Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Their main advantage is that they remain fresh for a long time and can be stored in a cellar, preserving their flavor and texture. Young potatoes have a rich flavor and high starch content. These qualities are precisely why it attracts the attention of gardeners and agronomists. There is a wide variety of dishes that can be prepared with this vegetable: mashed potatoes, boiled with butter and herbs, soups, and casseroles with the addition of meat and cheese.
Classification of potato varieties
Potatoes are classified into many varieties. Belarusian varieties are considered the best and most productive. Belarus has three climate zones for growing tubers. This means that a suitable variety can be found for almost any Russian climate. The exceptions are the northern regions of Russia. Potatoes are classified by the rate of fruiting. The following are distinguished:
- Early. Fruiting period is 5-6 weeks. Yield per bush is 12-18 fruits, depending on the variety. Weight of one fruit is 90-140 g;
- mid-season. Ripens in 11-13 weeks. One bush produces 9-15 fruits, and the weight of one fruit is 110-160 g;
- Late-ripening. It boasts the most robust immunity to frost and harmful viruses. It matures in 18-20 weeks. These potatoes are harvested in the fall, allowing them to be stored throughout the winter. Each bush produces 13-18 tubers weighing 110-150 g.
Scientists are discovering more and more potato varieties, classifying them into domestic and imported varieties. They are divided into four main types:
- for the food industry;
- preparation of ethyl alcohol and starch;
- feeding livestock;
- universal, used in various industries, except for food.
In summer it is better to use early ripening ones, and in winter late ripening ones.
Potato varieties
The advantage of early varieties is their strong immunity to harmful viruses and fungi that damage the plant's root system. They should be planted in warm soil (9-10 degrees Celsius). Early varieties are typically planted in late April or early May. The skin of young potatoes is thin and attractive, making them popular among farmers. The tubers ripen quickly and don't fall apart when cooked. Varieties grow differently depending on their geographic location. In a cool, dry place, mid-season and late-season potatoes can be stored all winter. Mid-season potato varieties are suitable for central Russia.
The flesh color varies among varieties, ranging from light yellow to light red, cream, white, and yellow. In late varieties, it is predominantly white or cream. The vegetable is rich in carbohydrates—16.1 g, protein—2 g, and fat—just 0.5 g per 100 g. The energy value of raw potatoes is 76 kcal per 100 g. Most varieties produce a phenomenal yield of up to 760 kg per 100 m.2 earth. It is distinguished by its increased starch content.
The table shows the best potato varieties among early, mid-season and late-season ones.
| Name | Characteristic | Variety |
| Zhukovsky early | It features uniformly shaped fruits. It's an ultra-early variety, maturing in about 40 days. One bush produces up to 15 potatoes, weighing 110-150 g. | Early |
| Vyatka | Its distinctive feature is its undemanding nature, growing equally well in black soil, loam, and sandy loam. It weighs up to 120 g. It has numerous small black eyes that are easy to remove when cleaning. Its immunity is much lower than that of its competitors and it is more susceptible to harmful infections. | Early |
| Alena | A high-yielding variety, one bush produces 9-14 tubers. Ripening time is 55-60 days. Tubers weigh 90-120 g. Suitable for northern climates, they are resistant to light frosts. The skin is red, with a rich creamy interior. | Early |
| Timo | After 45 days from germination, the fruit can be harvested with a soft, thin, light-colored skin, and after 70-75 days, with a harder skin. It can be stored for several months under special conditions. It does not flower. One bush produces 10-14 fruits, each weighing up to 120 g. | Early |
| Slav | It's distinguished by its quick cooking and easy peeling. The flesh is light in color, and the skin has a red tint. One plant produces 8-15 potatoes weighing 100-250 g. | Mid-season |
| Irbitsky | The ripening period is 85-90 days. Each bush yields 9-12 tubers, weighing 170-210 g. The potatoes are red in color with a creamy interior. Over the entire harvest period, up to 420 kg of tubers can be harvested from 100 m.2 | Mid-season |
| Breeze | One of the most productive varieties. A single bush can yield 12-19 fruits weighing 120-150 g. | Mid-season |
| Agatha | This undemanding variety is suitable for those with loamy soil. The harvest can begin on the 60th day. One bush can produce up to 12 fruits weighing 100-120 g. | Mid-season |
| Lily | The harvest's unique feature is that, with proper care, up to 770 kg can be harvested. A single potato can weigh up to 250 g. The tubers retain their texture when cooked, don't overcook, and have a pleasant flavor. | Mid-season |
| Vesnyanka | Good resistance to viruses, potato cancer, and tuber blight. One bush produces 9-12 tubers weighing 90-120 g. The skin is light yellow, and the tubers are cream-colored. The starch content reaches 20%. | Late |
| Atlas | It doesn't require frequent watering during the second growing season. It's immune to potato nematodes and scab. Exactly three months after the first shoots emerge, a harvest of up to 12 pods can be harvested from a single plant, weighing 100-110 g. The starch content reaches 23%. | Late |
| Pace | The advantage is its undemanding nature when it comes to soil and potassium-containing fertilizers. The variety has a good flavor and tends to soften when cooked. One bush produces 10-11 tubers weighing 120-170 g. It is resistant to potato wart and moderately resistant to late blight. | Late |
| Climber | A Belarusian variety. Undemanding in soil conditions, it can even thrive in peat bog environments. It is immune to late blight and nematodes. A bush produces up to 12 potatoes weighing 90-110 g. | Late |
| Lightning | When planting, consider soil moisture; the soil should not be overdried. It has excellent taste and nutritional qualities. A single bush can yield up to 12 berries weighing 90-130 g. | Late |
The most beautiful and delicious
Vegetable type is most often of interest to farmers growing crops for sale. Those unfamiliar with the varieties look primarily at the appearance. This popular Russian vegetable also has a variety of flavors: rich and mild. Besides its distinctive flavor, the tubers don't fall apart when cooked and have a long shelf life.
The table describes the most beautiful and delicious varieties.
| Name | Characteristic |
| Arosa | Mid-season. Each bush yields up to 15 fruits weighing 70-140 g. It has a high starch content and strong immunity. It is resistant to the Colorado potato beetle and other pests. |
| Laura | A beautiful and high-yielding vegetable. One bush produces up to 20 fruits weighing 100-150 g. Its smooth oval shape and bright pink skin make it an attractive choice for buyers. |
| Serpanok | It's considered a mid-season variety, with a ripening period of 80-90 days. The yield per bush is 11-14 tubers, with each potato weighing 80-110 g. While not a high-yielding variety, it does have a beautiful light pink skin and creamy fruit. |
| Rosara | The tubers are pink with numerous dark eyes, and the potatoes themselves are light yellow. This high-yielding southern variety produces up to 18 potatoes per bush, weighing 100-120 g. It is resistant to temperature fluctuations. |
| Picasso | A Dutch selection. The skin is yellow-pink, the flesh is white. It has a smooth oval shape without blemishes or eyes, making it a favorite among farmers. Ripening time is 110-120 days. One bush produces up to 20 tubers, and each tuber weighs 110-140 g. |
| Tupoleevsky | The highest yielding variety among Russian selections. From 100 m2You can harvest up to 450 kg. It is resistant to scab and potato cancer, and has good immunity to tuber blight. Ripening time is 100-110 days. A single bush yields up to 15 plants, weighing 120-140 g. |
| Rocco | A Dutch variety with a perfectly smooth oval shape and a pink color. Each potato weighs 120 g, and with proper care, up to 200 g. It has a high yield, rapid flowering, early harvest, high resistance to potato cancer, and a beautiful appearance. |
| Reserve | The fruit is round and flawless. Each potato weighs 90-100 g. It has a delicate flavor due to its low starch content. Flowering is long, but despite this, the harvest can be completed 50 days after the leaves emerge. |
The most stable and productive
When choosing potatoes, consider the desired harvest time, soil type, plant immunity, taste, appearance, and watering and climate requirements. For northern regions and the Moscow region, more resilient varieties are recommended.
| Name | Characteristic |
| White spring | It is considered an early variety and has good distinctive characteristics. Yields up to 400 kg per 100 m.2. With proper care, you can harvest twice a season. High immunity. Undemanding to temperature conditions. |
| Timo Hankkijan | Finnish selection. Undemanding in terms of soil composition and temperature conditions. Per season, you can get up to 300 kg per 100 m.2 Tuber weight 70-120 g |
| Hope | From 100 m2 It can yield up to 410 kg. It has a smooth, oval shape without flaws and a light brown color. It has a pleasant taste and retains its texture when cooked. |
| Luck | The tubers can be harvested as early as mid-July, with a growing season of 60-70 days. A single bush can yield up to 19 tubers weighing 110-150 g. When cooked, they remain firm and darken in color. The skin is light yellow, and the tubers themselves are white. |
| Gala | The harvest can be obtained 80 days after the tops emerge. Each bush contains up to 27 tubers weighing 110-140 g. When cooked, the tubers retain their color and texture and have a rich flavor. The skin and the vegetable itself are almost identical in color – light yellow. |
| Idaho | Suitable for central Russia. This mid-season potato variety produces up to 30 potatoes weighing 110-170 g per bush. It has a unique flavor and a high starch content of 18%. |
Soil types and varieties
The best variety to germinate depends directly on the soil type, its chemical composition, fertilizer applied before planting, and the climate. Tubers develop best in black soil, as well as in soil previously planted with cabbage, beets, and greens.
Sandy soils retain almost no moisture, so plants require additional watering and fertilization:
- cow manure (humus or compost);
- fluorine;
- potassium.
Clay soil is also unfavorable, but scientists have developed a variety that allows tubers to thrive in sticky soil. Yields reach 250 kg per 100 m.2.
| Name | Soil type | Characteristic |
| Volzhanin | Sandy | Disease immunity is very low, so achieving the required number of tubers on time can be challenging. Under favorable conditions, it can yield up to 350 kg per 100 m.2 |
| Typhoon | Sandy | It produces a good yield every year. Up to 450 kg can be harvested per 100 m2 per season.2Tuber weight: 70-140 g |
| Ramona | Clayey | It has a low but stable yield of up to 150 kg per 100 m2The fruits are oval-shaped and weigh up to 90 g. |
| Rodrigo | Mixed | Unfussy about soil type. Yields up to 450 kg per 100 m.2Potato weight up to 80 g. Suitable for winter storage. |
Belarusian, Russian, Dutch, and German potato varieties are considered the best. These tubers are among the most productive, tastiest, and least susceptible to destructive root diseases. Potatoes are drought-resistant, requiring 2.5-3 liters of water per plant per season. Potatoes are classified by variety, maturity, tuber formation time, shelf life, taste, and appearance. All these factors influence the choice of seeds to plant.
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