High-yielding potato variety "White Swan" with large tubers
White Swan is a potato variety with large and light-colored tubers. It is considered one of the most productive on the market. Contains a record proportion of tuberin, a valuable vegetable protein, as well as vitamin C. The tubers are perfectly boiled, although they darken a little when cooked at high temperatures.
Our article contains all the details about the variety, features of agricultural technology, photos and reviews from summer residents about the White Swan.
Description of the variety
This potato variety appeared relatively recently and has not yet been included in the State Register selection achievements. The white swan is actively cultivated in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
Summer residents appreciate the variety for its heavy tuber weight and high yield. - up to 10 kg from one bush. It is not grown on a production scale in the Russian Federation.
The White Swan is characterized by:
- light large tubers with a pinkish tint of regular oval shape, weighing from 200-500 g;
- thin peel that is easy to peel off;
- high starch content;
- semi-spreading bushes of medium height;
- white color of the pulp.
The White Swan is mainly raised by private farmers and hobbyists. Ripens by September if you follow the watering regime and first take care of processing the tubers for planting.
Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins
100 g of vegetable contains:
- 11.4% carbohydrates;
- 2.84% water;
- 2.13% protein.
Most of all this variety contains ascorbic acid, tuberin, B1, B2, B5, B6, potassium, calcium, silicon, magnesium and other trace elements. Potatoes traditionally contain a lot of starch (up to 36.8%), fiber, and pectin.
Of the mineral salts in tubers, potassium and phosphorus salts predominate, and from organic acids - citric, oxalic, malic. White Swan makes excellent dietary dishes such as puree or crumbly boiled tubers.
Ripening period, climate requirements and disease resistance
White Swan is considered an early ripening potato - 70-90 days. Already in early autumn, it is dug out of the ground and eaten.
The variety is demanding on soil, but during pre-planting treatment of tubers it demonstrates disease resistance. Rarely susceptible to potato blight and nematode, but susceptible to late blight.
Potatoes grow in light sandy soils with a neutral or slightly acidic pH.. If the acidity levels exceed the pH range of 5.5–7.0, then it is better not to plant. The variety is suitable for cultivation in the Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, Middle Volga and other regions of Russia.
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The main advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Among the advantages of the White Swan:
- excellent presentation - white color and smooth surface, which gave the name to the culture;
- early ripeness;
- high yield.
There are also disadvantages:
- potatoes have a neutral taste, which not everyone will like;
- medium crumbly, darkens when cooked;
- Doesn't last long.
Difference from other varieties
White Swan ripens faster than other varieties and is considered not particularly demanding on soil quality.Potatoes also differ in weight: if other varieties have tubers of 100-130 g, then White Swan is much larger - up to 500 g.
Features of planting and growing
Plant potatoes when the ground warms up to +6...+9°С. Planting is carried out at a depth of 10-15 cm, the distance between the beds is 55-60 cm. On the day of planting, the tubers are cut lengthwise into three parts with eyes. Each fraction is planted separately. Renew the landing site every 2-3 years.
Preparing for landing
A month before planting, the tubers are laid out in the sun for half a day.. This activates their growth. During germination, the optimal air temperature is at least +8...12°C.
Tubers are treated before planting with growth stimulants and insecto-fungicidal agents.. Sometimes a solution of copper sulfate is also used. Treatment with nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers will ensure the ripening of the crop a week earlier and 7-10% more than planned.
Soil requirements
It is best to plant potatoes in black soil, flavored with manure, wood ash and superphosphate. or in sandy, loamy soil. Do not sow in dark places. This will lead to the appearance of small tubers. The soil should be moderately moist. Peat areas are not suitable for sowing.
Features of cultivation
For a bountiful harvest, it is advisable to harrow the soil and destroy weeds.. Seed tubers are planted at a temperature of at least +8…+10°C.
Hilling is carried out after the appearance of 10 cm seedlings. This procedure is performed at least three times during the entire growing season. The soil is loosened after every heavy rain.
Potato growth is stimulated:
- slurry, pet urine, stale bird droppings;
- regular watering;
- ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate in the form of fertilizer;
- loosening and hilling the soil.
Attention! No earlier than a week before harvest, the tops are mowed, leaving a minimum for reference, so that all the useful substances go to the growth of the tubers, and the peel is denser.
Nuances of care
Potatoes do not require constant care. It is necessary to occasionally weed, hill up and feed the soil, as well as ensure a normal level of humidity.
A month after planting, the tubers are fed urea, superphosphate, ammonium sulfate. The procedure is repeated when the buds appear and after flowering.
Advice. During flowering, potatoes will not be harmed by good mulching with humus or rotted sawdust. This will protect the earth from severe summer overheating.
Watering mode
Potatoes require periodic mechanical or manual watering: 2-3 times a week at the stage of budding and flowering. They begin when the shoots have reached 10 cm. Before buds and flowers appear, they water rarely - once every 7-10 days, but with plenty of warm water so that the ground is well saturated with moisture. Do this early in the morning or in the evening.
Top dressing
Potatoes are fed in a variety of ways. Dissolve in 10 liters of water:
- 1 tbsp. l. urea, 0.5 liters of mushy mullein or 1 tbsp. l. bird droppings;
- 1 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate, 2-3 tbsp. l. wood ash;
- 2 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tbsp. mushy mullein (or chicken droppings).
Foliar feeding is carried out 2 times a month. A month before harvest, the crops are sprayed with an infusion of superphosphate, which promotes the ripening of potatoes.
Weeding and hilling
Regular weeding and hilling protect seedlings from weeds and accelerate ripening tubers. Loosening the soil prevents moisture loss and provides air access to the crops.Hilling is also directed against the Colorado potato beetle: insect eggs laid under a layer of soil die when dug up. An optimal air regime is created for the formation of a powerful root system and the growth of large tubers.
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Disease and pest control
The main problem of potato beds is pests: Colorado potato beetle, moth, caterpillars, wireworm, etc. Insects are collected by hand or the crops are treated with chemicals (“Prestige”, “Taboo”, etc.).
Diseases can also be transmitted through insects. or contact with other plants. The fight against viruses is carried out by destroying diseased bushes along with tubers and treating them with antifungal drugs based on living microorganisms and their metabolic products.
Harvest and storage
Harvest in August - September. The ripening of tubers is indicated by yellowing of the tops. To check whether the potatoes are ripe, dig up one bush from the garden bed. After harvesting, collect any remaining tops and weeds.
How and when to collect
Harvest dates vary in each region, but the average time for tubers to ripen is 70-80 days after sowing. The bushes are dug up from the side and pulled out by the remains of the tops. After this, the tubers are collected and placed in a bucket or cart.
Storage features and keeping quality of the variety
After harvesting, the potatoes are sorted to avoid rotten vegetables getting into storage. For better storage, the crop is treated with copper sulfate.
So that the tubers last a long time:
- they are placed in a dry, cool, dark place;
- maintain temperature regime +2…4°C;
- provide air access to the room.
In order for tubers to be stored longer, they must be fully ripe, without green bloom or damage.
For your information. Potatoes spoil less if you store them in a box together with plant leaves (for example, fern, rowan, elderberry).
White Swan is not a long-term potato variety. Like all early varieties, it is stored only until winter. Tubers with hard skins and no signs of rotting are best stored.
The seed material of this potato variety is not certified. When there is heavy rain, the tubers begin to sprout while still in the ground, which affects the keeping quality.
What difficulties may there be when growing
A white swan becomes a victim of an insect attack or viral infection. To prevent this from happening, carefully care for the beds and prevent diseases and other signs of damage in a timely manner.
If a potato becomes infected with a virus, the tops will wither and fall off prematurely, and the tubers will begin to rot. If attacked by pests, the vegetable will become unfit for consumption.
Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews about the White Swan variety
Experienced gardeners advise:
- Regularly treat bushes with fungicidal preparations. This will avoid infection with fungi and darkening of the tubers inside. Such potatoes are unsuitable for storage and sale.
- Do not get carried away with nitrogen fertilizers. This will increase the wateriness of the potatoes.
- Do not store the harvested crop together with other vegetables and fruits. This increases the risk of contamination and product spoilage. It is permissible to have potatoes next to beets only.
- A couple of apples in boxes with potatoes will help prevent germination.
Reviews of the White Swan are not always positive. The reason is the low taste qualities - watery, tasteless tubers.Many people don’t like the fact that potatoes darken when cooked. However, for sale this variety is considered one of the best, as it is large, beautiful to look at and grows quickly.
Vladimir Gordienko, Krasnodar: “Last year we planted for the first time. We are quite happy, since we got two large buckets from one bush. But many of the tubers were sprouted. This, of course, is a minus - you can’t put these in the basement, you need to eat them right away. Otherwise we are satisfied. The potatoes are clean, smooth, nice color".
Svetlana Kirova, Saratov: “I’ve been planting white swan for sale for three years now. Unpretentious variety. I'm happy with everything. Buyers quickly take apart such beautiful and clean potatoes, since they actually do not need to be peeled. You can cook it and eat it like this.”.
Pavel Toptunov, Bakhchisarai: “Excellent variety - I recommend it to everyone. When digging, dirt does not stick to it, which means there is no need to clear lumps of earth. Swan grows quickly and produces a harvest that no other variety has produced in our country so far.”.
Conclusion
White Swan is a productive early ripening potato variety. If you follow all the rules, then in a short time you will grow a wonderful harvest of light and large tubers. But the taste characteristics of the product are far from ideal. In addition, these potatoes do not last long and require frequent watering during the budding and flowering period.
Another drawback: this variety is not yet produced on an industrial scale in Russia and Belarus. It is little known and is grown only by amateur gardeners and small farms.