Our experience in growing the Gala variety
The Gala potato variety belongs to German selection and has been consistently popular among Ukrainian farmers and gardeners for more than ten years. This is a mid-early table variety, which is characterized by high plasticity and good taste. Gala tubers are round-oval, aligned in size, with smooth yellow skin and yellow flesh that holds its shape well during cooking. Thanks to these characteristics, potatoes look attractive on the market and are in demand among consumers.
The most important factor for Gala is moisture. We have seen from our own experience that it is watering or moist soil that is the key to success in growing Gala. In regions where natural precipitation falls regularly, the variety shows high yields of 30-50 tons. per ha., and where it is possible to provide irrigation, the harvest is always stable, up to 60 tons.
Another feature of the variety is its requirement for planting density. Gala does not tolerate thickening. If you give it too little space, it will not be able to form tubers of the proper size. The optimal density is about 40-50 thousand tubers per hectare. This is less than for many other varieties, but it is this approach that allows each bush to reach its potential. As a result, the tubers grow large, even, presentational, and the consumption of seed material remains minimal. Actually, it is on Galia that we have the lowest planting rates per hectare among all the varieties we grow.
At the initial stages of development, plants need the right start. Gala must quickly build up green mass in order to form a strong bush and close the aisles. During this period, she especially needs nitrogen. We add ammonium nitrate after germination and before the second hilling. This stimulates the active growth of stems and leaves. Closed rows allow you to better retain moisture in the soil, reduce the development of weeds and create a more favorable microclimate for the formation of tubers. Thus, proper fertilization at the beginning of the growing season is the basis of the future harvest.
During the harvest, Gala demonstrates another important advantage. Tubers of this variety tolerate mechanical damage well, so they can be safely dug even in dry weather. They do not lose their appearance, retain a smooth surface and shape, which greatly facilitates the harvesting process and makes it less risky. This is especially important for farmers, because we are talking about large volumes of potatoes that must remain suitable for sale.
No less important is the issue of storage. Gala is one of those varieties that lie perfectly in storage. At temperatures from +2 to +3 degrees, it can be stored until mid-May. Even after several months in storage, the tubers remain dense, do not lose turgor and do not germinate. This ensures stability in sales and makes it possible to sell products longer than in the case of many other varieties.
Summing up, we can say that Gala is a variety that requires compliance with the requirements for watering, planting density, fertilizing and Great Dane
