The best Siberian potato varieties and useful tips for growing them

Potato varieties for growing in Siberia are early ripening crops adapted to late spring and early autumn frosts. They are resistant to many diseases and produce a rich harvest of tasty tubers. Plants can withstand cold weather, low levels of air humidity, and have high shelf life.

Varieties for growing in Siberia

The level and stability of the yield in such harsh conditions is largely determined by the characteristics of the variety. All varieties recommended for cultivation in Siberia are immune to the causative agent of potato canker.

To the golden one nematode Zhukovsky early, Latona, Hostess, Rosara, Fresco, Sarovsky, Bravo, Zekura, Irbitsky, Rozhdestvensky, Ryabinushka, Aramis, Madeline, Felox are resistant.

Early

Main characteristics of early varieties that can withstand the Siberian climate, are presented in the table:

Mid-season

Features of mid-season varieties:

Universal

Valuable traits of universal varieties:

Potato tubers contain 22–25% dry matter, including:

• starch - 70–80%;
• protein with essential amino acids - 2-3%;
• fiber - 1%;
• fats - 0.2-0.3%;
• mineral salts of calcium, iron, magnesium, sulfur, iodine - 1%;
• vitamins C, A, PP, K, group B.

The daily requirement for vitamin C is provided by a serving of boiled potatoes weighing 300 g, and essential amino acids - 600 g.

For Western Siberia

This is a more favorable region for culture: summer temperatures here reach +20°C and above.

Sarovsky

The variety of domestic selection is most adapted to the weather conditions of the region. In 60–70 days it produces 112–247 c/ha.

The average weight of red round-oval tubers is 95–150 g. The yellow pulp contains 14–18% starch and does not darken when cooked. Keeping quality of potatoes is 96%. The variety is resistant to cancer and golden potato nematode, wrinkled mosaic and leaf curl, and is susceptible to late blight.

Baron

An early ripening variety was created at the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture and included in the State Register in 2006. Marketable yield is 113–237 c/ha. Yellow tubers weighing 110–190 g with white pulp and good taste contain 13–15% starch. Baron is susceptible to late blight and is affected by scab.

Zekura

Mid-early variety Zekura of German origin is less susceptible to common scab, late blight and severe forms of viral diseases. Vegetables ripen in 90–100 days. Oblong yellow tubers weighing 60–150 g contain 13–18% starch. Productivity - 195–323 c/ha.

Irbitsky

Mid-season Irbitsky was bred at the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture, and in 2012 it was included in the State Register. It is characterized by high yield, up to 400 c/ha, immunity to wrinkled and striped mosaic, leaf curl virus. The mass of red-skinned tubers is 108–185 g, starchy content is 13–17%.

Kamensky

An early culture created on the basis of the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture, entered into the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2009. The variety is resistant to wrinkled and striped mosaics, leaf curling, and is susceptible to late blight and nematode. The skin is red, the flesh is light yellow. Tuber weight: 95–110 g. Starch content: 12–17%. Marketable yield - 185 c/ha.

Christmas

The mid-early variety was created by the Leningrad Research Institute of Agriculture, and in 1993 it was included in the register of approved. Rozhdestvensky is immune to potato nematode, moderately resistant to the viral diseases late blight and fusarium. The skin of the tubers is light beige, the flesh is creamy with a starch content of 14–16%. Vegetable weight - 95 g, yield - 330–430 c/ha.

Rowanushka

It was bred on the basis of the Vsevolozhsk Breeding Station and was included in the State Register in 2007.. Productivity - 220–234 c/ha. The maximum figure (396 c/ha) was obtained in the Moscow region. The tubers are oval with small eyes, smooth red skin, weighing 90–135 g. The creamy pulp contains up to 15% starch. The variety is resistant to cancer and nematode, susceptible to late blight.

For Eastern Siberia

Crops for this region are more cold-resistant, while giving a rich harvest.

Aramis

This mid-season table variety was created by scientists of the Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University together with the All-Russian Research Institute of Potato Farming named after. A. G. Lorkha. Productivity is 166–250 c/ha. The color of the vegetables is yellow, weight - 100-156 g, starch content - 14-16%. Aramis is resistant to striped mosaic, leaf curl, and is susceptible to late blight.

Borus 2

It was developed at the Research Institute of Agrarian Problems of Khakassia and included in the State Register in 2005.. Red tubers with creamy flesh contain 13–15% starch. The average weight of potatoes is 100–140 g. 190–250 centners are collected from 1 hectare.The mid-early variety is susceptible to golden potato nematode, late blight, and resistant to the causative agent of cancer.

Spring is white

An early variety of domestic selection was included in the State Register back in 1994. Light beige tubers weighing 100–180 g contain up to 15% starch and have good keeping quality. The crop is exposed to Alternaria, scab, late blight, and viruses.

Madeline

Early Madeline of Dutch selection produces yellow tubers weighing 84–120 g up to 232 c/ha. Ripens in 45–55 days. The starch content of vegetables is 12–15%. Keeping quality is high, 91%. The variety is susceptible to late blight and resistant to banded mosaic.

Nakra

Mid-season potatoes were created by Siberian scientists, and in 2000 they were included in the register of approved. The variety is susceptible to golden nematode and late blight. From 1 ha, up to 308 centners of red tubers weighing 65–160 g are collected. The starch content is high, 18–22%. Keeping quality – 95%.

Felox

An early ripening productive variety from Germany has been grown in Russia since 1999. Productivity is 248 c/ha, the maximum 591 c/ha was obtained in the Samara region. The tubers are elongated oval yellow with excellent taste, weighing 90–115 g and starchy content up to 17%. Felox is occasionally subject to late blight.

Yakutian

Early maturing Yakutian, bred by VNIIKH named after. A. G. Lorkha together with the Yakut Research Institute of Agriculture named after. M. G. Safronova, susceptible to golden potato nematode, moderately resistant to late blight. Oval-round tubers of red color with white pulp, weighing 80–180 g, contain 11–13% starch. The maximum yield reaches 356 c/ha.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The varieties recommended for cultivation in Siberia tolerate drought, heat and cold well. However with increased soil and air humidity, tubers accumulate insufficient dry matter, which has a bad effect on taste and boiliness.

In such conditions it is better to grow early ripening varieties, which fully reveal their genetic potential in a short summer, manage to form a crop before the massive development of late blight.

Planting and growing

The best predecessors for potatoes - grains, legumes, cabbage. To prevent the spread of diseases, the vegetable is returned to its original place after 4 years.

Preparation

Seed tubers begin to be prepared 30–40 days before planting:

1. Potatoes are inspected, specimens with signs of disease and degeneration (outgrowths, pointed apex, weak eyes, their displacement to one side) are removed.
2. Vegetables are washed and dried.
3. Immerse for 1 minute in a disinfecting solution: 5 g of copper sulfate and 200 g of boric acid are dissolved in 10 liters of water.
4. Lay out for germination at +15…+ 20°C in complete darkness.
5. Tubers with strong sprouts are selected for landscaping and light germination.

Landing

Choose a site that is illuminated, with loose and light soil.. In the fall, the ground is dug up along with manure; in the spring, compost, peat, humus or bird droppings are added (5 kg per 1 m²).

Important! When the manure application rate is exceeded to 12–16 kg/m², the content of starch, vitamins and mineral salts in the tubers decreases.

For full development, potatoes require a pH of 5-6, and Siberian soils have a natural acidity of 3.5–4. For this reason, the soil is limed with dolomite flour.

The crop is planted when the ground warms up to +6...+8°C at a depth of 12–15 cm. In areas with sufficient moisture, potatoes are planted in ridges; in dry areas, smooth planting is used.10–15 g of nitrophoska are added to the pits. Tubers are planted to a depth of 10 cm, 30–40 cm between holes, and 60–70 cm between rows.

Features of cultivation

Even before the shoots emerge, the soil is loosenedto provide the tubers with access to oxygen. Weeds are removed periodically.

Attention! Due to the long pre-emergence period for potatoes in large areas, it is important to harrow the soil. This loosens the dense crust, removes weeds, and ensures the exchange of soil and atmospheric air.

Nuances of care

Potatoes are regularly weeded and cleared of weeds. Hilling is carried out as the bushes grow to 15–18 cm and only under conditions of sufficient moisture: this is how additional stolons are formed on the lower parts of the stem, which increases the yield. During drought, the procedure further dries out the soil.

Water the crop 2-3 times during the entire growth period (use 3-4 liters of water per bush):

• when the tops reach a height of 15 cm;
• during mass flowering.

The next day after moistening, the soil is loosened. After flowering, watering is stopped to reduce the risk of late blight.

Fertilize plantings 2-3 times per season:

• with signs of mineral starvation, but no later than mid-July - by 1 m² use 1 tsp. ammonium nitrate and 1.5 tbsp. humus;
• during the budding phase, feed with wood ash (3 tbsp per 1 m²) and potassium sulfate (1 tsp);
• during flowering, a solution of 500 ml of water, 2 tbsp. is added under each bush. l. superphosphate and 1 tbsp. mullein

If the tops are actively growing, add 1 tbsp. ash per 1 m² row spacing, hill up the plantings and temporarily stop watering.

Disease and pest control

For the prevention of late blight potatoes are sprayed on the tops with copper sulfate or 1% Bordeaux mixture.To combat fungal diseases, fungicides are used: “Artserid”, “Ridomil”.

To prevent the appearance of nematodes follow the rules of crop rotation, clear the soil of plant residues in the fall, disinfect seed tubers and garden tools. Chemicals (for example, "Bazudin") are used only in advanced cases.

Harvest and storage

Early varieties ripen in the first half of August, as evidenced by lodging of the tops. If the area is infected with late blight, the green foliage is sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate, and after a week they begin to dig up the tubers.

How and when to collect

Harvesting begins when 90% of plants reach physiological maturity, air temperature not lower than +5°C, soil temperature at the depth of tubers - not lower than +10°C.

Important! The tops are removed 4–6 days before digging vegetables. This technique prevents damage to tubers by late blight.

The dug up crop is laid out on film and dried in the sun.. Before storing in storage, the tubers are stored for 10–12 days in a cool room until completely dry and cooled.

Seed potatoes are washed, dried and left for greening for 3-4 days. in a bright room. Solanine formed in the peel will protect vegetables from diseases.

Storage and keeping quality

2-3 weeks before planting the crop, the room cleared of debris is whitewashed with lime with the addition of copper sulfate.

During storage, potatoes go through 3 phases: ripening, peace and awakening. The room temperature is kept no higher than +2...+3°C, humidity - 80–90%. When the temperature rises to +4°C, the eyes will begin to germinate prematurely.

All varieties recommended for cultivation in Siberia are stored almost until spring: keeping quality reaches 89–95%.

Difficulties in growing

The growing season in Siberia is short, only 78–89 days. During the flowering and tuber formation phase, soil moisture should be 70-80%, during the period of starch accumulation - 60-65%. In drought conditions, vegetables become deformed, since in mid-June autumn-winter moisture reserves are greatly reduced, and summer rains do not yet have time to saturate the soil. Therefore, the beds are mulched and the watering regime is observed.

Due to lack of heat, complete natural death of the tops does not occur by the time of harvest. Often the growing season is interrupted and ends with the onset of frost or as a result of damage by fungal diseases. When harvested, the skin of such tubers is weak and their starch content is reduced.

Tips and reviews

When choosing a variety, make sure that the tubers have increased shelf life and resistance to mechanical damage.

Important! Under unstable climate conditions combined with long daylight hours of 16–18 hours, early, mid-early and mid-ripening varieties grow well in Siberia.

Farmers give recommendations for growing crops in Siberia:

Dmitry, Novosibirsk region: “I green potatoes in plastic bags. I make holes in advance, pour 15 kg each and hang them on a glassed-in loggia. One beam can accommodate several bags with a total weight of up to 80 kg.”.

Christina, Tomsk: “I buy several varieties of potato seeds for Siberia with different ripening periods and grow them at the same time. Unpredictable weather will never prevent you from harvesting a good harvest.".

Conclusion

The selection of potato varieties for cultivation in Siberia is aimed at increasing their resistance to harsh climatic conditions, resistance to diseases and pests.With proper preparation of seed material, tillage of the soil, compliance with watering and fertilizing regimes, it will be possible to consistently obtain a high yield of tubers with good keeping quality.