Description of potatoes Sonny
Many of the early potato varieties are very poorly stored, which is why many gardeners prefer to plant the mid-late varieties. One of these is the Sonny potato. The species appeared as a result of folk selection and has not yet been entered into the State Register of the Russian Federation. In the article, we will consider a description of the Sonny potato variety.
Characteristics of potatoes
Sonny's potatoes have a high yield. The main feature of the species is good keeping quality, resistance to mechanical damage, which allows you to enjoy homemade potatoes all winter and use it for commercial activities.
The characteristic of taste is high. In cultivation, the variety is not whimsical, it takes root well in any climate, which makes it so attractive for gardeners in our country, although it was not included in the breeding register. The characteristic of the variety classifies it as moderately resistant to late blight. Potatoes Sonny is not susceptible to scab, nematodes, potato crayfish.
Description of the plant
In the open field, it grows as a spreading tall bush. Plant height reaches 60 cm. Abundant flowering, tops remain green until harvest.
The leaves on the bushes are bright green, medium in size. On fertile soils, the leaves will be larger. Inflorescences are compact, flowers are white. Few berries are formed. A powerful root system allows you to get up to 40 potatoes from one bush.
Description of the fetus
The fruit can be described by the following qualities:
- on average, a potato weighs about 90g;
- the fruits are white on the cut;
- the starch content in the tubers is average;
- the peel is pink, with a mesh structure;
- the shape of the tubers is flat-oblong;
- the ripening period from the moment of planting is 140 days.
Disembarkation
Potato variety Sonny can grow in any conditions. But in order to increase yields, you need to monitor the condition of the soil, provide moderate watering and fertilize on time. On fertile soil, the plant bears fruit better.
The landing area should be well lit. With a close location of groundwater, a drainage system should be made. You should not plant the crop in areas that are blown by the wind, otherwise the high tops will break. It is also not recommended to plant potato tubers on the same site for several years in a row.
Soil preparation
They begin to prepare the soil for planting in the autumn. Mineral and organic fertilizers should be added to the soil. Then a deep digging is carried out.
In the spring, the soil is dug up again and markings are made. The distance between the holes is left at 50 cm, between the rows - 70 cm. Before planting, all weeds should be removed.
Increase the yield allows the introduction of humus and ash during planting. Seed material should only be planted in well-heated, moist soil.For optimal plant development, all agrotechnical rules must be observed and growth regulators must be introduced on time.
Seed selection
Seed material should be selected after harvest. Select only smooth tubers without visible damage. In March, the potatoes are taken out of the cellar and disinfected with special solutions. After that, the germination process begins.
Root vegetables are left in a warm room and after about a month sprouts appear on them. After germination, potatoes with thin sprouts are rejected. To increase the yield, it is recommended to mark the tubers in a solution of ammonium nitrate and superphosphates for an hour.
Landing in the ground
It is recommended to plant potatoes during a period when the soil has warmed up to 4-5 ℃. Usually disembarkation is carried out at the end of April and beginning of May. In the northern regions, later planting is practiced, but in these cases, the tubers are smaller. It is better to plant potatoes and cover the planting with covering material.
The depth of the hole will depend on the type of soil. The standard is 12 cm. If it is not possible to apply a sufficient amount of fertilizer, the potatoes are laid out at a great distance from each other.
A handful of compost mixture and a spoonful of ash are placed in each hole. On top of the pits, they are sprinkled with soil, and then the area is leveled with a rake. After the end of the planting process, you need to monitor the humidity and provide appropriate care. When growing tubers for seeds, the distance between the bushes is 20 cm. This allows you to get a lot of small potatoes.
How to care
Potato variety Sonny will give a good harvest if you provide him with optimal development conditions in the initial stages. Regular loosening and weeding helps maintain normal moisture levels and enrich the soil with oxygen. When sprouts up to 20 cm in height appear on the beds, the first hilling should be carried out. The height of the embankment on heavy soils is 12 cm, on light soils 15 cm.
If possible, the soil is mulched with grass. This move allows you to maintain an optimal level of humidity in arid climates and reduce the likelihood of developing fungal diseases. In the middle lane, after mulching, watering is not necessary.
Foliar dressing is carried out 2 weeks after germination. Then feeding is done before flowering and 2 weeks after. A couple of days after precipitation and watering, loosening is carried out. This prevents the formation of a soil crust and increases air exchange.
Yield
The culture is popular in our country due to its excellent taste and high yield. Subject to all the rules of care and agricultural technology from 1 bush, you can get 40 tubers of the same size.
The standard weight of 1 tuber is 85-90 g. But, with proper care, they can weigh up to 500 g. In connection with this feature, the variety was given a second name Bogatyr.
Harvesting and storage
The location of the root system of the Sonny potato is compact, which avoids many problems with harvesting. Its main advantage is resistance to mechanical damage. Even tubers cut with a shovel are perfectly stored all winter, they do not get infected with rot.
Cleaning is usually carried out from late August to mid-September. But, this is an approximate time frame, because the climate, care characteristics and disembarkation time will affect the collection period. The main criterion by which the readiness of tubers for harvesting is determined is the tops. If it starts to die off, then it's time to dig the potatoes.
Before digging up the vegetables, the tops must be removed, wait 10 days. If the weather permits, you can start cleaning. You should not immediately remove the roots into the cellar. To begin with, they are kept in the sun for several hours, and then sorted into boxes and left for a month in a dry room. After that, you can send the tubers to the vegetable store.
What can hurt
The description of the variety gives an idea of the possible diseases of the culture. Resistance to late blight is average, so at the end of June it is recommended to carry out preventive spraying with medicinal preparations that block the development of the disease. After heavy rainfall, it is recommended to pick the lower leaves and shoots.
The plant is often attacked by aphids, Colorado potato beetle, wireworm. They destroy pests with insecticides. For the prevention of diseases and pest attacks, all seed material must be disinfected.
Gardeners reviews
Description of the varietal qualities of the potato Sonny allows you to grow it in any weather conditions, which makes it very attractive for gardeners in our country. People who have been breeding the variety for a long time are very pleased with the selection results. The big advantage is the low susceptibility of the culture to fungal diseases.
The mid-ripening variety "Sonnok" is distinguished by its high taste and good keeping quality. Even potatoes damaged during digging are perfectly stored all winter. In the conditions of the middle lane, the variety does well without watering, as evidenced by the detailed description. With regular fertilization, you can get potatoes weighing up to 500 g. Sonny is the most popular variety in Russia, even without being included in the State Register of Breeding.