What is good about the Kolobok potato variety and why gardeners love it so much

Choosing the right potato variety is the key to an excellent harvest. In this article we will tell you how Kolobok differs from other potato varieties, why it is so popular among farmers who grow it for personal needs and on an industrial scale for sale, and we will also find out what difficulties you may encounter when growing this variety and how to deal with them cope with.

What kind of potato is this?

Potato Kolobok has a pleasant round shape, yellow flesh and skin. It belongs to the mid-season table varieties.

Kolobok owes its growing popularity to its rich vitamin composition and excellent taste. It does not boil over, has a delicate taste, and works well as an independent dish when baked in foil, frying, or any other cooking method.

Kolobok is unpretentious and requires no more care than other potato varieties. Does not darken for a long time on the cut. Moreover, it contains less starch than other yellow varieties.

This is interesting! The yellow color of the pulp indicates a high content of provitamin A and carotenoids. There are quite a few of these beneficial substances that prevent aging and many diseases in ordinary “white” potatoes - about 250-2000 mcg per 1 kg. However, in yellow varieties there is 3-5 times more of it, which, taking into account the low starch content, makes Kolobok very attractive for those who try to eat well and properly.

Origin and development

Kolobok potatoes were bred by Russian breeders from the Korenevo agronomic center and VNIIKH named after. A. G. Lorkha. It was registered in the State Register in 2005.

Despite the fact that scientists recommended that farmers grow Kolobok in regions with chernozem soil, it is also in demand in the north-west of Russia (in the Leningrad region), as well as in other regions and neighboring countries.

Distinctive features, appearance

Kolobok differs from other yellow varieties:

• a small number of eyes;
• absence of irregularities and tubercles;
• rough and dense skin - thanks to it the potatoes are more resistant to damage and retain their shape better;
• soft yellow uniform color of the peel;
• the tuber weighs about 90-150 g;
• low starch content - about 11-13%, so potatoes will not boil over, crumble and turn into mush during cooking.

Those who grow Kolobok on an industrial scale note its excellent presentation and excellent transportability. Potatoes store well, the main thing is to dry them thoroughly after harvesting and find a cool and dry room for this.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Kolobok is a medium-sized variety: the above-ground part of the bush grows no more than 0.5 m. The color of the leaves is light green. The flowers that bloom on the bush during flowering are white. The bush is semi-erect, medium height, intermediate type.

The branches of the bush are not too spreading, the average number of leaves is small, their veins are clearly visible, and the edges are slightly wavy. This planting looks very attractive, especially when flowering.

Productivity

From one kolobok bush, 10 to 18 potato tubers are collected.The yield is about 25 tons per 1 hectare of land - another advantage of the variety.

Kolobok ripens within 3 months after planting. Young potatoes begin to be eaten as early as mid-July (provided they are planted in early May). It is customary to completely harvest in mid-September, when Kolobok reaches its maximum technical maturity and size. The stems signal that the potatoes are ready for digging - they begin to dry out.

This is interesting! One of the significant advantages of the Kolobok variety is its resistance to degeneration and reduction in yield, even if it is planted in the same place for many years.

How to grow this variety

As with other types of potatoes, to get a good harvest you need:

1. Starting in the fall, prepare a place for future landings: weed, dig and fertilize the soil. Any preferred options are suitable for this. fertilizing - both organic and mineral.
2. In the spring, shallowly plow the area for potatoes and pull out the weeds.
3. After plowing, add potash and phosphorus fertilizers.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

To speed up ripening, it is better to plant potatoes in well-warmed soil. The temperature at the bottom of the potato hole (slightly less than a spade, about 12-17 cm) should rise to +8°C. In most regions of Russia, the soil warms up by mid-May.

For optimal illumination, the rows are arranged along a line from north to south. The distance between the holes is about 30-40 cm, and the gap between the rows is at least 60 cm.

It is important to follow other rules:

1. Before planting, germinate the tubers in the light, selecting the most beautiful and strong, medium-sized ones. The sprouts emerging from the eyes should reach 2-3 cm in length by the time of planting.This takes about a month.
2. Plant potatoes in moist but not waterlogged soil.
3. Make the beds high if the groundwater in the area is close to the surface of the earth.
4. It is better to plant the tuber whole, without cutting it. This will make it more resistant to pests and diseases.
5. By sparing a handful of humus (compost) and ash for each hole, you will subsequently reap a richer harvest than without such fertilizing at the planting stage.

Care

Timely weeding, hilling and watering during flowering - these are all the basic rules for a good Kolobok harvest.

The first hilling is performed when the bushes grow to 25 cm in height. The next one is in 2-3 weeks. Water the potatoes during flowering. If the summer is dry, then when flowering, it is better to “rain” the potatoes using a watering can or other convenient methods. The water should not be too cold.

When the potatoes fade, stop watering to avoid harm, creating an attractive, moist environment for the development of various diseases.

Kolobok is fed 2-3 times during the summer season. He prefers potassium mineral complexes, mullein or chicken droppings. But nitrogen-containing fertilizers will cause rapid growth of green mass. It is better to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers.

Important! The first feeding is carried out when the sprouts reach 20-30 cm in height. It can be combined with the first hilling. The second - before or during flowering, the third - a few weeks after the second to improve the growth of tubers formed during flowering.

Nuances of cultivation and possible difficulties, diseases and pests

If planting dates, rules for preparing tubers, timely hilling and regular weeding, as well as fertilizing with fertilizers are observed, there are no difficulties with growing this variety.

The most common diseases of the variety:

• Alternaria blight (dry spotting) - looks like small dark spots on the tops; this fungal disease is overcome by drugs such as Albit, HOM, etc.
• Potato nematode. A sign of this pest, hiding underground and invisible to the eye, is “bald spots” in the field, when some of the bushes develop poorly and turn yellow. Nitric acid fertilizers (urea, etc.), as well as compliance with crop rotation, will help to cope with the problem.
• Late blight (brown rot) - the presence of this disease is easily recognized by withering, graying potato shoots and drying of the tops. You can cope with this scourge using an infusion of garlic, a mixture of copper sulfate with boric acid and potassium permanganate, or with the chemicals Fitosporin, Epin, etc.

At the first signs of these diseases, the bushes are treated with preparations containing copper.

Kolobok is also loved by all common pests: the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm, cutworm and others. Plant plants next to the potatoes that will repel insects (marigolds, wormwood, etc.) or treat the bushes with chemicals.

Important! To eliminate the risk of infection of a potato plantation, treat the soil with insecticides or special preparations that improve its composition. An excellent solution is to periodically change the growing location. During dormancy, the ground is planted with green manure plants that improve the composition of the soil - mustard, phacelia, amaranth, calendula, marigolds.

During dry periods, Kolobok is watered, especially if the drought occurs during flowering. The best solution is drip irrigation, but if it is impossible to organize it, regular irrigation will do.

Collection, storage and use of crops

Mass harvest of Kolobok potatoes begins 95-115 days after planting. It is advisable to dig it up on a warm, dry day. It is allowed to use a motor cultivator and other equipment.

After harvesting, the potatoes are laid out in a dry, bright place to dry. It is recommended to carry out sorting, setting aside seed, table and damaged material in separate groups.

Important! Medium Kolobok tubers are chosen for seeds - they are more resistant to pests and diseases.

After drying, the potatoes are stored in a cellar or basement. It is better to put it in wooden boxes, pre-treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. The optimal temperature for storage is about +10-12°C, humidity is no more than 85%.

The bun is perfect for preparing any dishes, including fried potatoes, chips and french fries, as it holds its shape perfectly.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

High yield, even shape, excellent taste, and a large amount of vitamins make Kolobok one of the best varieties.

Farmers highly appreciate its unpretentiousness and resistance to diseases such as rhizoctonia and scab. Heat and drought are also not scary for Kolobok, especially if you water it. Transportability with almost no losses (about 98% of the total mass is preserved during transportation) makes it one of the most promising varieties for commercial enterprises.

The disadvantages of Kolobok include its instability to wireworms, Alternaria and late blight.However, with timely treatments against pests and diseases, such troubles can be avoided.

For which regions is it best suited?

When creating the variety, breeders noted that it is best to grow Kolobok potatoes in the Central and Central Black Earth regions. In practice, its popularity went far beyond these territories.

This is interesting! Regions with chernozem soil in Russia are the Voronezh, Belgorod, Kursk, Tambov, and Lipetsk regions. Such fertile lands are also found in Samara, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Kemerovo, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Orenburg regions and Krasnodar region.

Farmer reviews

Farmers speak positively about the Kolobok variety, noting its excellent taste, beautiful round shape and excellent keeping quality.

Yulia, Leningrad region: «The potatoes were larger than average, there were almost no small things at all. Very beautiful and even tubers, looking at it, I understood why it was called Kolobok. I also really liked the taste of the potatoes, and the color was yellow and beautiful.”

Anna, Krasnoyarsk region: “Kolobok is not very large, but there are a lot of them, more than 15 pieces on a bush, clean, healthy, practically free of wireworms. The pulp is yellow, the taste is excellent."

Alexander, Rostov region: “Kolobok is a variety with excellent keeping quality. Even as spring approaches, it is still dense and juicy, and does not spoil or wither. I grow potatoes for myself and for sale, so I think it is important not only to grow, but also to keep the crop in proper condition for sale. There are varieties that are more productive than Kolobok, but it stores best of all. That’s why I have a positive attitude towards the variety and recommend it to everyone.”

Read also:

The use of potato starch in folk medicine and in everyday life.

Why is solanine dangerous in potatoes?

Conclusion

When growing the Kolobok variety, it is important to follow several basic rules for preparation, planting, care and collection: select the best seed tubers, perform the first hilling and fertilizing on time, as well as pest control. Since this variety of potatoes requires only 2-3 fertilizing per season, its cultivation is less hassle - hence the popularity of Kolobok.

Gardeners highly value this tasty, healthy and well-stored potato variety, suitable for any culinary purpose.