Red Sonya potatoes: description and characteristics of the variety

Description of the Red Sonya potato variety

The variety was bred in Germany in 2015. It is zoned for the North Caucasus region, but is successfully grown throughout Russia. In the southern regions of the country, it is possible to harvest 2 crops per season, but for this you need to properly care for the plantings.

The growing season of the Red Sonya variety is short, the tops grow quickly. Young potatoes can be dug for the first time 1.5 months after planting. Cleaning is carried out after 2.5-3 months.

Important! The variety is suitable for super early planting and can be grown under film.

The bushes are tall, the shoots are erect, the leaves are large, light green or dark in color. The flowers are small. The tubers are aligned, oval-shaped, large. The skin is red, dense, smooth. There are few eyes, they are small and shallow. When cut, the flesh of Red Sonya potatoes is creamy yellow in color and does not darken. Up to 10 tubers are formed on 1 plant.

Potatoes retain their presentation for a long time and tolerate long-distance transportation well. Long-lasting grade, excellent shelf life, virtually no losses. Tuber safety is up to 96%.

Pros and cons of the Red Sonya variety

The positive characteristics of the Red Sonya variety include the following:

• early ripening;
• good taste;
• marketable condition;
• high productivity;
• small number of eyes;
• excellent keeping quality;
• transportability;
• high resistance to diseases and pests;
• possibility of mechanical assembly;
• unpretentiousness to soils and growing regions.

However, in addition to the positive aspects, the variety has some disadvantages. To obtain an early harvest, the tubers are germinated. To grow large potatoes, the bushes must be fed.

Attention! To prevent potatoes from getting sick, it is necessary to observe crop rotation.

Planting and caring for Red Sonya potatoes

Sonya potatoes are very productive, as stated in the description of the variety and reviews. The photo shows that the tubers are large. However, in order to reap a rich harvest, you need to correctly select the seeds for planting, prepare the bed and fully care for the variety.

Selection and preparation of a landing site

As already mentioned, for normal crop growth it is necessary to observe crop rotation. The best predecessors of Red Sonya potatoes are cabbage, legumes, cucumbers, and root vegetables. There is no need to plant after nightshade crops. This will only worsen diseases and reduce yields.

The Red Sonya variety bears fruit well on fertile and loose soil, rich in mineral fertilizers. In addition, the soil must be moisture-absorbing. In dry or clayey soil, large yields cannot be expected.

Before planting the Red Sonya variety, the area is plowed and fertilizers are applied. They use manure, bird droppings, and rotted humus. To get the maximum yield, it is better to sow the garden bed with green manure and then plow it into the soil. The prepared area is left until planting.

Preparation of planting material

Red Sonya potatoes are early ripening varieties, but for this, the tubers need to be germinated before planting. The shoots will be friendly and will appear earlier than usual. During germination, seeds are treated with growth stimulants.

To prepare the Red Sonya variety for planting, you need to strictly follow the instructions:

1. Remove seed material from storage 25-40 days before the intended planting.
2. Sort through and discard spoiled, diseased, and dried out tubers.
3. Wash well under running water, then disinfect for 15 minutes. in a solution of boric acid.
4. Dry the seed potatoes in a ventilated place, but out of direct sunlight.
5. Warm up the tubers for 3 days at a temperature of +25°C.
6. Place the seed material in wooden or plastic boxes with holes and place them in a bright place.
7. Cover the top drawer with gauze to prevent the potatoes from drying out.

To stimulate the growth of strong sprouts, Red Sonya potatoes are sprayed several times. First, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate, then treat it with an extract from ash. Germination is carried out at a temperature of +18-20°C, gradually lowering it to +14°C. After a month, the sprouts will reach 2 cm, which indicates they are ready for planting. If this does not happen, then you need to add lighting or install backlighting.

Advice! Potatoes are hardened 2 days before planting. The tubers are placed in a room with a temperature of +12°C, the box is covered with black cloth.

Landing rules

Experienced gardeners and the creators of the variety recommend planting Red Sonya potatoes with a density of 430 pcs. per hundred. The preferred planting pattern is 30 x 70 cm.

To reap a rich harvest, the holes are prepared in a checkerboard pattern. Ash is laid out at the bottom of each and planting begins. After this, the bed is well mulched with mowed grass or straw to maintain the required level of soil moisture. This planting is quite suitable for the southern regions.

In the north of the country, Red Sonya potatoes are best planted on ridges to retain more heat for the tubers. The work is carried out in dry weather. As the bushes grow, they are hilled to a height of 40 cm.

Watering and fertilizing

Water Red Sonja potatoes as needed. It is important to remember that timely soil moisture allows you to grow marketable tubers. The number of small potatoes is decreasing. For better watering, use a drip system.

The weight of Red Sonya tubers is also affected by fertilizing. If the soil was properly prepared before planting, then the tubers will have enough nutrition for the entire growing season. No additional procedures are required. In other cases, it is better to feed the potatoes. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used, which also improve the taste. Nitrogen mixtures are not introduced and fresh manure is not used.

Feed according to the following schedule:

• 15 days after planting;
• during the period of formation and growth of tubers;
• 3 weeks before harvesting.

At the beginning of the growing season, Red Sonya potato bushes are fed with a mullein solution to stimulate the growth of stems and leaves. They are gradually switching to potash fertilizers. Mix superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Before harvesting, complex fertilizers are used, which increase the shelf life of tubers.

Attention! From time to time it is useful to foliarly fertilize Red Sonya potatoes with humates and urea.

Loosening and weeding

An important agrotechnical technique in growing potatoes is loosening the soil and weeding. Large tubers form in loose soil. Loosening is carried out after each watering. Weeds are removed manually or mechanically.

Hilling

Red Sonya potatoes are hilled according to the standard scheme:

• when the shoots reach a height of 8-12 cm;
• 20-25 days after the first procedure;
• when the bushes grow to a height of 25-30 cm.

Repeat the procedure as necessary. If the bush has grown greatly and the tubers are visible on the surface of the soil, then the potatoes are additionally hilled.

Warning! If you do not hill up, the potatoes will become green and unsuitable for food.

Growing and care

Watering is carried out in the absence of precipitation. Soil moisture is checked at a depth of 10–15 cm. If necessary, water is poured into the grooves so that the ground is saturated with moisture to a depth of 45–50 cm. The liquid rate is from 20 to 45 liters per 1 sq. m. m. Maximum moisture is required at the height of flowering. Watering is stopped 1 month before digging. Drip systems are installed in large areas.

Fertilizers are applied according to the schedule:

Hill up the bushes 2-3 times. The first time the procedure is carried out when the tops grow to 10 cm, then after 3 weeks. When the height of the bushes is 25–30 cm, they are hilled for the last time. The soil is poured over 2/3 of the length of the stems. In their work they use hillers, flat cutters, hoes, and cultivators.

The harvest is harvested in late June–early July. Seed material is immediately selected separately - a fraction of 40–50 mm is suitable. Dry in the shade and, if necessary, wash off the soil.

Diseases and pests

The Red Sonya variety is characterized by good resistance to the following diseases and pests:

• stem cancer;
• nematode;
• scab;
• blackleg;
• late blight of tubers;
• leaf curling;
• black spot virus.

However, to a small extent the plant is susceptible to late blight of tops and rhizoctonia.

To protect bushes from possible diseases, experienced gardeners recommend spraying in a timely manner and taking preventive measures. These include:

• soil cultivation;
• enriching it with essential minerals and trace elements;
• weed removal;
• loosening;
• correct agricultural technology.

During the growing season, the bushes are treated several times, combining foliar feeding with spraying. The tubers are suitable for food 3 weeks after the last spraying.

Agricultural technology

Before planting, the seed material must be germinated. Potatoes are planted in the ground when the average daily temperature is between 10-14 °C. During the period of active tuberization, it is necessary to pay special attention to watering. This way the potatoes will be uniform in weight, and the yield will increase significantly.

Flower bed design. TOP 10 simple and effective techniques

Seed tubers should not be too deep (5-8 cm). The distance between rows is 70-75 cm. Between bushes, a distance of 30-35 cm is considered ideal. Planting density is 430 per 100 sq.m.

Phosphorus-potassium and magnesium supplements are recommended. Does not require increased fertilization with nitrogenous compounds.

Productivity of the Red Sonya variety

The characteristics of Red Sonya potatoes indicate that the variety is high-yielding. This is evidenced by the reviews of summer residents. From 1 plant it is possible to collect up to 10 large fruits.

Before entering the State Register, potatoes passed a series of tests. The indicators show that the average yield of the Red Sonya variety is an order of magnitude higher than that of other tested varieties. In some cases the discrepancy is 30%.

The best harvest was collected in the Sverdlovsk region. During the first digging of young potatoes on the 45th day of growing marketable tubers, 89-175 c/ha were obtained. During the second harvest, on day 55, the yield was 160-137 c/ha.

Important! The yield of marketable products after full harvesting is up to 93%.

Storage

To prevent Red Sonya potatoes from spoiling during storage, they need to be provided with suitable conditions. In addition, it is important to observe harvesting deadlines and some other rules:

1. 2 weeks before harvesting, mow all the tops to form a rough peel and dry eyes. At this time, the potatoes ripen and are prepared for long-term storage.
2. Harvesting is carried out on a sunny day so that the tubers dry out. In the evening they are put into the shade, where they will lie for several more days.
3. Harvesting takes place at the end of August or very beginning of September. The deadline varies in each region, but it must be completed before the first rains.
4. The dug up tubers are sorted, sick, damaged or unsalable potatoes are selected. The rest is treated with antifungal drugs and dried in the shade for 2-3 weeks.
5. Prepared potatoes are placed in boxes, large and small separately.
6. The storage temperature is maintained at +2...+4°C so that the tubers are dormant and do not germinate.
7. Humidity in the storage is maintained at 70-85%.

If all conditions are met, then the tubers last well for up to 8 months and do not spoil.

Features of agricultural technology

Early potato varieties ripen quickly, so you need to have time to give the plants everything they need for development. Agricultural cultivation technology directly affects the quality of tubers and the starch content in them. Potatoes need sufficient moisture and nutrients.

Planting should be done in pre-fertilized soil. In the future, the bushes are fed three more times - after germination, before flowering and 3-4 weeks before harvesting. The first feeding should be organic (mullein, chicken droppings). The second time, wood ash is added to the soil under the bushes. Shortly before harvesting, potatoes are fed with superphosphate, this will speed up the ripening of tubers.

Care also involves watering. If the potato leaves droop down, it means the plants do not have enough moisture. The frequency of watering depends on the presence of precipitation and air temperature. After irrigation, the soil is loosened so that the roots are freely saturated with oxygen. When attacks by the Colorado potato beetle, pests are collected manually. If this measure is not successful, insecticides are used.

Red Sonya potatoes show equally stable yields in different regions of Russia, provided agricultural practices are followed. During cultivation, it is necessary to monitor the regularity of watering, apply fertilizers, loosen and weed the soil, especially in the initial stages. To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, pre-planting treatment of soil and seed material is required.

Reviews of Red Sonya potatoes

Starygina Natalya, 56 years old, Zarechny

I planted Red Sonya potatoes to try this year. The bed was formed on a ridge, since in our region it is impossible to grow it any other way. I fertilized it several times a season and watered it well. To my surprise, the potatoes turned out large and very tasty. The first time it started dripping after 1.5 months. Under one bush up to 5 pcs. large fruits and many ovaries. I harvested a good harvest in the fall, I’ll check how it will be stored.

Gusak Elena, 47 years old, Krasnodar

I plant Red Sonya potatoes every year. The variety is good for sale and for yourself. There are no special problems when growing, you just need to water it correctly and feed it on time. It tolerates drought, but the tubers become smaller. I dig in several steps. Productivity is above average. From 1 bush comes up to 15 pieces. weighty tubers. In our region I grow it in 2 rotations. I plant it for the first time under film in mid-March and in open ground after 1.5 months. By this time, early potatoes are ripe. I am very pleased with the variety, it stores well.

Tsyba Yuri, 39 years old, Zavolzhsk

I spent a long time choosing a potato variety for long-term storage, which has good yields and marketable tubers. Based on reviews, I chose Red Sony and did not regret it. Potatoes really grow and ripen quickly and are practically not affected by late blight, which is simply surprising in our area. The tubers are large, tasty, and make good dishes. The safety of the variety is up to 95%, I have never seen this before. It stores well in the cellar; there is no need to constantly sort through and pick off the sprouts.

Reviews from gardeners

Nikolay from the Perm region writes: “I grew this variety for the first time. He quickly grew in height and stopped somewhere at around 60 cm. I collected 5-6 potatoes from one bush, but they were all just right – large and beautiful. I liked the taste, especially fried. The color remained yellow during cooking. So I’m taking the variety into my collection.”

Article on the topic: Potato variety “Early Morning” - description and photo

Antonina from Krasnodar region Fr.

Svetlana from the Kirov region shares her opinion: “In some ways, these potatoes reminded me of Bela Rosa, only Sonya’s yield is higher. And the taste is richer. And it stores well, despite the fact that these are early potatoes. This is my third year growing it, and I’m not disappointed.”

In conclusion, we recommend watching a video review of a gardener who grew Red Sonia potatoes for the first time and find out what results he achieved.