Colombo potatoes have long and firmly gained wide popularity among amateur gardeners. And all because this variety has a great taste, it can be transported over long distances with little or no loss and is well resistant to diseases and pests.
In this article we have prepared for you a detailed description of the variety, its main characteristics. You will also learn what conditions must be met for successful cultivation and whether prevention is needed to prevent diseases and attack by pests.
Colombo potato variety description
| Grade name | Colomba |
| general characteristics | very early Dutch cultivar with stable yield |
| Gestation period | 50-65 days |
| Starch content | 11-15% |
| Mass of commercial tubers | 80-130 gr |
| The number of tubers in the bush | up to 12 |
| Yield | 220-420 c / ha |
| Consumer quality | normal taste, minimal friability |
| Recumbency | 95% |
| Skin color | yellow |
| Pulp color | yellow |
| Preferred growing regions | Central, Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, North-West, Volga-Vyatka |
| Disease resistance | resistant to nematodes and potato cancer |
| Features of growing | avoid planting in cold soil |
| Originator | HZPC HOLLAND B.V. (Netherlands) |
Colombo potatoes (Colomba) were hybridized in the Netherlands. The originator is HZPC Holland. Included in the state register of the Russian Federation in the middle belt of the country, the Caucasus region and the Central Black Soil Region. 
Received widespread among Russian amateur gardeners. Variety is intended for growing in the open ground. Planting tubers produced in May. Recommended sowing scheme: 35x60 cm. Planting depth: 9-10 cm.
Planting must be done after perennial grasses, cereals or legumes. Loves a slightly acidic soil. Actively grows in loamy soil or black soil.
Yield
It belongs to the middle-early varieties. From planting tubers to technical ripeness takes 70-75 days. Subspecies high-yielding. 220-420 centners of fruits are harvested from one hectare.
The table presents data on the yield of other varieties of potatoes:
| Grade name | Yield |
| Colomba | From 1 hectare can be collected 220-420 centners. |
| Farmer | From 1 hectare receive more than 200 centners. |
| Meteor | 200 - 400 centners per hectare, depending on the region and climate. |
| Forty days | From 1 hectare can be collected from 200 to 300 quintals. |
| Minerva | From 1 hectare collect from 200 to 450 centners. |
| Karatop | You can collect 200-500 centners per hectare. |
| Veneta | The average figure is 300 centners per hectare. |
| Zhukovsky early | An average of 400 centners per hectare. |
| Riviera | From 280 to 450 centners per hectare. |
| Kiranda | From 110 to 320 centners per hectare. |
In warm regions, it is possible to harvest twice a year. Colombo potato has high commodity qualities. Can be transported over long distances. In cool vegetable stores at a temperature of -1-3 ° C persists for 5-6 months.
Stability is equal to 95%. The taste of the fruit is excellent. With long-term storage taste does not lose. Does not germinate. Designed for both wholesale and market sales. Marketability ranges from 80 to 99%.
Below in the table you can see the comparative characteristics of the commodity weight of tubers and their keeping quality in other varieties:
| Grade name | Mass of commodity tubers (grams) | Recumbency |
| Colomba | 80-130 | 95% |
| Meteor | 100-150 | 95% |
| Minerva | 120-245 | 94% |
| Kiranda | 92-175 | 95% |
| Karatop | 60-100 | 97% |
| Veneta | 67-95 | 87% |
| Zhukovsky early | 100-120 | 92-96% |
| Riviera | 100-180 | 94% |
A photo
The photo shows potato variety Colombo.
Potato variety Colombo characteristic
Bushes of a grade upright, sprawling, with a large number of leaflets. The height reaches 50-55 cm. The leaves are large, emerald green. Flowers snow-white lilac color.
The intensity of the anthocyanin shade from the inner surface of the corolla is very weak or completely absent. The fruits are elongated, with rounded edges. Have a smooth skin of a light amber shade.
The mass of fruits varies in the range of 80-130 grams. Eyes miniature, shallow. The starch content reaches 11-15%.
Colomba Potatoes is table variety. Designed exclusively for the preparation of homemade dishes. It has excellent taste. First and second courses are prepared from potatoes of this variety.
Used as a filling for pies. Potatoes can be fried, boiled, baked, steamed and in the microwave. This variety goes well with carrots, onions, beets, peas, meat.
Growing up
During planting should be aware that the soil should be well warmed. The variety does not tolerate cold. Fruits can rot in the ground.It is necessary to monitor the friability of the soil.
It is important that the ground is breathable. Otherwise, the root system will not be able to develop actively. This is fraught with a decrease in yield. Should do regular weeding. We must not allow the presence of weeds next to the plant.
Weed crops take away minerals, which leads to deformation of tubers. The variety requires weekly bookings. Hilling is carried out at least once every two weeks.
Do not forget about growing spraying with various chemicals.In order to protect the planting, it is recommended to periodically change the fields, treating them with insecticides, fungicides and herbicides during the rest period.
Diseases and pests
The variety is highly resistant to cancer, scab, golden cyst nematode.
To late blight tuber and leaflets sredneustoychiv. Pest damage is affected only by improper care.
As a prophylaxis, experienced gardeners recommend periodically checking the bushes for the presence of pests. When they are detected, the potatoes are sprayed with fungicides.
It is also recommended not to overuse with top dressings and to check the acidity of the soil weekly.
With a strong acidification should stop making supplements.
Experienced gardeners claim that this type of fertilizer enriches the soil, making it the most breathable.
Fertilizers inhibit the active growth of weeds. But it is worth considering that after making siderats it is not recommended to break in the bushes after disembarkation for 2-2.5 months.
Potatoes grade Colombo was bred in the Netherlands. It has high keeping quality, excellent presentation. Designed for home cooking. With long-term storage taste does not lose. Contains 11-15% starch.
