Red Sonya potatoes. Potatoes are called the second bread, and like any popular product they pay a lot of attention to it. Breeders all over the world are tirelessly working on the development of new varieties and hybrids in order to obtain even better quality and tasty tubers.
The Dutch are considered to be the leaders in this direction, but German specialists are not far behind. In 2015, thanks to their efforts, the farmers received a new ultra-early potato variety Red Sonya, which, with proper agricultural technology, can give two full harvests in one season. Read about other benefits of this culture in this article.
Variety description Red Sonya
Potatoes ripen very quickly, in this today they have no equal. Young juicy tubers are digged in within a month and a half after planting, the full growing season, depending on the growing region and climatic conditions, lasts from 65 to 75 days. The variety is suitable for growing throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, in the southern regions you can get 2 crops per season.
Bushes of the Red Sonya variety are erect, of medium height. The leaves are large enough, green in color. In different conditions, the shade of the leaves ranges from light green to rich dark green. The flowering is intense, but the flowers are small, differing from other varieties in deep dark purple color.
The tubers have an even oval shape. They are covered with a thin, smooth, reddish skin. At the same time, the skin is quite dense, which increases the transportability of the potato. Eyes are few, superficial, so for planting it is better to select medium potatoes and plant them whole, without dividing them into parts. The pulp has a pleasant yellow hue; it does not darken when cut and cooked. Each plant produces from 6 to 10 tasty tubers weighing 80-190 g. In general, the yield is 175-340 c / ha. The Russian record is 374 c / ha, such a yield of the Red Sonya variety was obtained in one of the districts of the Sverdlovsk region. The disadvantages include the relatively low keeping quality of these potatoes โ only 93%.
The taste and versatility of the tubers of this variety deserve special praise. According to EAPR standards, it belongs to the culinary type โBโ. This means that potatoes are moderately digestible and can be used in a wide variety of dishes in a variety of ways. After heat treatment, the tubers retain their pleasant color and shape, look appetizing and attractive, and delight with excellent taste. As for starch content, this indicator ranges from 13,3 to 14,6%. That is, the starch content in the tubers is average.
The Red Sonya variety is unpretentious, if the basic rules of cultivation are observed, it grows well in almost all soils. This explains its wide distribution in our country. However, in order to obtain a high yield, he needs to pay attention to the agrotechnical plan. Especially these potatoes need timely watering.
Growing potatoes Red Sonja
Soil preparation
As with any other crop, it is necessary for this plant to create favorable conditions for growth and development. The variety is not picky about the soil, but it is still worth taking some measures to improve its composition and structure. They begin to prepare the site in the fall, at the very end of the season. It is plowed to a depth of 30 cm or dug onto a shovel bayonet, the soil is disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate. In the spring, you can re-plow, thanks to which the soil is saturated with oxygen. At the same time, fertilizers are applied, for example, compost mixed with wood ash. The surface is carefully leveled.
When choosing a site for this potato, it is necessary to be guided by the rules of crop rotation. The best predecessors for it are cereals and legumes, as well as cucumbers. After tomatoes and beets, Red Sonja should not be planted, since they have one common enemy โ the fungus Hypochnus solani Prill (the causative agent of rhizoctonia disease). Its spores are able to survive in the ground even under very unfavorable conditions, so there is a high risk of contamination of plantings.
Seed preparation
Just like the plot, potatoes for planting begin to be prepared in the fall. After harvesting, healthy small-sized tubers are selected from the total mass and stored in boxes at a temperature of 3-5 degrees until spring. About 3-4 weeks before the intended planting, seed potatoes are taken out of storage and carefully revised to reject spoiled specimens.
The next stage of preparation is the germination of planting tubers. To do this, they are left in a room with high humidity (at least 80%) and a temperature of 20 degrees during the day and 10-12 degrees at night. It is recommended to irrigate sprouting potatoes periodically with water. By the time of planting in the ground, strong sprouts up to one centimeter long should appear on the potatoes. It is bad when the sprouts grow too long, thin and brittle, during the planting process they usually break off, and the germination procedure becomes a waste of time.
The day before planting, experienced gardeners process the seed material with complex preparations of biological origin. For example, Albit is suitable โ fungicide, antidote and growth regulator at the same time. According to research results, it increases the yield of potatoes by 12-20%. Immediately before planting in the ground, the tubers can be sprinkled with wood ash.
Features of planting potatoes Red Sonya
Like most other varieties, Red Sonia is planted in a simple 35 x 75 pattern, where 35 cm is the distance between the bushes, and 75 cm is the distance between the rows. The planting depth of tubers depends on the characteristics of the soil: for light soils โ 8 cm, for heavy soils โ 5 cm. It is important to place the planting potatoes in the furrows with their sprouts upwards and carefully sprinkle them with earth so as not to break.
Many gardeners mulch potato plantings with compost, straw and other biomaterials, which will protect them from possible spring frosts and help retain moisture. Mulching is especially important when planting early, when it is planned to harvest two crops.
Care of potatoes
Red Sonya grows well on its own, but you can count on a rich harvest only thanks to proper agricultural technology. The variety does not particularly need nitrogen fertilizers, if organic matter (droppings, manure) was introduced during planting, this will be enough for the entire vegetative period. Of course, no one forbids feeding additionally, but the benefits of feeding will be only if the plants really need them.
Potatoes of the Red Sonya variety grow well in loose, moderately moist soil, so you should not ignore such agrotechnical methods as loosening and watering. The soil should be loosened every time a dense crust forms on its surface. Watering โ as needed. Plants themselves will show the need for water. If the leaves on the bushes have begun to fall, then itโs time to refresh the beds.
Fighting diseases and pests
The Red Sonya variety is resistant to many common diseases of the culture, but there are cases of rhizoctonia infection. To prevent such a nuisance, gardeners carry out prophylaxis using the drug Fitosporin. Timely loosening of the soil and compliance with the rules of crop rotation will also help protect plantings from fungus.
Another dangerous enemy of this potato is the Colorado potato beetle, which multiplies quickly, lays its voracious larvae on the leaves of plants and thereby causes irreparable damage to the plantings. You need to fight such a parasite in all available ways. If, after manual collection and destruction of insects and their larvae, the population is restored in a matter of days, then you will have to resort to the help of insecticides.
At the same time, experts strongly do not recommend using the same drug from year to year, since the beetle gradually adapts to the substance and becomes immune to it. Therefore, it is advisable to use a new drug in each season. The most effective ones are:
- Connect โ dissolves in water before processing, calculation for 10 acres โ 25 ml / 25 l, protection is active for 2 months;
- Cosmos poison โ also used in the form of a solution, lasts for 3 weeks;
- Euphoria is a very effective substance against adult insects and larvae, protecting plantings for up to 40 days from the moment of spraying.
Other equally effective drugs can be purchased in specialized stores. They must be used strictly according to the instructions offered by the manufacturer.
Cleaning and storage
Approximately 1,5-2 weeks before the planned harvest, it is advisable to mow the tops. Due to this, the peel on the tubers will become coarse, and they will be less susceptible to mechanical damage directly during harvesting and during transportation. Harvesting is desirable on a warm sunny day.
The dug up tubers are left in the shade to dry, then sorted, diseased and spoiled specimens are discarded, and marketable potatoes are sent to storage. The optimum storage temperature is 2-4 degrees, humidity is 70-80%. It is best to store potatoes in mesh bags or wooden crates that are positioned to allow air to reach the tubers.
In conclusion
Many owners of vegetable gardens and summer cottages have already appreciated the advantages of the Red Sonya potato variety. Reviews about him are only positive. It is praised for its unpretentiousness, high immunity to the main diseases of culture and, of course, for its excellent taste characteristics. The specialists of the German company Europlant Pflanzenzucht GmbH have tried their best, and we just have to competently use the results of their hard work.
