Bellarosa Potatoes

Bellarosa has been known to Russian farmers for about 15 years, during which time the variety has won lasting love. This potato really has outstanding virtues.

Bellarosa was developed in Germany. Included in the State Register of Varieties of the Russian Federation in 2006. In the Ukrainian register a little earlier - in 2004. Main characteristics: large-fruited, early maturing, very productive. The peel of the fruit is red, the flesh is yellow. There are quite a few such varieties, they are considered more useful than potatoes with red skin and white flesh, as they contain more carotene.

A tall, straight bush, up to 80 cm in height, with large green leaves, almost without waviness and wrinkles. The flowers are lilac, but you rarely see them on the bushes of this variety - they do not have time to appear. The bush is well recognizable and aesthetic.

Tubers are oval, moderately elongated, with small eyes. They are large, weighty, weighing 117-207 grams. Under favorable conditions, tubers of 800 g can be found. From 7 to 10 tubers grow under one bush. The skin of a ripe potato is rough to the touch, of medium thickness, rather dense, of a bright pinkish-red color. The color is due to the content of anthocyanins in the peel. The pulp is light yellow, the density is medium, the wateriness is moderate, the starch content is 12.6-15.7%.

Table variety with good taste. According to reviews, the taste is excellent, much better than average. Bellarosa belongs to culinary type B, that is, it is poorly boiled, not mealy, with a medium-dense consistency and wateriness. These potatoes are good for frying and making soups.

The variety is early maturing. From the emergence of seedlings to harvest, 45-55 days pass, from planting seed tubers in the soil - 55-65 days. The first digging falls on the 45th day after germination, in some regions they manage to get 2 crops per season, one is harvested in July, the other at the end of September. In terms of growth rate, it is not inferior to ultra-early Dutch varieties.

The variety belongs to the high-yielding variety, gives on average 169-326 centners per hectare of marketable potatoes, which is 26-63 centners more than the Nevsky variety, which is the standard and is considered the most productive domestic potatoes. The maximum yield is 385 c / ha. The variety, already at the first digging, is far ahead of the early Zhukovsky.

The yield of marketable tubers is 82-99%, keeping quality is excellent - 93%, tubers are perfectly stored until spring.

The variety is officially recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth Region: Kursk, Lipetsk, Tambov, Voronezh and Belgorod regions. It can also be grown in the Volgo-Vyatka, Ural regions and in the northwest.

Bellarosa is drought tolerant, with average or even low moisture requirements. Such varieties grow well even in the Republic of Tatarstan. However, potatoes by their nature are a moisture-loving plant, it evaporates up to 70 liters of water per season. The yield directly depends on the amount of moisture. Potatoes are watered 2 times a week if it is hot dry weather, 1 time if it is cool and there are occasional rains. If there is no goal to get an over-harvest, enough natural precipitation, Bellarosa forms a sufficient number of tubers in any case.

Bellarosa is not very demanding on soils, it can grow in any areas, but it must be borne in mind that potatoes like very loose soil, one in which you can easily immerse your hand to the elbow. However, Bellarosa is able to grow even on clayey soils unacceptable for potatoes and in a damp climate - only the number of tubers will be less, plus the plant will be affected by late blight and other diseases at the level of any other varieties.

If watering with this variety can be neglected, then the plant loves loosening. The first loosening is carried out a week after planting, then the procedure is repeated weekly. The first hilling is when the shoots reach 15 cm.

The variety needs nitrogenous fertilizing less than others, it is applied a little less than 45-120 kg (the norms vary depending on the type of soil, the minimum is needed on peatlands and chernozems, the maximum is on sod-podzolic loams and sandy loams).

Application rates for other fertilizers per 1 ha: potassium - 200-250 kg, phosphorus - 100 kg, magnesium - 60 kg.

All of these recommendations are optional. Bellarose potatoes are so reliable and unpretentious that they are able to give a good harvest with minimal agricultural technology.

The cultivar is resistant to golden potato nematode, blackleg and potato cancer pathogen. The variety has moderate resistance to late blight of leaves and tubers, to common scab. Susceptible to black scab (rhizoctonia), but in moderation.

In hot regions, if the summer is very rainy, the variety can suffer greatly from late blight. In this case, treatment with drugs will be required according to the following scheme:

• shoots have reached 15 cm - treatment with Tattu fungicide;

• after 2 weeks - "Quadris";

• before flowering - re-treatment with "Quadris";

• after flowering - spraying with superphosphate (10 g per 10 l of water).

The drug "Tattu" will be useful for stimulating growth, as it contains zinc and manganese.

Judging by the reviews, Bellarosa demonstrates true German quality. A solid, unpretentious variety, not prone to clinging to diseases, rotting or catastrophically shallow during droughts. The tubers are beautiful, large and even in size, well stored, practically not damaged during harvesting.

According to some reviews, the variety is not ideal, dark areas are noticeable on the tubers by spring, but storage difficulties are typical for any early varieties. Bellarosa has excellent keeping rates for this group.

Opinions vary about flavor, but Bellarosa is regularly featured in a selection of the best varieties. In culinary processing, potatoes are universal, suitable for all types of cooking, including mashed potatoes and chips. The puree is very tasty, without wateriness. Some people call the taste ordinary, unremarkable. Others note that the taste is excellent, creamy, delicate and full-bodied. The potatoes are very satisfying, moderately crumbly, with a pliable peel that is easy to peel.

For many, the variety becomes the most beloved. Especially popular with small farmers who grow potatoes not only for themselves, but also for sale. The fertility and endurance of the plant, as well as the beauty of the fruit, are impressive. It is clean even when digging, but even if the earth is stuck, it is very easy to clean. With any agricultural technique, you can get smooth, tight, excellent-sized tubers, and even an excellent taste. And also the variety is very popular with gardeners in areas of risky farming. It is Bellarosa that turns out to be the most productive variety.