Characteristics and description of the Gala potato variety

The Gala potato variety is considered a mid-early variety. Its rapid growth rate attracts many garden enthusiasts. Harvesting begins within 2-3 months (on average, 75 days) of planting.

This variety is resistant to most diseases, is tolerant of soil conditions, and can be grown in a variety of regions. On average, a bush can yield up to 25 potatoes with proper care.

Description and characteristics of the Gala potato

Externally, you'll see a medium-height bush. The plant can be semi-erect or spreading, or of intermediate type. The medium-sized leaves are usually dark green and have jagged edges, helping the plant easily adapt to hot conditions. The corolla of the flowers is whitish.

Fruit: The tubers are also medium-sized, weighing approximately 100-150g per tuber. They are oval or round in shape and yellowish in color (skin and center). The small eyes are located close to the surface. Young potatoes are easy to peel, which is also a plus. The skins do not darken after peeling.

Nutritious, they contain 14% starch and are also rich in carotene. They also contain up to 3.5% protein and up to 12 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of potatoes. Their taste is rated 9/10. Therefore, this type of potato is often used in preparing children's food.

It has a good marketability rating of 94%. It tolerates transportation well and maintains its appearance.

Features of growing Gala potatoes

Soil preparation

This potato variety isn't very picky about soil composition and adapts to almost any type of soil. However, young tubers struggle to thrive in heavy soil. Consequently, the potatoes in a single hole are small, but there are more of them than usual. If the soil is heavy, the potatoes become misshapen, their appearance deteriorates, and the amount of waste during peeling increases. Therefore, if you know your site has heavy soil, you should dilute the soil before planting by adding river sand and compost.

The optimal time to fertilize the soil is autumn. Any type of organic fertilizer—manure, compost, or humus—can be used at this time. The fertilizer will have time to be fully digested by the soil before spring, when planting time arrives.

You may need to fertilize in the spring, in which case you shouldn't use fresh manure. Fertilizer is applied at an average rate of 6 kg (5-8 kg depending on the soil) of organic matter per square meter. If compost is insufficient, it can be compensated for later. In this case, when planting potatoes, add a small amount of compost and one tablespoon of wood ash to each hole.

Seed preparation

Medium-sized potatoes are selected for planting. Small potatoes lack nutrients and won't provide the necessary nourishment to the roots, and therefore to the plant itself. Tubers with thick sprouts about 1 cm long, slightly green, and firm skin are ideal for planting. Potatoes are left in the light for a while, but avoid direct sunlight.

Landing features

The tubers should be planted in warm soil. The soil should reach 10°C. This is the best option. In cold soil, the tubers may rot. It's important to follow the recommended planting patterns—avoid planting too close together or multiple tubers in the same hole. If you don't follow the recommendations and plant too close together, the tubers will be small and crooked.

Before planting, dig the soil to a depth of 40 cm. This also helps get rid of the Colorado potato beetle. You can treat the soil with ammonia water.

Planting options depending on soil and climate:

• In areas where moist loamy soils predominate, ridges are created for planting potatoes, and the planting material is buried 6-10 centimeters deep.
• Sandy loam and sandy soils in dry and arid regions require smooth planting. In this case, potatoes are covered with ten centimeters of soil.
• In lowlands and heavy soils with high groundwater levels, potatoes are planted in raised beds. This protects them from excessive moisture. Such soil should be enriched with sand and loosened to prevent the tubers from suffering from oxygen deprivation.

How to properly care for Gala potatoes

Fertilizers

Watering

Potatoes are watered three times per season. However, the amount and frequency of precipitation must also be taken into account. Water in the morning or evening to prevent sun exposure from scorching the plants. Each plant typically requires about 3 liters of water. If the summer is dry and hot, watering should be done every 4-5 days. This variety does not respond well to excess moisture and is highly drought-resistant.

Hilling and loosening

Potato roots require a fresh air supply. To achieve this, loosen the soil around the plant on all sides five days after planting. This procedure is then repeated as soon as a crust forms. Hilling is used to protect the plants from temperature fluctuations. This method is especially effective in northern and central regions, where freezing temperatures can persist until early summer.

Hilling is first done when the sprouts are 10 cm tall, then when the plant reaches 40 cm. A mound of earth is created around the bush. This should be done

In the early morning or evening hours, after watering, when the sun is not too hot. Hilling should not be done during the day, as the tubers will overheat and spoil under the hot soil.

Diseases and pests and methods of control

This potato variety is shelf-stable and resistant to some diseases, such as nematodes. However, it is susceptible to the following pathogens:

• Leaf roll virus;
• Rhizoctonia is a fungal disease that appears at the bottom of the stem.
• Tuber blight. Haulm blight is more common.

This variety is most often affected by rhizoctonia, also known as the "favorite pathogen." When infected, the fungus affects all parts of the plant, from the roots to the leaves. On tubers, the disease appears as dark, very dense lumps, and on sprouts, it appears as brownish ulcers. As the fungus grows, it destroys the sprouts.

A diseased plant wilts and its development is stunted. Infection most often occurs through the soil, but diseased tubers can also act as carriers. If left untreated, rhizoctonia can reduce yields by a quarter. To ensure healthy plants, follow these recommendations:

• When planting, make sure the soil is warm;
• There should be no crust on the soil;
• Before planting, potatoes need to be treated with a 1.5% solution of borax or boric acid;
• To prevent disease, spray the seedlings with Zircon (at a rate of 0.3 ml per ten liters of water).

If you notice that your potatoes are diseased, treat them with the fungicide "Kuproksat" at a dose of 25-50 grams per bucket of water. Repeat the treatment after 10 days. It's also important to remember not to use chemicals for a month before harvest.

Harvesting and storage of crops

You don't have to wait long to see results from planting the Gala variety. It ripens within 70-80 days. In warm climates (southern and central parts of the country), several harvests can be made per season. In cold climates, this variety's early ripening allows for harvesting before the rains begin. A single plant yields 25 tubers.

Two weeks before harvesting, remove the tops to increase the shelf life of the root vegetables. This will preserve the potatoes' appearance and nutrients. The potatoes have a strong skin, making them ideal for transportation.

Before storing, potatoes prepared for the next planting can be treated with Baktofit (30 ml per 10 liters of water, soak for fifteen minutes) or Maxim (4 ml per 2 liters of water). This will prevent spoilage and the possibility of infection.

Potatoes are stored in ventilated boxes, crates, or loosely. The tubers can be stored at temperatures ranging from 0 to 7°C, but 0 to 2°C is ideal. The harvested crop is stored in a utility room, shed, or balcony. If the temperature is below freezing, the potatoes should be wrapped to prevent them from freezing. Old, warm clothing can be used for this purpose.

After harvesting, potatoes need to be sorted—selecting damaged ones for planting and, of course, for eating. Let them rest for a while and then store them.

Reviews

Valery: I have a small plot, so I liked that this potato variety isn't sprawling and doesn't take up much space. The plants grow tall. Plus, they ripen quickly, in about two months. The potatoes are beautiful. The eyes are tiny, almost invisible. The potatoes are oval-shaped and transported well. They're easy to wash and peel, and they're a pleasure to cook. They don't overcook.

Anna: I've been planting this variety for five years and am absolutely amazed. I found Gala delicious and was pleased with its high yield. I recommend this variety to everyone.

Sergey: My wife and I once decided to pick potatoes for planting at random, and coincidentally, we bought the Gala variety. It ripened quickly, and we also wanted the yellow variety. I think it tastes better. I liked that it didn't fall apart when boiled, and it turned out great when fried.