Potato variety Gala, high-yielding, shelf-stable, with excellent taste

The Gala potato variety was created in Germany by NORIKA and entered into the official Russian register in 2008. One of the originators of the variety is the company KRIMM from Russia. Thanks to its good taste and yield, the crop quickly gained popularity.

Description of potato variety Gala

Potatoes of the Gala variety easily adapt to natural climatic conditions, grow in chernozem, loamy, sandy loam soils, and are suitable for cultivation in Russia, Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus. The variety has good resistance to mechanical damage.

Gala potatoes retain their taste and external characteristics during long-term storage. Tubers that do not have mechanical damage do not spoil over a long period. Such characteristics made the variety popular in the market.

When cooked, it does not crumble and retains its shape and color. The vegetable pulp contains a small amount of starch - about 12% of the weight of the tuber. The variety can be included in the diet due to its high carotene content.

Growing and care

Proper planting of Gala potatoes will guarantee high yields.

For When planting, it is recommended to choose healthy tubers, without damage. The diameter of the planting potatoes must be at least 3 cm.Larger tubers retain more nutrients that are necessary for normal root growth.

Before planting, it is recommended to briefly place the seeds outdoors; direct sunlight causes the skin to harden and turn green, which stimulates the growth of shoots.

Also, ultraviolet rays are the best disinfection that destroys pathogenic microorganisms. Sprouts longer than 1 cm may break off during planting, so it is advisable to plant potatoes with shorter sprouts.

Pre-planting seed treatment against diseases and pests is effective. It is also useful to sprinkle the tubers with wood ash.

The choice of planting period depends on the climate of a particular region. You cannot plant potatoes in unheated soil; it is recommended to wait until the end of the night frosts. If you plant potatoes ahead of schedule, they will not sprout faster; under favorable conditions, they will grow roots.

The Gala variety is not picky about soil, but the best option would be loose, light soil—sandy loam. In dense clay soils, the yield will be worse; dense soil will impede the growth of potatoes. In such conditions, many fruits will grow, but they will be deformed and small.

When planting, add sand, compost, humus or straw, and dry grass to heavy soil.

The distance between planting holes should be about 60 cm, between rows - at least 50 cm. There is no need to put more than one potato in one hole, otherwise this will negatively affect the yield. The depth of the planting holes should not exceed 15 centimeters, which is approximately equal to the length of half the bayonet of a shovel.

The Gala variety does not tolerate high humidity, so it cannot be planted on wet swampy soils or near water bodies.

Potatoes do not need to be watered often, in hot weather it is necessary to moisten the soil by pouring about 2 liters of water under the bush. Watering can be done from a hose with a sprinkler.

Hilling is an important procedure that can increase productivity. This procedure protects the root system from damage and will allow it to grow unhindered. When hilling, you need to sprinkle the stems with soil on all sides.

Two hillings are carried out per season. The first after emergence, the second after major watering or rain. During drought, it is advisable to loosen the soil and weed.

Potatoes are sensitive to fertilizing. Organic matter and mineral fertilizers must be added to the soil. It is important to follow the dosage and time limits.

In autumn, 5-7 kg of rotted manure and 15 g of sodium sulfate per square meter must be added to the soil.

In spring, peat, ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate should be added to the soil.

In summer, you can fertilize with chicken droppings.

Prepare the solution as follows:

• Water is poured into a wooden or plastic barrel.
• For every 10 liters of water add 500 g of dry chicken manure.
• Leave the contents for 5 days to ferment. The solution is stirred periodically.
• To reduce the amount of evaporating nitrogen, the barrel is tightly covered with plastic wrap and tied.

The resulting solution should have the color of tea. Next, it is diluted half with water. To feed one bush, use 1 liter of infusion. Fertilize after heavy rain or after heavy watering.To avoid burns from exposure to nitrogenous compounds, the bush is watered after feeding.

It is better to fertilize and water in the evening.

Diseases and pests, drugs to combat them

Although Gala is distinguished by good disease resistance, the threat of a decrease in yield, or even death of bushes, due to the influence of pathogenic microorganisms cannot be ruled out.

To some extent, the Gala potato variety is susceptible to infection with fungal diseases:

• Alternaria blight,
• late blight,
• scabby
• black leg,
• rot.

Due to an excess of aluminum and iron compounds in the soil and a lack of phosphorus or potassium, high dryness of the soil, potatoes may be affected by rusty tubers, and a disease such as spotting may occur.

Insects can cause damage to the crop:

• wireworms,
• mole crickets,
• caterpillars,
• potato moth.

To treat fungal diseases, drugs such as:

• Aktara,
• Regent,
• Corado,
• Prestige.

It is more difficult to control pests such as mole crickets and wireworms. The best way out of the situation would be to change the landing site. But it is still necessary to take all possible pest control measures, because... they will damage other crops.

Harvesting and storage

The harvest can be harvested after it has been in the soil for eighty days. It is recommended to trim the tops before digging.

In cold climates, it is necessary to remove the tops two weeks before harvesting so that the tubers stop growing and their skins become stronger - this allows them to prolong their shelf life.

It is better to store potatoes in a dry cellar with a temperature of about +5 C. For storage, you need to choose undamaged tubers; those that have defects are recommended to be eaten first.

Pros and cons of the variety

Advantages:

• Unpretentiousness in cultivation;
• High yield;
• Increased resistance to diseases;
• High taste qualities.

Disadvantages: if potatoes are kept in the ground, the risk of tubers being damaged by fungal diseases increases significantly, especially if the air temperature is low and the humidity is high.

Potatoes of the Gala variety are in demand not only because of their high taste. Vegetable growers are attracted by the ease of its cultivation. By following simple planting and care rules, the gardener will provide himself with a rich harvest that will be successfully stored all winter. The variety can be planted in almost any region of Russia.