Kamensky Potato: Variety Description, Growing Instructions, and Photos

To date, breeders have developed over four thousand potato varieties. Some of these are well-known among vegetable growers and enjoy deserved success. Among them are those resistant to a number of common diseases and are not damaged by the Colorado potato beetle. The description of the Kamensky potato highlights these important characteristics. Numerous reviews from gardeners confirm that this variety is one of the best developed by Russian breeders (see photo below).

The Kamensky potato is included in the state register of varieties for the Volga-Vyatka and Ural regions. Breeders describe the Kamensky potato as being easy to grow. It can be grown in any soil, tolerates drought well, and requires little special care. Despite these conditions, a harvest is guaranteed. Another advantage of the variety is its resistance to the Colorado potato beetle.

Description

The bush of this variety is upright and medium-height, with small, stiff, dark green leaves. The leaf edges are wavy. The Kamensky potato is an early-ripening variety; the first harvest can be collected 45 days after germination. The tubers are medium-sized, elongated, and oval. The eyes are small and close to the surface. The skin is double, red, and distinctly rough.

The flesh is light yellow. The starch content in the tubers is high, ranging from approximately 16.5 to 18.9%. The average potato weight is 110-130 grams, with the largest specimens weighing 180 grams. Kamensky potatoes have a stable and high yield, approximately 50-55 tons per hectare.

Characteristics

This variety is productive and drought-resistant, with no impact on harvest quality or quantity, even during unfavorable seasons. Kamensky adapts well to any soil, growing even in shaded areas. This table potato is highly rated for its flavor. Thanks to its double skin, Kamensky potatoes withstand long-distance transportation and are resistant to mechanical damage.

Unlike other varieties, Kamensky is resistant to the Colorado potato beetle, as well as diseases such as canker, late blight, mosaic, and other viral infections. The only drawback of this variety is its susceptibility to potato nematode.

Preparing for landing

Like other varieties, Kamensky needs to be germinated. To do this, the seed tubers are brought into a warm room and laid in two layers in cordon boxes with slits, or simply scattered on the floor. Initially, the room temperature should be around 20 degrees Celsius; after a week, the temperature is reduced to 10 to 12 degrees Celsius. This is necessary to prevent the shoots from becoming too large.

A week before planting, large potato tubers are cut into two or three halves, leaving two well-developed sprouts in each half. As a preventative measure to prevent nematode and other pest infestations, the planting tubers are treated with Nemabact or Prestige.

Landing

Kamensky potatoes are planted in the first rows from May 1st to 15th. The holes are about 10 cm deep, and a handful of wood ash or onion peels can be added to provide additional nutrition for the young plants and repel wireworms. Potatoes are spaced 35 cm apart, with rows spaced 70 cm apart.

Care

This variety is low-maintenance. After the plants have grown a little, they are hilled up. A second hilling is done before bud formation. Water the potatoes after sprouting and during flowering. Fertilizing is optional for this variety, but it's helpful in very poor soils. During the period of active green growth, feed the potatoes with nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium sulfate, urea), and when the plant begins to flower, use a phosphorus-potassium mixture (superphosphate).

Harvesting and storage

This variety is harvested 60 days after planting. The tubers are left outdoors to dry thoroughly. Before storage, the tubers are sorted, selecting only whole and healthy ones. A clean, dry cellar with a constant temperature of no more than 2 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 80% is ideal for storage. The tubers are placed in wooden boxes or crates, which are then placed on pallets. Under good conditions, Kamensky potatoes have a shelf life of up to 97%.

Reviews

Andrey, 50 years old:

"An amazing variety, I was very pleased that I didn't have to kill the beetles. The potatoes taste delicious, especially fried. Each plant had 10 large tubers, and I only fed them with compost once during the second hilling over the summer. I loved the variety and highly recommend it."

Valentina, 46 years old:

"The variety's resistance to the Colorado potato beetle intrigued us. I must say, this pest has bypassed our potato beds. We harvested a good amount, even though the summer was dry and we had no opportunity to water the plants. We decided to save the seeds for planting next year."

Saveliy, 62 years old:

"A good new variety. I first saw it at my neighbor's dacha. That summer, there were tons of beetles, but they didn't attack his potatoes. He told me it was a variety called Kamensky. I bought seeds in the fall and planted them in the spring during the May holidays after mustard. I dug up the first potatoes in mid-July. The flavor is good, and there were no beetles all summer. I cared for them like I do with other varieties. I plan to increase my Kamensky plantings next season."

Julia, 34 years old:

"I was specifically looking for a potato variety that's resistant to the Colorado potato beetle and particularly easy to grow. I ordered the seeds online, as there are no specialty stores in our city. In the spring, a month before planting, I germinated the tubers, and then soaked them in a potassium permanganate solution before planting them. The plants weren't affected by any diseases, and the potato beetle didn't bother them, which was exactly what I needed. I dug up the harvest at the end of June, setting most of it aside for propagation, as I really liked the Kamensky variety; it's truly easy to grow."