The Karaka is a versatile, early-season, all-purpose potato that excels in pre-packing and processing into French fries. It delivers very high yields and is well-suited for multiple culinary uses.
Key Characteristics
- Maturity: Second early to early main crop (earlier than Moonlight but later than Ilam Hardy)
- Yield: Very high, but requires consistent soil moisture to prevent tuber growth cracks
Tubers
- Medium to very large-sized
- Oval to oval-round shape
- White skin with white flesh
- Shallow eyes
Disease Resistance
- Virus Resistance: Medium resistance to potato virus Y (PVY) and A, slightly susceptible to potato virus X, Moderate resistance to potato leafroll virus
- Fungal & Bacterial Diseases: Medium resistance to leaf blight, good resistance to tuber blight, Moderate resistance to common scab and powdery scab, good resistance to bacterial soft rot
- Nematode & Wart Resistance: Highly resistant to potato cyst nematodes (PCN) Resistant to both Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida (G. pallida is more commonly found in Pukekohe)