11 Early-Maturing Potato Varieties In Kenya

Early-Maturing Potato Varieties In Kenya

Potatoes are a staple crop in Kenya, with farmers across the country relying on them for food security and income generation. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in early-maturing potato varieties that can help farmers increase their yields and reduce the time it takes to harvest their crops.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the most popular early-maturing potato varieties in Kenya, discussing their characteristics, growing requirements, and potential benefits for farmers.

Arizona Potato Variety

The Arizona potato variety has several distinct characteristics and optimal growing conditions:

• Uses: Suitable for making chips and for table use.
• Growing Areas: Adaptable to all potato-growing regions, including altitudes between 1300 and 3000 meters.
• Maturity: Early maturing, ready for harvest in approximately 3 months.
• Yield Potential: High, with more than 40 tons per hectare (or more than 16.19 tons per acre).
• Tubers Features:
  • Large, oval-shaped tubers
  • Yellow skin
  • Light yellow flesh
  • Shallow eyes
• Tuber Dormancy: Medium dormancy period of 1-2 months.
• Dry Matter: 16.8%
• Plant Description:
  • Good initial development
  • Produces white flowers
  • High yielding
  • Should not be stored for too long before planting
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Good resistance to Late blight
  • Good resistance to Viruses
• Seed Producer: Agrico East Africa

This variety is well-suited for regions with the specified altitude and provides a high yield with good disease resistance.

Asante Potato Variety

The Asante potato variety has the following characteristics and optimal growing conditions:

• Uses: Primarily for table consumption.
• Growing Areas: Suitable for all potato-producing regions.
• Maturity: Medium, with a maturity period of 3 to 4 months.
• Yield Potential: Medium to high, ranging from 35 to 45 tons per hectare (or 14.16 to 18.23 tons per acre).
• Tuber Features:
  • Round shape
  • Medium eyes
  • Smooth pink skin
  • Pale yellow flesh
• Tuber Dormancy: Long, with a dormancy period of 2 to 3.5 months.
• Dry Matter: 21.3%
• Plant Description:
  • Erect and tall, slightly below 1 meter in height
  • Strong stems
  • Light green broad leaves
  • Moderate flowering with pink flowers
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Moderately tolerant to Late blight, though susceptible to late-season infections
  • Tolerant to Potato Leaf Roll Virus (PLRV)
• Seed Producer: Mainly produced by ADC-Molo, Kisima Farm, and KALRO Tigoni

The Asante variety is robust with a good yield potential and moderate disease resistance, making it suitable for various potato-growing regions.

Desiree Potato Variety

The Desiree potato variety is characterized by the following traits and growing conditions:

• Uses: Suitable for making chips and as a table variety.
• Growing Areas: Best grown at high altitudes of 1800-2600 meters above sea level (M.A.S.L). Ideal regions include Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok, Kwale, Nandi, Kisii, Kwale, Kericho, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot, Taita-Taveta, and Cherangani Hills.
• Maturity: Early to medium, maturing in 2.5 to 3.5 months.
• Yield Potential: Medium, with yields of 35-40 tons per hectare (or 14.16-16.19 tons per acre).
• Tuber Features:
  • Long oval shape
  • Smooth red skin
  • Light yellow flesh
  • Medium eyes
• Tuber Dormancy: Medium, with a dormancy period of 1-2 months.
• Dry Matter: 21%
• Plant Description:
  • Erect and medium tall, about 0.7 meters in height
  • Strong stems
  • Dark green, medium-sized leaves
  • Scant flowering with light pink flowers
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Moderately tolerant to Potato Virus Y (PVY)
  • Very susceptible to late blight
• Seed Producer: Mainly produced by ADC-Molo and KALRO Tigoni

The Desiree variety is well-suited for high-altitude regions with moderate yield potential and specific disease resistances.

Dutch Robijn Variety

The Dutch Robijn potato variety is tailored for specific characteristics and growing conditions:

• Use: Primarily for crisps (potato chips).
• Growing Areas: Best suited for high altitudes of 1800-2600 meters above sea level (M.A.S.L). Suitable regions include Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Meru, Nakuru, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot, Taita-Taveta, and Cherangani Hills, with Bomet County noted as particularly suitable.
• Maturity: Medium maturity, typically harvested in 3-4 months.
• Yield Potential: Low, with yields ≤ 30 tons per hectare (or ≤ 12.14 tons per acre).
• Tuber Features:
  • Round shape
  • Rough red skin
  • Pale yellow flesh
  • Medium-deep eyes
• Tuber Dormancy: Long dormancy period of 3.5-4.5 months.
• Dry Matter: 21.6%
• Plant Description:
  • Erect and medium-tall, about 0.7 meters in height
  • Strong stems
  • Dark green, medium-sized leaves
  • Scant flowering with white flowers tinged with light pink
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Highly susceptible to Late blight
• Seed Producer: Mainly produced by ADC-Molo, GTIL (apical cuttings and minitubers only), KALRO-Tigoni, and Kisima Farm.

Due to its susceptibility to Late blight, proper management practices are essential when cultivating the Dutch Robijn variety.

Baraka Kenya Variety

The Baraka Kenya potato variety is suited for specific uses and growing conditions as follows:

• Uses: Suitable for both table consumption and making chips.
• Growing Areas: Best grown at high altitudes of 1600-2700 meters above sea level (M.A.S.L). Ideal regions include Nyandarua, Kiambu, Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok, Kwale, Nandi, Kisii, Kericho, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot, Taita-Taveta, and Cherangani Hills.
• Maturity: Medium maturity, typically harvested in 3 months.
• Yield Potential: Medium, with yields ranging from 30 to 40 tons per hectare (or 12.14 to 16.19 tons per acre).
• Tuber Features:
  • Oval shape
  • Rough white skin
  • Shallow eyes
  • White flesh
• Tuber Dormancy: Long dormancy period of 3.5-4.5 months.
• Dry Matter: 21.5%
• Plant Description:
  • Erect and tall, approximately 1 meter in height
  • Strong stems
  • Broad green leaves
  • Moderate flowering with white flowers
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Tolerant to Late blight
• Seed Producer: Mainly produced by ADC-Molo and KALRO Tigoni

The Baraka Kenya variety is well-suited for high-altitude regions and offers good yield potential with tolerance to Late blight, making it suitable for various potato-growing areas in Kenya.

Kenya Mpya Potato Variety

The Kenya Mpya potato variety is well-suited for table consumption and crisps, with specific characteristics and growing conditions as follows:

• Uses: Suitable for both table consumption and making crisps (potato chips).
• Growing Areas: Suitable for all regions suitable for potato production.
• Maturity: Medium maturity, typically harvested in 3-4 months.
• Yield Potential: Medium to high, with yields exceeding 40 tons per hectare (or 14.16-18.21 tons per acre).
• Tuber Features:
  • Oval-shaped tubers
  • Smooth cream skin
  • Shallow pink eyes
  • Cream flesh
• Tuber Dormancy: Long dormancy period of 2.5-3 months.
• Dry Matter: 23%
• Plant Description:
  • Semi-erect and tall, about 1 meter in height
  • Strong stems
  • Light green, medium-sized leaves
  • Scant flowering with white flowers
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Resistant to Late blight
  • Resistant to Potato Leaf Roll Virus (PLRV)

The Kenya Mpya variety offers good yield potential and resistance to common potato diseases, making it suitable for widespread potato production regions.

Shangi Variety

Here’s the detailed information about the Shangi potato variety:

• Use: Suitable for making chips and as a table variety.
• Growing Areas: Best grown at altitudes ≥1500 meters above sea level (M.A.S.L). It thrives in regions such as Nyandarua, Kiambu, Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Nakuru, Bomet, Narok, Kwale, Nandi, Kisii, Kericho, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot, Taita-Taveta, and Cherangani Hills.
• Maturity: Early maturity, ready for harvest in ≤3 months.
• Yield Potential: Medium, with yields ranging from 30 to 40 tons per hectare (or 12.14 to 16.19 tons per acre).
• Tuber Features:
  • Oval-shaped tubers
  • Smooth cream skin
  • Medium to deep eyes
  • White flesh
• Tuber Dormancy: Short dormancy period of less than 1 month.
• Dry Matter: 21.4%
• Plant Description:
  • Semi-erect and medium-tall variety, slightly below 1 meter in height
  • Moderately strong stems
  • Light green, broad leaves
  • Profuse flowering with pink flowers
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Moderately susceptible to Late blight

The Shangi variety is well-suited for higher altitudes and offers a good yield potential with early maturity, although it requires attention to its susceptibility to Late blight for effective management.

Unica Variety

The Unica variety is versatile and well-regarded for its high yield potential, chip quality, and disease resistance, making it suitable for a wide range of potato-growing regions, including those with non-traditional potato production areas.

Here’s the detailed information about the Unica potato variety:

• Use: Suitable for both table consumption and making chips. Known for good chip quality combining flavor, texture, and appearance.
• Growing Areas: Recommended for all regions suitable for potato production, including non-traditional potato-growing areas like Kwale, Machakos, Kirinyaga, Embu, Lower Nyeri, Bungoma, Kisii, and Transmara.
• Maturity: Early maturity, typically harvested in 2.5 to 3.5 months.
• Yield Potential: High yield potential, exceeding 45 tons per hectare (or >18 tons per acre).
• Tuber Features:
  • Oblong tubers
  • Red skin
  • Shallow eyes
  • Cream flesh
• Tuber Dormancy: Long dormancy period of 2.5-3.5 months.
• Dry Matter: 21%
• Plant Description:
  • Medium-tall variety with strong, semi-erect stems
  • Dark green, medium-sized leaves
  • Profuse flowering with pink flowers
• Disease Resistance/Tolerance:
  • Moderately resistant to Late blight
  • Highly resistant to Potato Virus X (PVX)
  • Resistant to Potato Leaf Roll Virus (PLRV)
• Seed Producer: Mainly produced by ADC-Molo, GTIL (apical cuttings and minitubers only), KALRO-Tigoni, and Kisima Farm

These early-maturing, high-yielding potato varieties with good disease resistance are well-suited for Kenyan farmers looking to grow potatoes for table use, chips, and crisps.