Lady Claire potato variety

Lady Claire is an ultra-early potato variety (Solanum tuberosum) of Dutch selection. Bred by specialists of the firm "C. Meiler B. V. ". To obtain, we used a variety of Agria (Agria) and a numbered hybrid KW 78-34-470. In 2005, our hero was included in the state register of plants of the Russian Federation under the official name "Lady Claire". Approved for cultivation in three regions of the country: Central, North Caucasian and Central black earth. Suitable for processing into crispy potatoes. Differs in a pronounced dormant period of tubers. Susceptible to late blight, resistant to mechanical damage, suitable for machine cleaning. Widely distributed in Russia, Moldova and Ukraine.

The period from the moment of emergence to full maturation is 65-75 days. The first digging can be carried out on the 45th day of the growing season of plants and even earlier, 30-35 days after germination.

Plant of medium height, up to 50 cm, leaf type. Stems are semi-erect. Potato leaves are medium to large, intermediate to open, green in color. The edges of the leaf plate are moderately or slightly wavy. The corollas of the variety are medium in size, white.

The root system of Lady Claire is well developed; up to 15 uniform medium-sized tubers can form in one nest. The mass of commercial copies is noted in the range of 82-107 grams. The tubers have an oval regular shape, the surface is leveled, without defects. The stolon trace is often flat, sometimes slightly depressed. The peel is smooth or slightly rough to the touch, has a reticular structure, yellow in color. The cut is light yellow in color. The eyes are small, their depth is average.

According to the results of state tests, the marketable yield of the variety is noted at the level of 140-167 c / ha, which is at the level and 28 c / ha higher than the standard Nevsky... The largest amount of potatoes was obtained in the Vladimir region - 267 centners per hectare of sown area, 97 centners / ha more than the established standards. Marketability is at a fairly high level - 81−94%. Keeping quality is also good - 94%, tubers are not prone to germination. According to the originator, they are perfectly preserved for 6-8 months.

Lady Claire's taste is very good. The main area of ​​application of this potato is processing into various products: starch, flour, chips, and also semi-finished products. In general, in cooking, tubers are universal, suitable for preparing a wide variety of dishes, but they will show themselves best in baked, boiled and fried form. They are also good for salads, vegetable mixes, soups, and deep-fried. The pulp is characterized by a high dry matter content, starch in it is 11.6-16.2%. Thus, the consistency of the pulp is very pleasant, firm, not watery.

The variety is moderately demanding on soils and climate, grows best on loose fertile soils in mild climatic conditions. With proper care and competent agricultural technology, it can give two crops per season. Plants are quite whimsical, require increased attention to themselves, it is especially important to maintain a moisture balance. There are some other features that are very important to get the best yields. The originator offers a small list of recommendations for growing these potatoes.

• Since the tubers have a long dormant period, it is strongly recommended to germinate them before planting. This will have a positive effect on germination, and also slightly reduce the ripening period. Be careful when planting germinated seed! Damage to the sprouts will have a very negative effect on plant productivity.
• The variety does not tolerate waterlogging very well. Do not overdo it with watering, especially in regions with cool summers - there may not be a need for soil moistening at all. In addition, our hero is quite drought tolerant.
• According to the originator, Lady Claire is susceptible to Alternaria, therefore, experts recommend paying special attention to the prevention of this disease.Also, plants are vulnerable to the causative agent of late blight, therefore it is important to observe the harvest time and crop rotation should not be neglected. The best predecessors of potatoes are squash, garlic, cabbage, onions, beets, legumes, green manure.
• The originator recommends harvesting only after the tuber skin has matured. Very early harvesting can lead to mechanical damage to tubers, and therefore, they will lose their presentation and become unsuitable for long-term storage.
• After harvesting, care should be taken to dry the potatoes well for better preservation. According to the originator of the variety, the tubers are sensitive to damage from pressure ("bruises" on the pulp may appear, or the potatoes may crack), therefore, it is not necessary to exceed the established quantitative norms when laying in storage and transporting over long distances.
• Be careful when applying sprout inhibitors after harvest. The tubers react negatively to this technique, and besides, they are already well stored.

Lady Claire is resistant to cyst nematodes, potato cancer, X, Y and A viruses, leaf rolls, common scab, and rot. Susceptible to Alternaria (dry spot). According to the All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, it is vulnerable in terms of tops and moderately vulnerable in terms of tubers to the causative agent of late blight.

Our hero has become quite widespread not only in his homeland, but also in many other countries, including Russia. It is valued for its high yield, early amicable tuberization, good taste and suitability for processing into potato products, excellent keeping quality and excellent presentation. Resistance to drought and mechanical damage also deserves attention.

But it is worth talking about the significant disadvantages of the variety. Firstly, Lady Claire is very whimsical in her care, she requires the creation of special conditions. Therefore, if you do not have the opportunity to visit your site often, it is better to choose another variety for growing. In addition, not in all regions, our hero will show good results. Secondly, plants are susceptible to late blight, which can now become a serious problem. On the other hand, with timely prevention, this nuance will not cause much trouble. Summing up all the pros and cons, we can conclude that this potato is certainly good, but in return for an excellent harvest, it requires a lot of attention.

In Russia, Lady Claire is officially cultivated by the following enterprises: FGBNU VNII Potato Farming named after A. G. Lorkh and LLC Element M in the Moscow Region, LLC Belyaevka in the Perm Territory, LLC Agropack in St. Petersburg, LLC Suzdalagroprom "and LLC" Vladimirskie vegetables "in the Vladimir region., LLC Agrofirm Krimm" in Tyumen, JSC "Ozery" in the Moscow region. "In the Nizhny Novgorod region., LLC" SPK named after Lenin "in the Lukhovitsky district of the Moscow region.