But in other regions, judging by the reviews of gardeners, the Evolution potato variety is successfully taking root and consistently produces yields.
Disease resistance
The variety has “innate” immunity against an incurable disease – bacterial cancer. Breeders also provided it with protection from the golden cyst nematode. According to the originator, it is resistant to certain types of mosaic virus. Evolution potatoes relatively rarely suffer from scab. The most dangerous fungal disease for it is late blight, which affects both the above-ground part of the bush and the tubers.
Tubers affected by late blight are unsuitable for storage and inedible
Advantages and disadvantages
If you create suitable conditions for Evolution potatoes, they practically do not deteriorate during storage. Its keeping quality is 95%.
Potato Evolution is able to adapt to substrates of varying quality
Pros:
- suitability for cultivation in the vast majority of Russian regions;
- general endurance, the ability to resist negative “external” influences;
- consistently high yield, regardless of the weather;
- the presence of “protection” against certain diseases and pests, on average good resistance to pathogens;
- external presentability, large size of tubers, ease of cleaning due to the superficial location of the “eyes”;
- culinary versatility;
- ease of cultivation;
- good keeping quality and transportability;
Minuses:
- fairly large dimensions of the bushes, their “spreading”, unsuitability for compacted plantings;
- quickly “degenerating” planting material (even the description of the originator states that Evolution seed potatoes must be renewed every 2-3 seasons);
- “standard”, unremarkable taste;
- moderate tendency to be affected by late blight on tops and tubers;
- moisture-loving, low drought resistance.
Landing rules
Evolution potatoes are planted in a bed that is well lit and warmed by the sun. Maximum yields are harvested in sandy loam soil or gray soil, which combines sufficient nutritional value with looseness and lightness.
If the soil pH deviates greatly from neutral, this negatively affects the development of the root system of the bushes
In the fall, the garden bed is dug up, getting rid of any debris and adding fertilizer. It is advisable to enrich the substrate with humus (4-5 l/m²); among macro- and microelements, the variety is especially sensitive to a deficiency of potassium, phosphorus and magnesium in the soil.
The experience of gardeners shows that Evolution potatoes produce good yields, even if the tubers are not sprouted first. But the majority still prefers to play it safe. Compared to other varieties, this procedure takes less time - potatoes germinate very quickly.
Immediately before planting, to protect against late blight and other fungal diseases, the tubers are sprayed with a solution of any suitable fungicide. You can also use folk remedies with an “antiseptic” effect.
Evolution potatoes are planted according to the scheme 30-35 * 70-75 cm. The depth of the holes depends on the quality of the substrate, varies between 8-15 cm. The approximate consumption rate is 20-25 kg of tubers per 100 m². It is advisable to throw a little humus mixed with wood ash at the bottom.
After planting, the soil is leveled, but not compacted.
Care instructions
Evolution potatoes do not have any specific “requirements” in terms of care. But there are still certain nuances in agricultural technology:
- Watering. “Droughts” lasting ten days or more have a negative impact on the volume and quality of the harvest. Therefore, in the absence of precipitation, Evolution potatoes are watered moderately every 1.5 weeks.
- Feeding. Potato Evolution reacts very positively to natural organic matter and folk remedies (humus, rotted compost, wood ash). They can be used for the first feeding (1.5-2 weeks after “mass” germination). During and immediately after flowering, complex store-bought fertilizers are applied.
- Hilling. During the season, the bushes are hilled at least twice: when the stems reach a height of 12-15 cm and after another 18-20 days. Then the procedure is repeated as necessary, for example, when the tubers are “exposed” or the bushes are severely “falling apart.”
- Mulching. A very desirable event for Evolution potatoes. Mulch retains moisture in the soil, allowing you to water the beds less often. It also prevents the growth of weeds, saving the gardener time on weeding.
Evolution potatoes are moisture-loving, but you can’t be overly zealous with watering - late blight often develops in waterlogged soil
Harvest and storage
Evolution potatoes are dug up in the last ten days of August or early September. Full ripening of the tubers is indicated by dried stems “laying” on the bed. The Evolution variety is suitable for both manual and mechanized harvesting.
Dug up tubers need to be sorted and dried before storing. Evolution potatoes are very sensitive to heat; if the temperature rises above 2-3 °C, they quickly begin to germinate. Optimal storage conditions also include:
- lack of light;
- good ventilation (but without drafts);
- air humidity at 70-85%.
Conclusion
Potato Evolution is a variety suitable for both professional farmers and novice amateur gardeners. It is valued for its high “stress resistance” and “plasticity,” which allows good harvests to be harvested, even if the climate in the region is far from optimal for the crop and/or the weather in summer is not very lucky. The Evolution potato tubers are large, presentable, have a good taste, and have a universal culinary purpose.
