GOURMANDINE POTATO AB

The Gourmandine potato is an early to mid-early variety with firm yellow flesh, oval and elongated in shape, and a good yield. This tuber, with its smooth yellow skin and shallow eyes, can be eaten plain or in salads, and holds up very well when cooked. This variety has a very good shelf life.
Its particularity is that it has a long dormancy, it germinates very slowly and can therefore be stored without problem.

Storing potatoes before planting

Unsprouted tubers should be stored on a shelf in a dry, well-ventilated area. They should be left to germinate for 4 to 5 weeks between 5 and 7°C. Be careful not to allow excessive temperature variations. Plants should not be kept in the dark; on the contrary, it is best to germinate them in a well-lit area to obtain short, stocky sprouts.
If storage is to be longer, it is advisable to place them in a dry place at a low temperature (2 to 4°C, frost-free) to maintain the dormant state.

Prepare the soil before planting

You can incorporate manure or organic fertilizer before planting your potatoes.

Sprouting potatoes

Unsprouted tubers should be stored on a shelf in a dry, well-ventilated area. They should be left to germinate for 4 to 5 weeks between 5 and 7°C. Be careful not to allow excessive temperature variations. Plants should not be kept in the dark; on the contrary, it is best to germinate them in a well-lit area to obtain short, stocky sprouts.

Culture Council

Plant in April/May at a depth of 15 cm, spaced 40/50 cm apart in the row, in rows 60/70 cm apart. Exposure: sunny. Soil: deep, fertile and well-loosened.

Earthing up is essential as the stems emerge, to maintain the plants, encourage the development of the tubers and prevent them from turning green. Start earthing up the plants as soon as they reach 25 cm. This involves burying the bottom of the stems by bringing the soil back towards the plant using a hoe. Repeat this operation during the first month of the plant's development. Hoe occasionally between the plants to aerate the soil and eliminate weeds.

Potato harvest

Harvest after 110 to 130 days of cultivation from July to September. Wait until the leaves have wilted and harvest the tubers with a digging fork.

Storing potatoes

Store in a cool, dry place away from light.