A new episode of the International Potato Tour has brought our team to the Tomsk Oblast! Here, in the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia, the Lipovka family farm (KFH Lipovka) proves that successful potato growing is possible despite any weather surprises.
The history of this farm is truly inspiring. It all started 11 years ago with a student business grant secured by Sergey Andreevich Lipovka, and a vintage Soviet T-25 tractor built in 1976—the same age as his father, Andrey Valerievich. Later, the father left his job as a long-haul truck driver to support his son’s venture. Today, they manage 30 hectares of potatoes along with a full “borscht set” of vegetables: cabbage, carrots, and beets. The Lipovka surname has become a genuine brand of quality for local residents, who specifically look for it on city shelves.
Farm Philosophy: Pure Organics and Rejecting “Chemicals”
The main defining feature of KFH Lipovka is their principled rejection of mineral fertilizers. The focus is entirely on sustainability and achieving that “home-grown” taste that consumers value so highly.
The Secret of Siberian Fertility: The farm uses exclusively organic options. The growers consider chicken manure to be the most effective. The technology is simple but requires time: during the summer, the manure is hauled to a dedicated area where it composts for a couple of years. It is then applied to the fields before winter plowing, and potatoes are planted on that plot the following year.
This precise approach allows the farmers to successfully compete with imported products. Local buyers and public institutions (schools, kindergartens, hospitals) eagerly await the Tomsk-grown potatoes, noting their superior flavor qualities.
Record-Breaking Variety and a Harvester “Choking” on Tubers
This approach to soil nutrition yields fantastic results. Last season, the ultra-early variety Colombo delivered a record-breaking regional yield of 60 tons per hectare (600 c/ha)!
According to the farmers, during the harvest, their German-made Grimme potato harvester was literally choking on tubers. The operators had to intentionally reduce their speed because the conveyor belts were filling up not with soil, but with a continuous flow of clean potatoes. Along with Colombo, the Queen Anne variety also demonstrates excellent productivity under Siberian conditions.
Top Varieties by Segment at KFH Lipovka:
- Early segment: Colombo and Red Scarlett (with 1.5 to 2 hectares allocated for each).
- Mid-season segment: Gala (the optimal commercial choice for the region, producing medium-sized tubers which are the most marketable fraction).
- Experimental pool: 2 to 3 new varieties are purchased every year to test them under local conditions.
Betting on Super-Elite Seeds
Maintaining such high standards is made possible by strict control over their seed stock. KFH Lipovka buys exclusively super-elite seeds. The seeds are multiplied strictly up to the second generation, after which they are completely disposed of and the seed stock is renewed. This guarantees the health of the planting material and a consistently high yield without any degeneration of varietal qualities.
Siberian Extreme: Fighting the Elements and Late Blight
Growing vegetables in the Tomsk Oblast is a constant test of endurance. There is no middle ground here: fields are either flooded by relentless rains or dried out by the heat. This season, due to extreme waterlogging, machinery literally sank in the fields, which delayed the planting schedule. Nevertheless, thanks to the reliability of the Grimme harvester, which handles wet soil excellently and shakes off dirt effectively, the farm manages to minimize losses during harvest.
The second serious problem in the region is late blight (phytophthora). But the Lipovkas have their own approach to this as well. Instead of blind preventative treatments based on a rigid schedule, Sergey walks the fields diagonally 2 to 3 times every single day. As soon as the first pinpoint spots of the disease are noticed on the lower leaves, the machinery goes out to treat the crop that very same day. This makes it possible to control the disease while minimizing the use of chemical products.
Watch the Full Siberian Success Story!
KFH Lipovka is a bright example of how family values, hard work, and a smart approach to land cultivation can turn a hobby into a robust and reputable business.
Discover more insights and see the record-breaking Siberian harvest with your own eyes on your preferred platform:
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/krVHygXc_JQ
- VK Video: https://vkvideo.ru/video-227771953_456240079
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@potatoes.news/video/7659642972337720593
Share in the comments: Have you ever tried completely eliminating mineral fertilizers on large acreages in your region? What kind of results did you achieve?
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