Solanum tuberosum 'Nicola' (Potato 'Nicola')

Botanical name

Solanum tuberosum 'Nicola'

Other names

Potato 'Nicola', Second early potato 'Nicola'

Genus

Solanum Solanum

Variety or Cultivar

'Nicola' _ 'Nicola' is a tender, upright, branching perennial with compound leaves, white flowers in summer, and oblong, edible tubers with pale yellow-brown skin and yellow flesh, ready for harvest approximately four months after planting.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright

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Colour

Flower

White in Spring

Foliage

Green in Spring; Green in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Aphids , Capsid bug , Rosy rustic moth , Wireworms

Specific diseases

Dry rot , Gangrene , Grey mould , Leaf roll virus , Potato mosaic virus , Potato powdery scab , Potato scab , Potato spraing , Powdery scab , Soft rot , Wart disease

General care

Pruning

Wait to harvest until the leaves turn yellow. Cut and remove leaves, then leave tubers for 10 days in the ground before digging and storing.

Propagation

Plant seed tubers of potatoes in mid-spring in trenches 12.5cm deep. Space tubers 60cm apart. Consider spreading slug pellets between tubers to deter keel slugs.

Propagation methods

Tuber sections

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Solanum tuberosum 'Nicola' (Potato 'Nicola') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Cottage/Informal

Cultivation

Will grow in most soil not used for potato in the last two years. Dig the soil in autumn & add peat or compost to soil not previously manured. Grow in full sun, planting out in mid-spring.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Solanum tuberosum 'Nicola' (Potato 'Nicola')

Common pest name

Cassava whitefly; Cotton whitefly; Sweet potato whitefly; Tobacco whitefly

Scientific pest name

Bemisia tabaci non-European populations

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Non-European populations of Bemisia tabaci pose an additional risk to European populations due to the potential for introducing non-European viruses.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Solanum tuberosum 'Nicola' (Potato 'Nicola')

Common pest name

Apple root knot nematode

Scientific pest name

Meloidogyne mali

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Unknown

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

UK (along with certain other European countries) received potentially infested trees in 1992; but these were destroyed at the end of the trial period and targeted surveillance has failed to find any trace of the nematode. Main impacts are on elm; apple and mulberry and industry should source such material carefully.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Solanum tuberosum 'Nicola' (Potato 'Nicola')

Common pest name

; Black wood of grapevine; Female sterility of tobacco; Fruit woodiness of tomato; Maize Redness; Mal azul of tomato; Metabolbur; Metastolbur; Parastolbur; Purple top of potato; Stolbur of potato; Stolbur of tobacco; Stolbur of tomato

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma solani

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Phytoplasma which potentially affects a wide host range; determined by the feeding behaviour of vectors. First UK outbreak in 2014; on strawberry; a host not specifically regulated in EU legislation. This legislation should be reviewed to take account of this and other developments.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/