Madeira potatoes: characteristics and description of the variety

There are about 5 thousand varieties of potatoes, new ones appear regularly. In 2017, 426 new products were admitted to the Russian register of varieties. Madeira potatoes are one of them. It was created by one of the leaders in European seed potato breeding - the German company Europlant.

Europlant is renowned for its careful selection of varietal material. Each variety is given 8-9 years of selection work before it hits the market. Famous works of this originator: potatoes Bernina, Captiva, Madison, Donata, Ricarda, etc.

Madeira potatoes

Characteristics of Madeira potatoes

If you are looking for early potatoes then consider Madeira potatoes, the characteristics and description of the variety are inspiring. The variety is medium early - the tubers are ready for digging in 50-65 days. It belongs to the group of canteens, that is, it has a well-balanced composition and high taste.

The peel is golden yellow, smooth, with a light mesh, shallow eyes. Potato tubers of a beautiful harmonious oval shape, close to a ball, medium-large, weighing 106-136 g. The pulp is as yellow as the peel, moderately watery, with good density, slightly mealy, after cooking it changes color slightly.

Potato tubers Madeira

Belongs to culinary type B, has a slightly boiling pulp, good for soups and frying. Taste is described as good, which is better than satisfactory, but worse than excellent.

The plant of the Madeira variety is of medium height, leaf type (all leaves are concentrated at the top, not along the entire length of the stem), leaves are of medium size. The flowers are medium and large, there is no anthocyanin coloration on the inner side of the corolla, or it is barely noticeable.

The brightest features:

1. Suitable for automatic washing and packaging;
2. Smooth caliber of tubers;
3. High commercial properties. Estimated at 78-94%;
4. Keeping quality is not bad - 94%, although it is slightly inferior to some modern varieties (for example, Aluet has the same parameter - 96%).

The yield is high, the maximum reaches an almost record figure - 632 c / ha. The average yield is also very good - from 202 to 481 c / ha. This is slightly inferior to varieties that are considered the most productive in the Middle Lane. For comparison: Idaho - 550 c / ha, Gala - 340 c / ha, Luck - up to 960 c / ha (this figure is only with high agricultural technology).

Disease resistance meets modern requirements, Madeira has excellent immunity to scab, leaf twisting, brown spot, virus A (PVA), cancer. Average resistance to late blight and virus - Y (PVY).

Agrotechnics

The variety is unpretentious. Thorough digging of the soil is required. When planting, tubers should be deepened by no more than 17 cm.

The variety is recommended for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka region. Of course, there will be nuances from region to region in agricultural technology, consider the features of growing the Madeira variety using the example of the Sverdlovsk region:

1. Landing - no earlier than mid-May. Wait until the soil warms up to + 8-10 ° С;
2. Seed tubers are pre-vernalized - thus, seedlings will appear as early as 8-10 days after planting. Without vernalization, you will have to wait 18-22 days for germination, which will delay the harvest;
3. In the absence of rain, watered weekly, spending up to 5 liters per bush;
4. Weeds or grass are laid at the base of the stems, achieving the effect of natural mulch;
5. Early first hilling is desirable, as a way of protection against returnable spring frosts.

Use crop stimulation methods suitable for other varietal potatoes: transverse and ring cuts on seed tubers, watering during tuber formation, if summer is dry, 3 top dressing per season, partial breaks of stems. Madeira has excellent potential, it is possible to double the average yield.

Harvest obtained during variety trials in 2017

Madeira potatoes in comparison with analogues

Madeira variety is a novelty and has not yet shown itself in the practice of amateur vegetable growers. We can already say that the variety is of high quality, solid and promising. It can compete with such mid-early table varieties as:

1. Adretta, selection - 1980;
2. Isle of Jura - 2007;
3. Vector - 2014;
4. Lugovskoy - 1987;
5. Nevsky - 1982

The last two are the most popular varieties among amateur gardeners. The varieties Vector and Lugovskoy are not entirely appropriate in this selection, since in terms of ripening they are average, not medium early, but for other qualities they are appropriate for comparison. All these varieties are worthy: tasty, stable, fruitful, good for cooking.

Madeira potatoes on display in Germany

Pros of Madeira potatoes:

1. Very nice, aligned, presentable tubers;
2. Excellent keeping quality and commercial qualities;
3. In general, good health, the variety is not susceptible to most diseases, pleases with vigorous green bushes and clean tubers;
4. Unpretentious and undemanding to soil;
5. Excellent average yield and potential of the leading variety.

It is difficult to talk about the minuses, the originator and the first variety testers, who are interested in the spread of the variety, focus more on the merits. The possible disadvantages of the variety include:

1. The taste is good, but according to this indicator, you can pick up more interesting varieties;
2. With poor agricultural technology, it can be susceptible to late blight and certain viral diseases.

Madeira is a worthy representative of the class of medium early varieties. It will also satisfy those who are looking for just an early potato. It is worth considering for those who appreciate an even caliber, beautiful abundant tubers, good culinary qualities.

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