Gala Potato: Variety Description, Characteristics, and Reviews

There are about a dozen different potato varieties, and even someone unfamiliar with breeding and gardening can tell the difference. After all, potatoes, even at the market, look and taste different. Each variety has its own characteristics. For example, the Gala potato. A description, photos, and reviews allow you to learn more about it, including how to care for it, what kind of soil it prefers, what it tastes like, and what it looks like.

Difficulties of growing

Only to the uninitiated does a green vegetable garden present a beautiful sight, requiring little effort. It seems like you just need to plant the plants, dig a hole, and water them as needed. Then nature will finish the job. Unfortunately, when it comes to potatoes, there are, firstly, different varieties. Each has its own characteristics and weaknesses.

Some don't like wet soil, others can't stand dry soil, others need to be watered every other day, others are extremely sensitive to pests, and still others require careful selection of neighbors. Sometimes gardeners simply don't know what to grow.

After all, most people can only provide basic conditions. 70% of people don't even have greenhouses, meaning any crop in their garden must be able to withstand the climate, weather, and available soil. The Gala potato's characteristics are perfect for these simple folks who don't want to overcomplicate things. They want a high yield, beautiful tubers that will withstand winter storage and deliver a delicious taste.

Breeders have been working hard on Gala, trying to optimize it for the needs of summer residents and large producers who supply the country's markets every year. They, too, find it unprofitable to grow a particularly fussy potato. Gala, on the other hand, is considered a versatile variety, capable of growing and producing good yields no matter the region in which it's planted.

Galu is considered one of the earliest varieties to ripen. For example, to harvest a full crop, you only need to wait 70-80 days—not from the moment the sprouts emerge, but from the moment the seeds are planted! These conditions are considered optimal for a complete potato cultivation system.

Gala's shoots are semi-erect, intermediate in height, and medium in height. It has large, distinct leaves of a beautiful, rich green hue. The edges are slightly wavy. The corolla is white and medium in size.

The tubers are generally medium-sized, weighing 100 to 120 grams. They are round, though oval shapes are rare. The skin is yellowish and medium thick. The flesh is pale yellow, though deep yellow tubers are also common. They contain little starch, up to 13%. Many people say the taste is excellent. Even after long cooking, the potatoes remain whole, the fibers retain their structure, and they rarely darken.

Based on the variety's characteristics, reviews are unanimous. Gala is flexible and consistently produces high yields. People choose it for its excellent taste and beautiful appearance. Interestingly, this potato is suitable even for those on a diet, as it's low in starch and high in carotene. The tubers are beautiful, smooth, and easy to peel, which is certainly a favorite among home cooks.

Gala has a long shelf life, which is also important, as potatoes are often grown in large, even enormous quantities, and stored for a long time, all winter long. However, there's a catch. The tops should be harvested about 10, maximum 12 days before the general harvest. This way, the tubers will keep well throughout the winter.

Unfortunately, even excellent varieties bred specifically for human needs have their drawbacks. Gala is particularly susceptible to rhizoctonia, a fungus that grows in the lower part of the plant's stems. Preventative treatments are necessary after planting. Otherwise, everything is fine. Gala is truly productive—approximately 20-25 tubers per plant—its advantages easily outweigh its shortcomings. However, it's important to remember fertilizing potatoes during the growth period.

Interesting facts

The potato itself arrived in Russia from abroad, so it's a mistake to think our ancestors ate it. No. Interestingly, a number of other countries used it as an ingredient in desserts. Sweet potatoes are often baked. Mashed potatoes were invented later.

If you asked a hundred eaters about their favorite side dish, mashed potatoes would probably top the list. They're smooth, lump-free, and made with milk. They're delicious with both sausage and cutlets. Gala potatoes, while still retaining their shape, are perfect for mashing; their delicate, rich flavor will please even the most discerning palates.

Professionals who grow various vegetable crops can compare the properties of potato varieties, so to speak, in practice. They noted Gala's high flexibility. This variety adapts seamlessly to any soil and climate, whether sandy or even clayey. This is a huge advantage, as sometimes gardeners can't choose their climate; not everyone has their own indoor greenhouse, and even those with greenhouses plant vegetables in their gardens in the summer.

Only wealthy gardeners, who can easily bring a dozen kilograms of store-bought soil or soil dug from nearby undergrowth, can replace the soil composition. Even then, potatoes require more effort, as they are a tuber crop with developed roots that require moisture and minerals. Therefore, Gala is much easier to grow; there's no fear of the potatoes failing to sprout. This is especially true for those living in Russia, where the climate is uncertain. Frosts occur even in summer.

The tubers are typically beautiful, round or slightly oval, and hold up well, resisting mechanical or other damage. The eyes are small, easy to cut out, and there are only a few of them. These characteristics make the variety ideal for washing, cooking, and packaging. Moreover, as a product, it retains its attractive appearance for a long time, a fact favored by producers.

If you look at the entire harvest, about 90% of the entire potato supply survives until spring.

Planting, care

So how do you begin planting potatoes? It's not enough to simply dig the soil and scatter the seeds. First, select small tubers (about the size of a chicken egg) and place them in the sun to warm up. This should be done about a week before the planned planting date, and be sure to take this into account. lunar calendar for gardeners and vegetable growers.

The planting depth should be approximately 10-12 cm, depending on local soil conditions. Allow a little more space between each hole. The plant will have more tubers, and they'll need space to develop and grow. Professionals recommend a spacing of 75-80 cm.

Keep an eye on them after planting. Lightly covering the emerging shoots with soil will stimulate the root system to branch out and strengthen them. This process can be repeated several times to maximize the yield from each planted plant.

Regular watering is essential. Don't rely solely on weather conditions; it's better to create a rough watering schedule and, if necessary, help nature with your own efforts. Summer residents have it easier here than many rural residents. Houses have running water, and hoses can be connected. In villages, a system of irrigation ditches is often used.

Apply fertilizer just before planting, and add more when you earth up the soil a second time. Nitrogen supplementation will be extremely beneficial. By the way, earthing up should also be done periodically. Fertilize for the first time before flowering, and then repeat as needed.

Disadvantages of the variety

Yes, besides being susceptible to one disease, the Gala variety has other drawbacks. For example, it's extremely sensitive to soil moisture. If you look at the description, you'll see a direct instruction to water generously. Therefore, if your soil is extremely dry, don't risk sowing it entirely with one variety at once; Gala may not have enough moisture.

To prevent the bushes from becoming infected with a dangerous fungus, it is best to treat them with a fungicide and, before planting, treat all seeds with a 15% boric acid solution.

Of course, achieving a high yield requires maximum effort. Gala potatoes require care, fertilizing, regular watering, and hilling. But they ripen early, are tasty and beautiful, and will definitely last the long winter, especially since the climate is considered ideal.

Planting and other activities

Of course, potatoes are just potatoes, and they don't require any special magic, expensive products, or specialized equipment for their care. All you need is some soil prepared for planting the tubers and the desire to grow a good harvest.

To begin with, before planting, you need to carefully harrow the area of ​​soil selected for potatoes.

It's best to hill potatoes in the morning or evening, usually after watering or rain. Sometimes people walk between the beds every two or three mornings, checking on them. Hilling is best done in the morning, before the heat sets in, or in the evening, after the sun has set.

The first hilling is done when the plants reach 12-15 cm in height (on average), and the next hilling is done three weeks later. There's no strict schedule, though; everyone decides for themselves.

For the first potato feeding, prepare 10 g of urea plus 20 g of superphosphate, or substitute potassium chloride. The feeding time is the last ten days of June, and the amount of materials is calculated per square meter. You can spray the bushes separately with a 2% superphosphate solution, or substitute potassium fertilizers.

We recommend:Methods for planting potatoes for an excellent harvest

Bordeaux mixture is well suited for protection against pests and most dangerous potato diseases.

Reviews and opinions from vegetable growers

Ordinary people rely on their opinions, as it's easier to get a complete picture of the variety they like. Buyers are only aware of its appearance, taste, and shelf life. Vegetable growers, on the other hand, consider a number of other distinguishing features, such as how Gala grows in private gardens, how difficult it is to care for, and whether it lives up to the rave reviews.

According to many experienced vegetable growers, Gala can be considered one of the most successful potato varieties produced by classical German selection. It is in demand among large producers and smallholder farmers. Positive reviews have been received from vegetable growers across Russia, which is the best indicator of the variety's versatility and tolerance to various climatic conditions. This potato is also widespread in the CIS and even neighboring countries, and is successfully grown by European potato farmers.

An important indicator for them is their truly early ripening, when the first test harvest can be done as early as the third month after planting, not after germination. With careful and good care, a bush will produce up to 20-25 tubers.

Heat treatment doesn't damage the root vegetables; they retain their structure even after prolonged cooking, and they don't tend to brown quickly. Potato growers strongly recommend harvesting the tops approximately 10-12 days before the scheduled main harvest, as this will help the tubers last longer. Incidentally, the approach of harvest is easy to spot—the tops will begin to yellow, then dry out completely. Many vegetable growers note that they dry out faster than other varieties.

To ensure the required amount of moisture, potatoes can be watered separately, especially if the summer is hot. It's important to monitor the weather. Often, there won't be a decent, sustained rainfall throughout the summer months, so every gardener should keep track of when to water. The variety description specifically mentions the need for good watering.

Gala is certainly described as a unique variety, but if the soil is extremely dry, it may yield poorly. Maintaining moisture levels and feeding are crucial. It won't set any records, but the yield will approach the norm.

Gala's appearance certainly won't set a beauty standard among other potato varieties. Its skin is medium-thick, but this is offset by its good taste and low fussiness. It's also more resistant to many diseases that affect vegetables and potatoes. Except for fungus, but it's important to regularly treat with pesticides and monitor for signs of disease during cultivation. planting potatoes for a good harvest.

Reviews

Olga

"We recently planted Gala, just in 2016, as a trial. I'll admit, we didn't get 25 tubers per plant, but the summer was extremely hot and dry, with not a single decent, sustained rainfall. Perhaps the heat was to blame. On average, we got about 16-18 uniform tubers—medium-sized, but truly beautiful, with small, even neat eyes. The variety turned out to be really early; I don't remember the exact time, but our neighbors' plants were green when ours had yellowed and even dried out. For those new to the variety, I can tell you—that's a sure sign it's harvest time. The potatoes tasted great. We've saved most of the harvest for next year, though. Maybe the summer will be cooler. So far, the harvest has been impressive, but it's not a good first try."

Marina

"I prefer an early-ripening variety so I can dig it up and try it sooner. It grows earlier, so I can harvest it earlier. Fewer problems. I wanted an easy-to-grow, early-ripening variety with low starch content. I settled on Galya. It's nice that the materials also include tips on how to care for the plot itself and what kind of soil is best for it."

Katerina

"Gala is an early, truly early variety that needs to be harvested on time, otherwise the tubers will get large, as they continue to grow even after the tops dry. As for the taste, it's... a potato, really. I think there are tastier varieties. But it's perfectly acceptable for sale. We've planted it a couple of times, but we haven't managed to break any yield records, apparently because we haven't been feeding it enough. Or maybe the soil is a bit dry, as the description says to water more and keep the humidity up. Maybe Gala would grow best somewhere like India, where humidity can reach 89%? It's actually grown quite well here, but I'm just curious."

Irina

"Why do they criticize the taste? I think the variety is quite good, even in complex dishes, soups, and stir-fries. It holds its shape, bakes well, and is delicious. What else can I say? Personally, I have no complaints about the variety, even though I only buy it and don't cook with it. A seller I know sells Gala in bags, and he says it grows well."

Oleg

"We tried Gala, just for the first time. It was fine; we followed all the planting instructions. We timed it right and kept an eye on watering. Luckily, it's easy to water, as the garden is small. It's okay, the yield is quite good. I'm also pleased with the taste; I don't know what people expect from potatoes, a pineapple flavor or something? Or maybe they're some kind of gourmets. Potatoes are just that, potatoes. They're good for mashed potatoes, soup, and stir-fries. We baked them over coals, didn't notice much of a difference."

Natalia

"Who's planting Gala? Is it really that dependent on humidity? We just have dry summers, the climate is kind of like that, and the soil is clayey. Of course, you can water it yourself; there's no problem with that, really. It's just... will it produce a good harvest with clay soil? It doesn't seem to have much moisture. I've noticed that vegetables don't grow that well in our region; they grow better in the south, for example. Kazakhstan, we live in the Northern Region. Winters are long here, with snow all through March. We only think about planting closer to May, and that's the same every year. But I'd like to try it; it seems to have good characteristics, and I bought some at the market, and I like the taste."