The abundance and quality of the future crop depends on the successful selection of potato varieties. One of the new, but promising varieties is Rodrigo. It ripens in the early stages, bears large and tasty fruits, and is characterized by a consistently high yield.

Selection history

Potato Rodrigo was born thanks to the efforts of German breeders from Solana GmbH & amp; Co. For Russian summer residents, it has become available recently. He was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2009.

Did you know? When potatoes were brought to the European continent in the middle of the 16th century, local doctors initially believed that it was inedible, moreover, it was a source of leprosy infection and a cause of mental disturbance.

Characterization and description of the variety

Potatoes Rodrigo are reckoned to mid-early grades. Mass harvesting is started 70–85 days after planting. The first digging can be done starting from the 60th day.

The variety shows a consistently high yield - up to 45 tons per 1 ha. On one bush, from 7 to 9 tubers of elongated shape, weighing 200-500 g, can be set. They have a pink peel and yellow flesh. The starch content at the average level is 13-15%. The eyes are superficial, which means that tubers are easier to wash, peel and cut.

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Tubers are characterized by high palatability. They can be used for various culinary purposes. Suitable for cooking, frying, stewing, steaming, baking.

Fruits are well and long stored, transported. Their durability is marked by a high percentage - 95%. They can be grown both for personal purposes and for sale.

The plant forms tall erect bushes. The leaves are large, not pubescent, the usual form for potatoes. Bushes bloom large white flowers. The variety is suitable for cultivation in open and closed ground, in all regions of the Russian Federation, Europe, post-Soviet countries.

Advantages and disadvantages

• The advantages of plants and tubers of the described variety:
• matures in the early stages;
• shows consistently high productivity;
• forms very large tubers of the correct form and excellent taste;
• fruits have a high percentage of marketability;
• differs in drought and heat resistance;
• does not put forward requirements for the composition and structure of the soil;
• characterized by high resistance to many nightshade diseases;
• shows resistance to mechanical damage;
• can be stored for a long time, while maintaining commercial quality;
• the fruits are suitable for use with a variety of culinary purposes.

Since the variety is grown in the territory of the post-Soviet countries quite recently, its deficiencies have not yet been identified. Some attribute the bushiness of the bush to the minuses. However, this feature can well be attributed to the advantages, since in this way moisture is stored longer in the soil.

Planting and growing varieties

Getting a successful and rich harvest is possible only if the owner of the site follows the recommendations for planting and care. At the planting stage, it is necessary to select a successful plot for the beds, prepare the soil, and select high-quality seed material.

Crop rotation rules

Each gardener should be familiar with crop rotation rules that must be followed in order to prevent the accumulation of toxins, pathogens and harmful insects in the soil, as well as to reduce nutrient consumption and get a successful crop. These rules suggest that related plant species should not be planted in the same area for longer than 2 consecutive years. Every year or a year later, on the same beds, you need to grow crops belonging to other families.

Check out the features of growing other varieties of medium early potatoes:

Since the potato belongs to the solanaceous family, it should not be grown in the same place where tomatoes, eggplant, pepper, and, accordingly, the potato itself were grown. Potatoes can be returned to the same site only after 4-5 years.

In order to get the maximum possible yields, quality fruits and prevent the invasion of pests and the development of diseases, this culture should be planted after the following plants:

• siderats;
• cucumbers
• legumes;
• Luke;
• cabbage;
• carrots;
• beets.

Landing time

It is recommended to plant medium early potatoes when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches + 8 ... + 10 ° C, and the air temperature is set at + 18 ... + 22 ° C. That is, the exact timing of placement of seeds in the soil will depend on the region of cultivation and climatic conditions that are typical for it. When landing without shelter, landing is usually done in mid-April. In warm regions, when cultivated under a film, potatoes are planted earlier - at the end of March.If there is no opportunity to measure the temperature of the soil, summer residents are guided by folk signs. So, according to one of them, planting potatoes should be taken care of when the buds on the birch and the flowers on the bird cherry begin to bloom.

Soil requirements

Potato Rodrigo does not have special soil requirements - it grows poorly only in sand, very heavy soil and in wetlands. It shows the best crops on fertile soils.

It is better to take care of the preparation of the site for planting potatoes in the fall. It is thoroughly cleaned of plant debris, dug deeply, plowed to a depth of 22–25 cm, mineral (urea) and organic fertilizers (manure, ash) are applied, and high beds are formed. To fertilize a 1 m² plot, 25-30 g of nitrogen and 10-15 g of potash fertilizers are needed.

If there was no opportunity to fertilize the soil in the fall, then you need to do this in the early spring, a few weeks before planting. Dry humus (1 l) and wood ash (1 handful) are added to each well. It will also require saturation of the soil with minerals: nitrophos (1 tbsp. L / 1 well), ammophos (1 tbsp. L / 1 well) with dolomite flour mixing (0.5 tbsp. / 1 ​​well).

Important! For growing potatoes, Rodriguez should be given a well-lit area. The beds are recommended to be located from north to south.

Preparing planting material

Before planting, it is necessary to pre-plant the tubers. It consists in their germination and preventive treatments against diseases and harmful insects, as well as for better germination.

Only germinated seeds should be placed in the soil. To germinate them, a month before the expected date of planting, they are taken out of a cool store to a room with the following conditions:

• diffuse lighting;
• air temperature + 12 ... + 15 ° С in the daytime, + 6 ... + 8 ° С in the night;
• humidity 90–95%.

Tubers weighing 35–85 g with strong shoots up to 1 cm long are selected for planting. Damaged and rotten seeds are discarded. The following manipulations allow to accelerate the process of germination:

1. Place the fruits in moist sawdust or peat treated with a solution of copper sulfate (2 g / 1 liter of water) and cover them with a layer of wood ash.
2. Place tubers in three-liter glass containers mounted on a well-lit window sill.

To protect the tubers from diseases and pests and accelerate the process of germination, they are processed 3 days before planting:

• aqueous solution of wood ash;
• the drug "Prestige";
• means "Epin-Extra."

Also used growth stimulants "Kornevin", "Heteroauxin."

Important! It is allowed to cut tubers for planting into several parts containing at least 2 shoots. The procedure is performed 2 days before planting, so that the places of cuts are dried up.

Landing technology

Potatoes Rodrigo planted according to the scheme 60 × 70 cm. Between the holes leave spaces of 30–35 cm. Thus, no more than 5-6 bushes should fit on 1 m².Tubers are closed to a depth of 5-8 cm. Planting can be done in furrows or holes. To prevent the tubers from freezing during frosts, over-rotted grass is placed in a small layer on the bottom of the pits. 1-2 seeds are placed in each well. Then they are covered with soil and watered using 0.5 l of water per well. The beds are loosened with a harrow or a rake to avoid the formation of lumps and a hard crust. At the end, they mulch with straw, rotted leaves, peat chips and cover the beds with a film or non-woven material.

Features of potato care after planting

Like most potato varieties, Rodrigo does not require much care. It will be necessary to periodically spud, loosen and weed the soil near it, feed it with organic fertilizers, perform preventive spraying against diseases and harmful insects, and treat it in case of illness.

Did you know? During the years 1845-1849. due to the Great Famine, which arose mainly due to the poor harvest of potatoes, 1.5 million Irish died. The cause of the crop failure was the late blight disease that had infected the plant, imported from Mexico.

Hilling. The procedure is carried out at least 3 times per season. It allows you to protect the bushes from frost. Hilling is first produced when seedlings appear. They are sprinkled with earth to the top. The second time the procedure is carried out for plants that bloom. Act at this time you need to be careful so as not to catch the inflorescences. The third time the soil is sprinkled to the trunk when the tops are spread.Loosening. Loosen the soil in order to prevent the formation of a hard crust on the surface of the soil, as well as improve its air and moisture conduction. Loosening is carried out after rainfall and watering.

Weeding. Weed removal is an important procedure when growing potatoes. Firstly, weeds in many cases become carriers and cause diseases and pests. Secondly, they take valuable nutrients from the bushes, consuming them from the soil. Thirdly, they close the plant to sunlight, which leads to improper development and lower yields. Weeding is often carried out - starting from the 6-7th day after planting and before harvesting.

Watering. Typically, potatoes need watering only in case of prolonged absence of precipitation and high temperatures. It is necessary to produce 3 waterings: after the appearance of sprouts, at the time of bud formation, after flowering.

About 1 liter of warm water is used per m². Humidification should be done in the early morning, so that the moisture has time to dry on the organs of the plant before the sun becomes scorching and there is a risk of burns.If there is enough rainfall, then the potato does not need additional moisture.

Top dressing. Fertilizing vegetable plants in which fruits are formed in the form of tubers and root crops is best done with organic matter and only in cases when the bushes are weakened or unfavorable weather is observed for a long time. For plants, bird droppings are useful. It is introduced between the first and second hilling.

Under prolonged bad weather conditions, plants are supported by applying water infusions of fresh cow manure (in a 1 to 8 ratio), bird droppings (1 to 20), nettle leaves (1 to 6), and dandelion leaves (1 to 6).

Diseases and pests

Variety Rodrigo is well resistant to pathogens of diseases such as tuber cancer and late blight. He is also rarely affected by a nematode.

Of the pests, the greatest danger is Colorado beetle. They fight it mechanically, collecting manually, as well as using "chemistry", spraying the plants with an aqueous solution of urea (100 g / 10 l), preparations "Aktara", "Corado", "Commander", "Prestige", "Lightning" , "Taboo." For prevention, onion husks are put into the holes during planting, which can scare away a dangerous insect, and garlic and calendula are planted in the aisles.

Important! The use of "chemistry" is excluded 15-20 days before harvest. Chemical processes should be limited during flowering.

Harvest dates and storage

Harvesting fruits can begin when the lower leaves turn yellow. Mass harvesting is started when the tops of the leaves are yellow and the bush decays.

Harvest sent to storage in cool conditions not immediately. First, it is collected in bags and placed in a well-ventilated place where there is no daylight and the temperature is + 15 ... + 20 ° С. After storage in such conditions for 1-2 weeks, the tubers are sorted and discarded, which are not suitable for storage. The rest are placed in a disinfected cellar or cellar with an air temperature of + 4 ... + 5 ° С, air humidity of 90–95% and good air circulation. Under such conditions, Rodrigo potatoes can be stored for 3-3.5 months.If part of the tubers is planned to be selected for seeds, then they are cleaned of the earth and washed, put in a place well lit by the sun, until the peel becomes greenish. After that, they are sent to the storage with a temperature of + 3 ° C and a humidity of 95%.

Important! Tubers that are planned to be used in the spring for planting should be stored separately from other potatoes.

So, the German selection of Rodrigo variety may well be a discovery for Russian and Ukrainian summer residents. After all, each of them undoubtedly dreams of receiving a large number of such huge and tasty tubers annually. Despite the fact that the merits and demerits of the variety are still under study, it is considered very promising.