Today, potatoes are considered one of the most popular crops in the world, so they try to cultivate it in almost all climatic zones. The territory of the Urals is no exception, but often the crops in this area do not differ in quality and aromatic properties. The reason for this is the harsh climate, characterized by irregular precipitation. In this article you will get acquainted with the most unpretentious varieties of potatoes, and also learn how to grow them correctly.

The best varieties of potatoes for the Urals

Before cultivation in difficult conditions of the Urals, all varieties of potatoes undergo a thorough diagnosis, including new ones. During this process, agronomists study its resistance to adverse weather conditions, as well as sharp changes in the microclimate. This measure is mandatory, since in this zone most of the known varieties are difficult to take root and bear fruit.This is explained by an uneven continental climate with sharp changes in humidity and temperature. Due to this, most Dutch and American varieties are sick and poorly ripen, which often leads to small tubers, practically unsuitable for consumption. To avoid this, the cultivated variety must have high frost resistance, excellent immunity and a short vegetative period.

Did you know? Potato appeared in Europe in the 16th century, but for a long time the plant was considered decorative. The proven nutritional value of tubers was only at the end of the 18th century, by the French agronomist and scientist Antoine Parmantier.

Early

Early ripe potatoes include those varieties that are able to produce full-fledged tubers within 45-60 days after planting material is planted. Thus, by the end of July, you can harvest a high-quality and fully ripened crop, ready for long-term preservation. Moreover, such potatoes are able to develop without additional shelter.

The following early varieties are considered the most adapted to the Ural zone:

• Governor - a plant of early ripening (45-60 days). The crop of the variety tolerates long transportation and is also resistant to potato cancer, late blight and golden nematode. The tubers are characterized by white flesh and red peel, as well as a high content of starches (about 15%). The Governor's productivity is in the range of 20-30 t / ha, the average mass of the fruit is about 150 g;
• Vineta - a universal early ripening variety capable of producing crops already 50 days after planting. Potatoes are small, about 100 g each. They are characterized by a yellow peel and a light yellow flesh. Vineta is characterized by high productivity (30–40 t / ha), but it does not have natural resistance to late blight pathogen;
• Lyubava - an early ripe culture, capable of bearing fruit already 60–70 days after planting. Ripe potatoes form about 100–150 g each, and the yield from 1 ha is about 50 tons. The crop is moderately susceptible to many fungal diseases, it also has a high amount of starches (about 17%), red peel and white flesh;
• Bullfinch - early ripe potatoes, characterized by a light pink peel and white core. The plant gives the first fruits after 40-50 days after planting. The fruits are small, about 80–90 g each, while the total yield of the variety is about 25 t / ha. Bullfinch is resistant to late blight, moderately resistant to golden nematode and specific viral ailments;
• Spring White - early potatoes, with a growing season of 60–70 days. The productivity of Spring Belaya is high, about 30–40 t / ha. The fruits are large, weighing 100–150 g. The flesh and peel of the potato has a uniform white hue, and about 16% of starches are of the total weight. The plant is resistant to scab and other fungi, but does not have immunity against late blight.

Mid-season

Mid-season potatoes are an ideal choice for a difficult zone of the Urals. Such plants often mature in no more than 100 days, which makes it possible to obtain higher quality fruits, characterized by a high content of aromatic and flavoring substances. Such potatoes are ideal for home growing, as well as industrial cultivation.

Did you know? The ancient Incas had their own deity, identified with potatoes. This is the so-called goddess Axomama, which is an inspired potato tuber.

The most suitable are considered the following varieties:

• Crown - the plant gives the first fruits 70–80 days after planting. The tubers ripen together and are distinguished by a rich lemon peel and white pulp. The average weight of potatoes is 100–140 g, while the total yield is in the range of 20–38 t / ha. The crop has an average shelf life, is resistant to potato cancer, but does not have immunity against late blight and golden nematode;
• Lukyanovsky - potatoes with a delicate lemon tint of pulp, yellow peel and a growing season of about 70 days. The yield of the variety is high, about 45 tons can be successfully harvested per hectare. The average weight of one tuber is 110–150 g. Lukyanovsky is highly resistant to late blight, scab, and also to the nematode nematode;
• Aspiria - this potato is able to bear fruit 85–90 days after planting. The productivity of Aspiria is high, about 40 t / ha, fruits of uniform size and weighing about 80–120 g. The flesh of the potatoes is pale yellow in color, and the peel is saturated yellow or lemon. The fruits are characterized by excellent taste indices, as well as resistance to cancer, golden nematode and conditional resistance to late blight;
• the effect - mid-early variety, capable of bearing fruit 70 days after planting. Its productivity is high, within 30–40 t / ha. Fruits are large at least 150 g each, they are characterized by white flesh and peel, as well as a high percentage of starches (up to 20%). The variety is resistant to scab and various viral ailments, has an average resistance to late blight;
• Bezhitsky - the plant is characterized by a uniform pink hue of the peel and white pulp of the fruit. Harvest matures amicably, 70–90 days after the start of active vegetation. Large potatoes, weighing about 100 g, average yield is 30–45 t / ha. Bezhitsky is characterized by a high content of starches (about 15%), as well as increased immunity against rhizoctonia and scab.

Universal

Universal potatoes often include those varieties that are able to meet the needs of both ordinary gardeners and large farms. Such plants are extremely resistant to various environmental changes, while being characterized by good productivity and excellent production characteristics.

Important! Potatoes for the Ural zone must have growing season no more than 120 days. Only in this case can to achieve full ripening of tubers, which affects their keeping quality.

Among them, it is best to pay attention to the following varieties:

• Luck - a universal early ripe variety, its harvest most often forms the basis of early potatoes. The first potatoes are reached already 65 days after planting. Luck can be distinguished by the dark peel of a lemon shade with red eyes, as well as white flesh. Its productivity is high, about 45 t / ha, the average weight of potatoes is in the range of 100–150 g. Fortune does not have natural resistance to characteristic diseases, and also differs in low keeping quality;
• Spiridon - mid-season variety, with a growing season of about 100 days. Its harvest is distinguished by fruits of raspberry shade with yellow pulp. The yield of Spiridon is average, about 25 t / ha, while the fruits grow with a mass of 100-150 g. This plant is highly immune to the golden nematode, late blight, scab and rhizoctonia. The variety is multifunctional, it can be actively used to obtain food products for table and technical purposes;
• Santa - a plant of medium early maturity, which gives a crop 80–90 days after planting. It can be recognized by a uniformly yellow peel and pulp of potatoes. The yield of Sante is about 30-50 t / ha, while the average weight of tubers is in the range of 120 g. Potato potency is average, it is not resistant to late blight and scab;
• Lorch - This is a medium-late potato, with a vegetative period of about 110-120 days. It is distinguished by a high starch content, up to 20% of the total mass. The tubers have a yellow peel and white flesh, as well as a bright and pronounced potato aroma. Lorch does not have a high immunity to late blight, scab and potato cancer;
• Nikulinsky - medium-late potatoes; it takes at least 115 days to ripen its fruits. The yield of the variety is average, about 30 t / ha, while potatoes are large, weighing up to 150 g. They are distinguished by a high content of starches (about 25%). The peel of the fruits of Nikulinsky is yellow, the flesh is white, of a uniform shade. Nikulinsky is resistant to specific viruses and late blight, but does not have immunity to scab and black leg.

Other varieties

The above listed varieties are not a gross exception when selecting potatoes for the territories of the Southern and Northern Urals. In this region, you can absolutely successfully grow dozens of varieties of potatoes. However, due to the rather variable climate of the region, the yield of such varieties will decrease slightly, in contrast to the biological norm.

Important! Zoned potatoes are only suitable for recommended landing zones. Such varieties are adapted only to narrow climatic conditions and soil regime of a certain zone.

Among them, special attention should be paid to the varieties:

Despite the fact that these varieties of potatoes within the Urals will not allow to collect record yields, during their cultivation you can not be afraid for the death of the future harvest. Thus, both within a household and a large farm, you can successfully grow high-quality table tuber, as well as plenty of seed material for the next year.

How to choose the right variety?

Today, about 4 thousand different varieties of potatoes are known on the market, among which many are suitable for growing in almost any climatic conditions. This creates additional trouble for farmers, since not many are willing to spend several years on all kinds of experiments with potatoes. The Ural region is no exception, as the territory often cannot boast of extensive tracts for efficient farming.

To protect yourself from unnecessary waste of money when choosing a quality grade, several rules should be considered. The first thing you should pay attention to is the climatic features of the growing zone. For a cold continental climate, characterized by sharp changes in atmospheric conditions, only frost-resistant varieties are suitable that can withstand prolonged drought.

If potatoes are cultivated in hot summers with sharp jumps in temperature, not only a frost-resistant and super-early variety that can ripen after 40–50 days will become the best, since at a temperature of more than 35 ° C tubers complete their formation. Next, you need to decide on the ultimate goal of using the future crop. There is fodder, table and technical potatoes.

Although they do not differ in appearance, their technical properties are different:

1. Feed varieties contain an increased concentration of protein necessary for optimal feeding of domestic animals.
2. Technical have a high starch content, which is important for their further processing, but do not have a bright taste.
3. Canteens They are distinguished by a moderate starch content and a bright, rich flavor, so they are ideal for food purposes.

In addition, there is a universal potato, such varieties contain high aromatic and nutritional properties, as well as a lot of starch and protein. When choosing table varieties, it is important to consider the ripening time of the tubers. Early ripe varieties are able to produce the first fruits within 6-8 weeks after planting, this is important in a limited area, when there is a need for cultivation of green manure and other crops.

However, such potatoes are often not able to be stored for a long time, and its taste is less pronounced. In the case when you need to get a marketable tuber with high taste and nutritional properties, mid-ripening varieties with a growing season of at least 90 days are sure to choose.

Features of planting and growing

The general agricultural technique of growing potatoes in the Ural zone is practically no different from cultivating crops in other territories, but still has its own peculiarities. They must be taken into account when planting a vegetable, otherwise achieving high yields will not be easy.

To do this, you just need to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Light loamy and sandy loamy soils with at least 2% organic matter in the composition are suitable for planting;
• the landing area must necessarily be fertilized with green manure in the fall, clover and other legumes are best suited for this;
• in the Urals, potatoes are planted no earlier than mid-May, when the average daily temperature reaches +8 ... + 10 ° С;
• before planting the tubers must be vernalized, without this the emergence of seedlings will last up to 20 days;
• plant the culture in a row method to a depth of 8 cm, with row spacing not less than 1 m;
• for full ripening of tubers, the furrows of the stands must be directed from the north to the south.

Features of potato care in the Urals:

The Urals is a complex climatic region, but it is quite simple to grow a high-quality and rich potato crop within it. To do this, you need to correctly determine the variety, as well as study its needs in as much detail as possible. Traditionally, the best choice for this territory is considered to be early ripe, frost-resistant potatoes, table or universal purpose. It is often unpretentious and by the end of summer can please large tubers.