Gala potato variety: ripening time and characteristics

Potato variety Gala - characteristics, description, taste, reviews

A high-yielding, unpretentious, disease-resistant potato is a result that will suit enthusiastic gardeners. In 2013, breeders bred the Gala variety, which corresponds to the above qualities.
It is suitable for growing outdoors in the climatic conditions of Russia, Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus. When grown properly, the crop produces 12 to 20 medium sized tubers per bush. Description of the Gala potato variety, photos, reviews are presented in this material.

How to prepare planting material

If there are not enough potatoes for planting, then you can make several from one fruit. But when dividing the fruit, you must follow a number of rules:

1. The knife used to divide the potatoes is necessarily washed with a 5% solution of copper sulfate. This is necessary to prevent the disease. After all, if one sick fruit comes across among the root crops, then when dividing with an untreated knife, all tubers can be infected.
2. It can only be cut in the longitudinal direction. When dividing across, only one side will bear fruit.
3. Each piece must have at least two eyes on it.

Observing these simple rules, you can multiply the planting material without harming the future harvest.

Main characteristics

The Gala variety is classified as early maturing. It matures 75 to 80 days after planting. The bushes are spherical and bloom with white flowers. Stems are dense, dark green.

Medium-sized potato tubers grow up to 8 cm in length. The maximum weight of each tuber is no more than 115 g.

Root crops of the Gala variety are oval in shape, have a yellow cross-section, a glossy dense peel with a waxy sheen. Ripe Gala potatoes tolerate transportation and storage well.

Important! The amount of starch in 100 g of potatoes is no more than 14 g. Such a low figure allows this variety to be included in the diet.

The Gala variety is appreciated by gardeners for its yield, and culinary specialists - for its extraordinary taste. Gala belongs to the varieties of general consumption, as it contains little starch, it is less moist. Crumbles easily under a fork. Gala is a versatile variety, suitable for frying, boiling, cooking French fries. Due to the fact that potatoes are well boiled, mashed potatoes, stews, hot first and second courses are prepared from it. In addition, after cooking, it is easily cut into pieces, cubes.

Thanks to its neat, oval, even potato tubers and a low tendency to darken after peeling, Gala is an ideal potato peeler variety. The variety is also well suited for storage.

Potato breeding methods

The Gala variety can be propagated quite successfully in a vegetative way. To do this, the tubers are placed in boxes in one layer and covered with moistened peat or chopped straw. Next, the boxes are placed for germination in a room with an air temperature of + 18 + 20 degrees. After the young shoots appear and reach a height of 14-16 cm, you can carefully separate them from the mother tuber and plant them in a permanent growing place.

Seed material begins to pick up when the potatoes are still growing, marking the strongest bushes. When digging, the rules for selecting seed material are also observed.We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the material on growing seed potatoes.

Growing and care

Features of caring for Gala potatoes include several agrotechnical measures:

1. soil preparation,
2. landing,
3. fertilization,
4. watering.

Growing conditions

Given the fact that the Gala variety is not considered demanding on agricultural technology, gardeners should not worry too much about creating special conditions. But in order to obtain a good harvest, a guaranteed shelf life and a beautiful presentation, the following conditions must be provided:

• choose a well-lit place for landing, not blown by the winds;
• provide three times abundant watering during planting, flowering and ripening of potatoes;
• fertilize on the eve of planting;
• process potato planting material with anti-disease agents;
• choose the right time for planting potatoes.

Important! If a gardener purchased a low-quality planting material, then the rules of agricultural technology will be powerless.

To grow the Gala potato variety in accordance with the requirements of agricultural technology, first of all, suitable growing conditions are selected. The landing site must meet the following requirements:

1. flat surface, without slopes, ditches and hills;
2. lack of proximity to the river, reservoir and surface groundwater;
3. low percentage of soil acidity.

On a note. If the Gala crop is grown in an area with sandy and loamy soils, humus, peat and fertilizers are required to create a suitable nutrient medium.

Due to the high level of tuber setting, Galu should be grown in medium to high fertile soils. But even on poor soil, cultivation of the variety gives good results with the correct fertilization, adherence to agricultural technology.

Fertilizers

The average resistance of the plant to possible diseases, as well as the yield of the Gala variety, will increase if fertilizer is applied to each hole directly during planting. Folk remedies are used to feed the planting material:

• onion peel;
• crushed eggshell;
• wood ash.

Spring and autumn dressings should be carried out with fertilizers of various composition:

• in the fall it is better to add potassium, phosphorus;
• in the spring - saltpeter.

Organic dressings are well absorbed by the culture:

• diluted manure;
• chicken droppings (only in the autumn);
• compost;
• cereal mulch.

Variety information

This variety was developed by German scientists, which strengthened its adaptability to any climate. In Russia, entered in the register in 2008.

Modern scientists are constantly developing new varieties. Today, about 40 private companies are engaged in improvement, mainly in the Baltic regions.

The genetic bank finances the state, as well as research and development of equipment. When developing "Gala" we paid attention to:

• disease resistance;
• phytosanitary inspection;
• taste qualities;
• processing methods;
• suitability for a particular area.

Description and quality

This variety belongs to the table variety, very resistant to mechanical damage, which makes it easy and convenient to transport and mechanized harvesting.

Features of potatoes "Gala" are shown in the table:

Potatoes do not deteriorate and do not lose their properties under standard storage conditions. This makes it a priority when it comes to growing or buying. The pulp is rich in starch, its figure is 11-13% of the total weight. Does not lose color, qualities and properties during cooking, retains its shape. Considered a dietary potato, due to its high carotene content, it is perfect for salads or as a stand-alone dish.

Pros and cons of the variety

Why is this potato variety so good? The list is long, but the main points must be listed separately:

• Not capricious in cultivation. Gala potatoes grow well in almost any climatic zone of the country. The ripening time allows you to get a very large number of tubers, even at low temperatures during the growing season of potatoes.
• Virus resistance. Does not require any special chemical treatment.
• Ripening period. The first tubers can be dug 65-80 days after they have been planted. A full harvest can actually be obtained in two months.
• High productivity. Potatoes bring really impressive results - 263 kg / ha.
• High quality of taste, confirmed by world tasters.

"Gala" was grown specifically for a certain soil and climate, but adapts to any conditions. Does not lose its yield, even if it was placed in sandy loam soil with a low amount of humus. This variety is highly praised by summer residents and farmers due to its high yields and unpretentiousness.

Positive reviews indicate that there are no practical drawbacks to potatoes. Of these, only two can be noted:

• Do not delay the collection of tubers. The quality of potatoes decreases.
• Susceptibility to phytophthora, which appears with excess moisture and at low temperatures. Unfortunately, these conditions are common in many areas of our country.

The healing properties of Gala potatoes should be noted separately. In folk medicine, juice is used for:

• diseases of the heart and kidneys;
• stomach ulcer and gastritis;
• hypertension;
• restoration of metabolism;
• burns and skin ailments;
• poisoning with vegetable poisons.

This variety is highly valued for its high potassium content: 500 g per 100 g of tuber, in composition it is close to bread, in vitamins to greens.

Contains all amino acids required by the human body.

Growing features

Gala potatoes, in the process of their cultivation, require special attention. It is important to properly prepare the seed, choose the time for planting, water and feed regularly.

Seed preparation

For planting, extremely healthy tubers are ideal, the size of which is no more than 3 cm in diameter. The larger the potato, the more it will retain nutrients, which means that the root system will develop much better. It is on it that root tubers will grow.

In order for the seed to give the maximum yield, it is recommended to carry out some preparation.

• Before planting seeds, they must be taken out to germinate in a warm, bright place. Try to make sure that sunlight falls on them. This will allow the skin to harden and turn slightly green, which is an excellent growth promoter.
• Ultraviolet rays are excellent at sterilization. Bacteria and other microorganisms disappear from the long stay of seeds under the sun.
• Select tubers with sprouts up to 1 cm long. If they are longer, there is a risk of breaking them during planting.
• If possible, it is recommended to sprinkle the tubers with wood ash.
• Planting time is the best time to treat the seeds from pests. If you do this later, you run the risk of damaging the tops.

"Gala" loves uniform moisture, germinates well under the cover of a film.

Choosing the time and place of boarding

Determining the exact time of disembarkation is extremely difficult, given the characteristics of different regions and sometimes climatic conditions. Do not plant tubers in cold ground. Under such conditions, they will not grow ahead of time, staying in cold soil is fraught with loss of yield and complete rotting of seeds.

When choosing a soil, a light, sandy loam soil, which contains an abundant amount of organic fertilizers, will be an excellent option. In heavy soil, tubers do not develop well, since they make many more niches and the output turns out more tubers, but much smaller and irregular in shape.

For a more reliable development of potatoes in heavy soil conditions, it is recommended:

• Add river sand to the soil.
• Create organic fertilizers. In the absence of such, add straw, cut grass, tops, which remained from last year's harvest, for autumn plowing.
• Try to do this during autumn plowing, since in the spring it is impossible to carry out such a procedure due to the long process of fertilizer formation.

Features of planting and care

When boarding, the following conditions must be met:

• Keep the distance between tubers at least 60-70 centimeters, in rows - a distance of 50-60 centimeters.
• Do not plant tubers close to each other. This variety requires a large area for quality growth. Seeds planted closely together will clash with each other, hindering development.
• Do not plant several potatoes in one hole. This will significantly reduce the quality of the fruit of the bush and will not bring a large harvest.
• The depth of the hole should be about 13-15 centimeters (for half a shovel).

Watering

An important aspect in the care process is watering the potatoes. The variety itself is intolerant of moisture, often gets sick when growing near water bodies.

• At the end of planting, one to two liters of water must be spent on each bush.
• In hot weather, it is recommended to maintain moderate watering, spending one to one and a half liters of water per bush.
• You can resort to drip irrigation by spending a similar volume of liquid.

Hilling

Under certain conditions, the quality and quantity of the crop will increase hilling. Hilling is the rolling of soil against the plant in the form of a slide. A few important tips:

• It is necessary to plant in prepared ridges, the height of which does not exceed 20 cm.
• When creating such shafts, it is advisable to have specialized equipment available.
• Competently cover the stems of the bushes, surrounding them with earth on all sides, in order to achieve the maximum effect.
• Monitor the development of potatoes. During growth, the root system is damaged, which can provoke a stressful situation for the plant and reduce yields.
• Planting potatoes in already cut ridges will simplify tuber development. The root system will not be damaged and will continue to develop fully.

During the growing season, you need to carry out two hilling:

• First. After the massive rise of the bushes.
• Second. After large watering.

Monitor weather conditions. If the soil has warmed up more than 25 degrees, and the air temperature is not lower than 30, it is better not to hilling. Under such conditions, it is worth to loosen the surface and get rid of the weeds.

Top dressing

Top dressing of potatoes during the growing season is very important. This process is delicate and requires caution. It is categorically impossible to physically add organic matter; care must be taken when adding mineral fertilizers, since there is a risk of not calculating the volumes and dosage.

Features of feeding:

• In the autumn, when preparing a site for future planting. Use 5-7 kilograms of rotted manure, 15 grams of potassium sulfate per 1 square meter. The mixture is placed in the soil to a depth of no more than 15 centimeters.
• In the spring, before planting potatoes. Half a bucket of peat manure or compost goes to 1 square meter. 30 grams of nitrophoska, 20 grams of ammonium nitrate and 20 grams of potassium sulfate are added.All this mixture is put into the soil.
• During the growing season, before hilling. Pour a square of soil with a solution: 0.5 buckets of water by the standards of one to ten, with addition of droppings. After fertilizing the soil, abundant watering is carried out, the cost per bush is from 1.5 to 2 liters of water.

Diseases and pests

Gala potatoes have excellent disease resistance, but safety and pest control measures are still necessary. Damage is divided into several types.

1. Diseases caused by pathogenic fungi are among the most dangerous:

2. Diseases provoked by technical damage:

• darkening of the pulp of the tubers;
• spotting;
• rustiness.

• wireworm;
• caterpillar scoop;
• beetle larvae;
• bear;
• potato moth.

All these diseases are known, there are proven methods of dealing with them. Farmers recommend drugs:

Serious problems arise only with bears and wireworms. Since it is almost impossible to defeat them, it is recommended to change the landing site in order to deprive the beetles of food, forcing them to disappear from their homes.

Prophylaxis

This variety bears fruit well for about 6 years, but there are some nuances that should be considered. If ordinary varieties grow in neighboring beds, viruses can move along with aphids. Such potatoes can be eaten, but not planted.

Planting root crops

The planting process is as follows:

1. Potatoes are planted in holes 10-12 cm deep. The distance between the holes is 50-60 centimeters. It is recommended to make a distance of 1 meter between the rows.
2. Put one potato in each hole, sprouts up. If the root crop has been previously divided, then the cut is placed on the ground.
3. After the potatoes have been laid, they are sprinkled with earth and watered with water (about a liter per hole).
4. After all the manipulations, the ground is leveled with a rake.

Harvesting and storage features

Harvesting can be done after 80 days of cultivation. It is necessary to mow the tops before harvesting. In the presence of a cold climate in the region, it is harvested two weeks before harvest. This allows not only to stop the growth of tubers, but also to form a strong skin. This strength guarantees a long shelf life, the best option would be a cellar.

It is necessary to keep potatoes in a dry place, at a temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius and high humidity. Select only strong tubers. Read more about proper storage of potatoes here.

With proper care, up to 400-600 centners can be harvested from 1 hectare.

Advantages and disadvantages of Gala potatoes

There are many positive aspects in growing this variety. But there are also disadvantages that you need to familiarize yourself with before deciding to plant Gala on your site.

Advantages of the Gala variety:

1. suitable for any region of our country;
2. potato bushes are undemanding to care for;
3. unpretentious to the soil;
4. is resistant to many diseases;
5. has a short ripening period;
6. has a high yield;
7. good taste;
8. the possibility of long-term storage.

Among the shortcomings, one can single out the fact that if the crop is not harvested on time, the nutrients in root crops are significantly reduced. In addition, the Gala variety is susceptible to diseases such as late blight.

The opinions of summer residents

The Gala variety is in great demand among the population. It is readily bought, and also grown on personal plots. Fans of dacha farming speak of it with delight.

For a long time, everyone dreamed of such a variety of potatoes that would have the best qualities and would be unpretentious at the same time. Gala potatoes are the embodiment of the aspirations of many. It tolerates heat well, does not suffer in the absence of moisture, tolerates insect raids without much loss, while quickly coping with diseases.

Growers claim that Gala potatoes are needed to achieve high yields with little effort.Reviews of its taste complement the list of the variety's advantages.

On the forums of lovers of home farming, summer residents share tips on growing this variety. Gala loves to be moisturized evenly. It germinates well and is cultivated under the cover of a film, so it can be prepared for planting in advance. This is important for an early hybrid, and this potato is just a mid-early variety.

Excellent taste and beautiful appearance of tubers characterize Gala potatoes first of all. Consumer reviews also report its excellent keeping quality. It is not surprising that its popularity among the population is growing rapidly.

Variety information and main characteristics

This is a popular early potato variety that gives its first harvest after 2 months. Developed by experienced specialists from the German company Norika. Gala potatoes made their mark on our markets 11 years ago. He is a sales leader.

Tubers and yield

The yield is high. The ripening period is 65-70 days. When harvesting, about 20 tubers can be harvested from each bush. The potato is small in size, weighing up to 120 g. The shape is round, sometimes oval. The color of the tubers is light, uniform. Length 8-9 cm, width 5-6 cm.

The nutritional value

These are table potatoes. The pulp is rich in color, light yellow. The color does not change during cooking.

• starch - 13-15%;
• vitamin C - 22%;
• proteins - 1.7%;
• sugar - 0.31%.

There is little starch, more carotene. This allows Galu to add to the diet of people who adhere to the correct diet.

Disease immunity

Gala potatoes are resistant to various diseases. However, there are ailments that the bushes cannot resist. Immunity to many pathogenic organisms makes Gala a competitive variety.

Favorable regions for planting

Gala potatoes are suitable for growing in most regions of our country. The plant adapts well to most soil types and weather conditions.

The variety is grown in the following regions:

• Novgorod;
• Yaroslavsky;
• Kostroma;
• Tversky;
• Kaliningrad;
• Vologda;
• Pskov.

The variety is also popular in Belarus and Ukraine.

Testimonials

Maxim, 27 years old, Nizhny Novgorod

Now, many of us have begun to plant Gala potatoes in their gardens. The variety is really one of the earliest and most productive. Even in the summer of 2017, when it rained for almost two months, and the ground was compacted so much that the shovels broke, this variety gave a quite decent harvest. Especially compared to the older ones. The potato was born almost all smooth and beautiful, there was little marriage. A week before digging, we cut the tops, and washed and dried the tubers. It was kept in the cellar until spring, almost all of it was kept in excellent condition. The taste is good, the pulp does not fall apart during cooking and frying. It turns out great baked.

Evgeniya, 32 years old, Khabarovsk Territory

My impressions of Gala potatoes are not the most enthusiastic. If you grow and sell, then yes - the variety is good, fruitful, the tubers are neat and even, not huge and not "peas". The potatoes look very attractive and appetizing. And the taste is so-so, the most common. So for myself, I would not plant this. I liked the new varieties Safia and Kristel much more.

Rodion, 50 years old, Svetlogorsk (Belarus)

Potatoes are our national product, but we plant mainly imported ones. For 5-6 years we have been taking Gala and Red Scarlett varieties. The quality is checked, high. Gala has a pleasant yellow color, not loose and not starchy. Delicious and versatile. Good for yourself and for sale. We love her in all kinds of cooking. The tubers are smooth, flawless, round or slightly oval in shape, fit comfortably in the hand when cleaning. Brews quickly, in about 20 minutes, falls apart perfectly. The beetle also loves her, of course, but not as much as other varieties. And it is very resistant to diseases. Occasionally late blight occurs on the leaves.We then cut off all the beaten tops, dry them and burn them so that the disease does not spread further. And the remaining greens are treated with combined fungicide preparations - Bordeaux mixture and Metaxil.

Alexander, 44 years old, Borovichi

German-made Gala seed potatoes Norica are not cheap, but they are very pleased with their quality. All tubers are practically the same size, small and even, crumpled are found, but they still have good germination. I put them on growth at the end of March, all hatched and ascended evenly and very amicably. A month later, there were already 2-3 leaves on the sprouts. I hope the harvest will be at its best!

Ksenia, 41 years old, Kostroma

Last year we got a bucket of Gala potato seed tubers from our relatives. We planted it without much hope, but the harvest in 9 buckets impressed us very much. The tubers are smooth, very strong, clean and beautiful. There are very few eyes on them and they are not deep. The potato washes excellently and is easy to clean. It is important for me that there is little starch in it, that is, you can cook all our favorite dishes from it and not refuse to add. It tastes good, it hardly differs from our usual varieties.

Before planting, I processed the seeds by soaking them in Fitosporin. They were planted in holes with a distance of 40-50 cm from each other and 70-80 cm between rows. They huddled only once, when the tops grew up to 20-25 cm. When hilling, the bushes were almost completely covered with earth so that deep grooves and high ridges were obtained, from which only the tops of the leaves protruded. It is better not to huddle the second time, because it is easy to damage new small roots that sprout close to the soil surface. Watering with this method is very convenient - just throw the hose into each furrow in turn and fill it with water.

Growing features

To harvest a generous and high-quality crop, you should follow simple recommendations.

Soil and seed preparation

The site is processed before planting potatoes. They dig it up; remove debris, plant roots, stones. Lucky for those gardeners whose soil is light (black earth, alumina). In autumn, the land is fed in advance with any kind of organic matter (humus, compost).

The preparation of tubers consists of the following stages of work:

1. Seeds are sorted out, sorted into small and large.
2. They are treated with a growth activator, which is aimed at reducing the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
3. The tubers are left for a while until they germinate.

Terms, methods and schemes of planting

To understand when to plant Gala potatoes, you need to wait until the soil warms up to 10-11C °. Lower temperatures will cause the seed to rot. There are two planting options for this variety. This is a landing in a hole and in a row.

Next, you need to make a marking of the beds, which is suitable for two cases:

• leave 55-60 cm between the rows;
• the distance between the holes is at least 30 cm;
• the depth of each fossa (hole) is 14-15 cm;
• with poor soil, decompose organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pits;
• in the center of the hole or hole, place one potato and sprinkle with earth.

You do not need to plant several potatoes in one hole. This will lead to the fact that the roots are small. Gala is planted from mid-March to mid-May. It all depends on the weather conditions and the region of the country.

Watering

The variety does not tolerate waterlogging, so watering should be uniform. After planting is complete, it is recommended to add 1.5-2 liters of water under each bush.

Hilling

The work is carried out as soon as the first shoots appear from the ground. The process will help strengthen the root system and protect the seedlings from temperature extremes day and night. The agrotechnical technique is to raise loose soil around the plant.

Fertilization

Top dressing of potato bushes is carried out in the middle of the growing season. Fertilizers nourish plants with the necessary substances that ensure proper growth and development.

1. mullein with chicken droppings in a ratio of 1:10;
2. wood ash (3 tablespoons) with potassium sulfate (1 tablespoon) per 10 liters of water.

Diseases and pests: treatment and prevention

Gala potatoes have an increased resistance to diseases and parasites. But if you do not follow the agrotechnical requirements for care, the sprouts will hurt and be exposed to pests.

The variety is most often sick:

• black leg;
• late blight;
• scab;
• alternaria;
• brown rot.

Caterpillars, bears, beetle larvae can eat potato sprouts. To combat diseases and pests, gardeners most often use drugs such as Corado, Aktara and Prestige. For prevention, it is important to follow the rules for the preparation of planting material, soil and adhere to the care recommendations.

Diseases and pests

Basically, the variety is resistant to typical diseases and pests:

• scab;
• nematode;
• late blight;
• potato cancer;
• glandular spot.

But it is less resistant to such pathologies and pests:

• a virus that causes leaves to curl;
• late blight of foliage;
• rhizoctoniasis.

The main preventive measure is dressing the tubers before planting, as described above. If insects are found, they are treated with insecticides (Boverin, Apache, Corado and others). Colorado potato beetle should be collected by hand and removed.