Early ripening table potato variety “Uladar”: description, photos and reviews from summer residents
Uladar is an early ripening potato variety bred by Belarusian breeders. It is distinguished by its high yield and ease of care, which is why it is loved by many farmers. Translated from Belarusian, “uladar” means “lord”. Let's get to know it better and find out what its features are.
Description of the variety
The Uladar potato is widespread not only in the country where it was bred - in Belarus, but also in Russia. It can be grown in areas with a temperate climate; it is recommended for planting in the Central region of Russia.
Origin
Uladar was added to the register of agricultural crops of Belarus in 2008, and in 2011 it was included in the State Register of Russia.
Distinctive features
Potatoes of this variety ripen quickly. The period from germination to harvest is 55-65 days. This allows it to be grown even in cool climates. And in hotter areas you can get two harvests per season.
Characteristics of tubers:
- classic shape, oval;
- yellow peel;
- the eyes are small, located shallowly;
- yellow pulp, in progress cooking does not change;
- the weight of one tuber is 80-140 g, there are larger specimens - up to 180-200 g;
- keeping quality is high – 94%;
- resistant to mechanical damage, tolerates long-term transportation;
- starch content – 12-18%.
Description and characteristics of the plant and crop
The height of the bushes is 55-60 cm. They grow evenly, without crumbling. The plant is semi-erect.The leaves are medium sized, bright green with a wavy edge. The flowers are red-violet, which distinguishes them from other varieties.
Productivity
On average, from 8 to 13 tubers are harvested from one bush. During industrial cultivation, about 600 centners of potatoes are dug from 1 hectare. But the first dig gives a smaller harvest - 350 c.
Reference. The record for Uladar's yield was recorded at 71 tons per hectare of land.
How to grow
The variety can grow on any type of soil. But the plant is demanding on the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus; there must be a lot of potassium in the soil.
Important! Potatoes should be planted in sandy and sandy loam soil earlier than in loamy soil. With a lack of nutrients and microelements, the quantity and quality of the crop will become low.
Dates, scheme and rules of planting
Before planting, potatoes are selected, removing rotten and disease-damaged specimens. Next it is germinated. To do this, the potatoes are placed in a dark, warm room with a temperature of +13…+15°C. After a couple of weeks, the fruits are examined for the presence of sprouts. Before planting, seed potatoes are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate.
If there are a lot of sprouts, then the tuber is cut into 2-3 parts. Each part must be at least 35 g, otherwise the sprout will not be able to sprout from the ground.
Landing carried out in May, when the soil warms up to +8...+1°C at a depth of at least 6-7 cm.
At the same time, mineral mixtures are added to the soil and fertilized with compost. On the day of planting, it is advisable to treat the tubers strictly according to the instructions with pest control agents - “Prestige”, “Commander”.
The next steps are:
- Make holes or furrows of suitable depth. The planting pattern is traditional. The width between tubers is at least 35 cm, between rows - 60-70 cm.
- Place the seed potatoes, sprouts up, in moist soil to a depth of 8-10 cm. If the soil is clayey, then 6-7 cm is enough. In areas with low humidity - 12 cm.
- Cover the holes with soil mixed with fertilizer.
- Carefully level the surface of the soil with the planted potatoes.
You can add wood ash and onion peels to the soil along with the tubers - this will repel pests. Nitrogen-containing mixtures should be excluded during this period.
Care
For a high yield, the following agrotechnical measures are necessary:
- watering;
- weeding;
- loosening and hilling;
- application of fertilizers.
Typically, 3-4 waterings are carried out per season. But this depends on climatic and weather conditions, the condition of the bushes and soil.
The soil needs to be periodically loosened and weeds removed. Loose soil better saturates the roots with oxygen and allows rain moisture to pass through.
Hilling of the bushes is carried out when the plantings reach a height of 10 cm. The procedure is repeated before flowering. During this time, the plants grow up to 20 cm. Hilling is carried out for the third time when the potato bushes become about 30 cm high. The mounds with soil are made at least 20 cm high.
After planting, the plant needs fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus - “Superphosphate”, “Kalimagnesia”. It is enough to apply them several times during the season.
Important! Be careful with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. A large amount of nitrogen negatively affects the harvest.
Nuances of cultivation and possible difficulties
The Uladar variety is not demanding on moisture, but prolonged drought will negatively affect the harvest.
If you do not hill up the bushes, the yield will also decrease. An important feature of this variety is the intensive formation of tubers in the first half of the growing season.At this time, the crop must be actively fed.
The variety is immune to some potato diseases:
- potato cancer;
- potato nematode;
- common scab;
- fusarium rot;
- Alternaria blight.
But the danger for tubers is rhizoctonia, due to which you can lose 30% of the seedlings. For prevention, root crops are treated with the Maxim fungicide before planting.
Attention! The variety has a tendency to curl leaves and rot. If found, treat the foliage with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Of the pests, the main enemy is the Colorado potato beetle. In the middle of tuber ripening, the number of insects increases sharply. If there are a lot of plantings, you will have to treat them with insecticides. Spraying is carried out according to the instructions on the package. The drugs “Aktara”, “Kinmiks”, “Bankol” are suitable.
Important! The bushes are treated at least 30 days before harvest.
Collection, storage and use of crops
Potatoes are harvested after the tops wither, the leaves turn yellow, but the stem remains green. It is at this time that potatoes have the best commercial quality and keeping quality.
Potatoes are dug up with a shovel or pitchfork. This is done carefully so as not to damage the tubers. If the weather is dry and sunny, the harvested crop is laid out on a flat area of the garden and dried in the sun.
Then the tubers are placed in boxes and taken to a place where the sun's rays do not pass through - for example, a garage or barn. Here the potatoes need to be spread out again and held for a while so that they dry out better and excess moisture is removed. Only after this the tubers are sent for storage in the basement or cellar.
The variety is well stored until next year with almost no losses.. It is important that the storage room has a low temperature, +2-3°C, and a working ventilation system.
Uladar is used for frying, baking and boiling. The potatoes do not boil over and have a pleasant taste and aroma.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Advantages of Uladar potatoes:
- early ripening of tubers;
- stable, high yield with proper care;
- resistance to many diseases;
- excellent taste characteristics;
- crop safety – 95%;
- able to grow on any soil;
- good presentation.
But there are also some disadvantages:
- needs watering during dry periods;
- prone to rhizoctonia and attacks by Colorado potato beetles.
Farmer reviews
There are many positive reviews from gardeners about this variety. Its high yield and excellent taste are often noted. But there are comments that potato bushes are highly susceptible to attacks by the Colorado potato beetle.
Eduard, Kopeysk: «I have been growing this variety for the fifth year in a row. I don’t even think about changing it to another. The yield is good, there are no problems with care. The only negative is that the Colorado potato beetle loves to eat leaves. We have to tinker with the selection of protective equipment.”
Marianna, Kamyshlov: “I consider Uladar one of the best varieties. It produces a large harvest. True, it doesn’t make a very good puree. We fry it or add it to soup. The tubers are well stored and have an excellent presentation, as in the photo on the Internet.”
Vladimir, Noyabrsk: “For me, Uladar is a gift of fate. I live in the northern zone, and winter comes early here. I want to plant potatoes, but they don’t have time to ripen. But now there are no problems. The variety is early ripening, we harvest before the cold weather.”
Read also:
Unpretentious potato variety Chugunka.
An amazing variety of potato “Vitalot” with purple skin and pulp.
Conclusion
The Uladar variety is becoming more and more popular every year - and this is not surprising: potatoes have a lot of advantages. But a large harvest depends on the labor invested and care for the crop.
No special effort is required from you: follow the watering regime, treat planting material and plants with fungicides and insecticides, apply fertilizers in a timely manner, and a rich harvest will not be long in coming!