Potato variety Bankir: description in the table, comparison with others + reviews

The Bankir variety was developed by a Russian company and is distinguished by its medium ripening time and excellent taste, which took first place out of 15 tasted.

Table with characteristics of the Bankir potato variety

Characteristic	Description
General characteristics	A compact potato variety with oval-round tubers and a mid-season harvest. The leaves emerge slightly curled but then open.
Ripening period	60-80 days
Starch content	15-16%
Weight of commercial tubers	70-160 g
Number of tubers in a bush	10-15 pcs.
Productivity	200-350 c/ha
Consumer qualities	Very delicate taste, highest tasting score
Marketability	94%
Shelf life	90%
Peel color	Soft yellow
Pulp color	Light yellow
Cooking class	Belongs to culinary type B and is ideal for making airy mashed potatoes. It holds its shape well when fried.
Preferred growing regions	The variety is not registered in the registry, but is ideal for growing in central and southern Russia.
Disease resistance	It has increased resistance to potato cancer and golden nematode. It has average resistance to other potato diseases.
Features of cultivation	Plant in well-lit areas; for best yield, it is recommended to germinate the planting material.

Photo of the Bankir potato variety:

The origin of the Bankir potato variety

About 30 years ago, the Stepanov family began growing vegetables and selling the finest seeds throughout Russia. From a small farm, their labor of love grew into the scientific and production association Gardens of Russia.

The Bankir potato variety was being prepared for mass production even while the company's founder, Vladimir Stepanov, was still alive. After his death, the employees decided to refine the potato to the desired characteristics. Today, Bankir is starting to appear in potato gardens. Consumers note that the tubers produce the most delicate and delicious mashed potatoes. Until now, the variety had not been registered.

Detailed description of the Bankir potato variety

The Bankir variety has a medium ripening time; harvesting can begin as early as two months after the first shoots emerge. The yield is good, with a single bush capable of yielding up to 4 kg with proper care.

Bushes

The bushes are compact, upright, and not too spreading. The leaves are green, initially slightly curled, and very similar in shape to tomatoes, and the stems are dense.

Tubers

The tubers are round-oval in shape, covered with a smooth, yellowish skin. The flesh is slightly lighter, creamy yellow. There are very few eyes. The weight of a single tuber varies from 70 to 150 g. The potato has a very delicate, pleasant flavor. At a tasting at the plant, Bankir took first place among 15 other varieties.

Productivity, ripening time

The Bankir variety ripens in 60 to 80 days, which is similar to classic varieties with medium ripening periods. The yield is relatively high; with proper cultivation practices, each bush can yield 3.5 to 4 kg.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The banker has good resistance to common potato diseases.

Disease	Stability indicator
Viruses	Average
Scab	Average
Cancer	High
Golden potato cyst nematode	High
Tuber blight	Average
Phytophthora blight of tops	Average

For which regions is the Bankir potato variety suitable?

Bankir isn't listed in the registry, so there are no specific recommendations for growing regions. However, it is known to produce excellent yields in central Russia.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Bankir potato variety

The Banker variety has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages	Flaws
It is distinguished by good productivity. It is resistant to diseases. The tubers have excellent taste.	It is not included in the register, therefore it has no officially registered characteristics. Difficult to find on sale.

Planting Features of the Bankir Potato Variety

The Bankir variety requires little effort to grow. To obtain a harvest, simply follow standard potato growing practices: weeding the beds and row spacing, watering, hilling, and fertilizing.

Requirements for the landing site and its preparation

Bankir loves light, so the bed should be well-lit. As with other varieties, it's important to follow crop rotation rules. Avoid planting it in the same spot where potatoes were grown last season. Ideally, the same spot should previously be occupied by cucumbers, zucchini, or legumes.

All representatives of the nightshade family are considered bad predecessors.

It's best to prepare the bed in the fall. If the soil is too acidic, add chalk or dolomite flour.

Important! Never use slaked lime to neutralize pH levels—it tends to accumulate in the garden bed and leach into the plants.

Dig up the area, adding the following to each square meter:

• 5-6 buckets of compost or cow dung;
• 4 tbsp. l. superphosphate;
• 3 tbsp. potassium sulfate;
• 2-3 buckets of sand (for heavy, clay soil).

After digging, it's advisable to sow the field with green manure. Mustard is best for potatoes. As soon as the snow falls, the mustard is mown down and left to rest in the bed.

If your soil is light and loose, then autumn preparation can be postponed until spring, maintaining the same proportions with the only change being that there should be 8 buckets of organic matter.

Selection and preparation of seed tubers

Before planting, the tubers are sorted to ensure that damaged or diseased potatoes do not end up in the hole.

All selected material is placed in boxes 2-3 weeks before the start of work and sent to a well-lit, warm place with a temperature of +18…+20 °C.

Sprouting is essential for obtaining a bountiful harvest of the Bankir variety. There's no need to water or treat the potatoes beforehand; they should be completely dry. Planting is possible when the sprouts reach 10-15 mm in length.

Planting times and rules

The planting time for the Bankir variety depends on the region. If your climate expects a very warm and early spring, you can begin planting in mid-April. In the Central region, the traditional planting time falls during the May holidays, while in northern latitudes, gardeners begin planting after May 20th.

It is very important that the soil at a depth of 10 cm has time to warm up to +8…+10 °C, and that there is no threat of night frosts.

Caring for the Bankir potato variety

The banker grows well and bears fruit when basic agricultural practices are followed.

Watering

To produce a good harvest, Bankira requires sufficient moisture. Rainfall is usually sufficient, but during periods of drought, additional watering may be necessary, especially in regions with hot climates or loose soil. To retain moisture in the soil and prevent stagnation, experienced gardeners recommend laying a layer of straw or sawdust mulch over the bed.

Top dressing

Usually, the amount of fertilizer that was added to the soil in the fall is sufficient for the banker.

But if this work has not been carried out, then the potatoes will have to be fed three times per season:

1. During planting, each hole is filled with a small amount of ash (no more than a glass), 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate and ½ teaspoon of superphosphate.
2. During the first hilling, a small amount of manure or rotted manure is added under each bush (0.5 l per 10 l of water, fertilize after watering).
3. As soon as buds begin to appear on the bushes, mineral fertilizers are added.

Loosening, weeding, hilling

Light loosening is recommended after the first shoots appear. Weed control begins at this time. Hilling can begin when the bush reaches 15 cm in height. The soil is raked onto the stem; it's okay if the first hilling completely covers the shoot. The second procedure is performed during flowering, when more than half of the shoots are covered.

Protection of the Bankir potato variety from diseases and pests in the table

The Bankir variety has moderate resistance to common diseases. However, if the tubers are healthy, the soil is adequately fertilized, and watering, hilling, and weeding are not neglected, the likelihood of diseases and pests appearing is very low.

Disease or pest	Description	Prevention and treatment
Late blight tops	Dark brown spots	Spraying is carried out with Bordeaux mixture (1%) or copper sulfate (10 g per 10 l). For prevention, it is necessary to follow the rules of planting and growing.
Potato wireworm	A worm up to 4 cm long with a very narrow and dense body.	They don't tolerate the smell of onions, so the peelings are added to the holes during the planting period. One handful per hole is sufficient. The following products can be used for treatment: Decis, Actellic, and Barguzin.
Colorado beetle	Striped beetle and orange larvae sitting on the underside of a leaf.	It's best to remove the pests by hand. If the population is large, you can treat the plantings with Boverin or Fitoverm. The Komandor, Iskra and Aktara weapons are heavy artillery and are used in cases of large-scale damage.

The nuances of harvesting and storing the Bankir potato variety

The Bankir variety reaches full maturity in 70-80 days. However, 10 days before harvesting, it's recommended to mow down all the tops to allow the tubers to gain strength for storage and to allow the skin to harden slightly.

Harvested tubers must be dried. If you're growing edible potatoes, they should be stored under a canopy, away from direct sunlight, for 10 days. If you're growing seed potatoes, they should be left outside for at least 2-3 weeks to green up.

Next, the tubers are placed in a bag or boxes and sent to the basement or cellar for winter storage.

ABOUT storing potatoesRead on our website.

Comparison of the Bankir potato variety with other varieties in the table

Variety	Ripening period (number of days to maturity)	Starch (%)	Yield (c/ha)	Weight of tubers (g) Number of tubers per bush	Shelf life (%)
Banker	Mid-early***	15-16	200-350	70-160 10-15	90
Bellarosa	Ultra-early*	12-16	350-550	100-200 7-15	93-96
Ilyinsky	Mid-early	15.7-18	176-346	55-160 8-13	93
Armada	Early ripening**	17-18	230-370	96-130 9-14	80-85
Giant	Mid-season****	16-19	290-424	100-140 8-13	97
Explosive	Early ripening	16-17	156-240	110-150 8-14	95
Zekura	Mid-early	13-18	350-370	60-150 12-20	98
Kolobok	Mid-season	11-13	130-250	90-140 15-18	96
Manifesto	Mid-late*****	11-15	165-410	105-145 11-15	94

*Ultra-early – 35-50 days.

**Early ripening – 50-65 days.

***Mid-early – 65-80 days.

****Mid-season – 80-95 days.

*****Mid-late – 95-110 days.

Real reviews from gardeners about the Bankir potato variety

Russia, Tyumen Oblast

Hello, dear Otzovik readers! For variety, I buy and grow potatoes from the Gardens of Russia brand at my dacha. This time, I decided to try the "Banker" brand.

There were 10 potatoes in the package, all even and slightly sprouted.
The potatoes sprouted well. For a better harvest, they need to be hilled and watered.

The potato crop was very large, with 3 to 8 large potatoes per nest. 3 buckets of harvest from 10 nests.

The potato has a very good taste. It's moderately starchy and cooks quickly. This potato variety is excellent for mashed potatoes.

Next year I'll plant about a bucket of this variety. Especially since I had a good harvest.

Year of manufacture/purchase: 2020

Overall impression: Delicious potatoes!

My rating: 5 points.

Consumers note that the Bankir potato has a very pleasant flavor, but the yield after the first year is not impressive. Most of the tubers are used for seed. Therefore, the planting material must be very strong and selected.