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Along with the early varieties of potatoes, which are the first to delight with their harvest, gardeners prefer to grow medium-late ones. This choice is based on the desire to have a delicious vegetable all winter. Late varieties are characterized by increased keeping quality and stable yield. Among the popular varieties of this category, the Sonny potato occupies a special place.
It is enough to read the description of the variety, reviews of gardeners, look at the photo, so that the Sonny potato becomes very desirable from the first acquaintance. It is better to learn about the qualitative characteristics of the Sonny variety, listing all its advantages will help:
- Tuber shape and color. This indicator is important not only for farmers with their requirements for presentation. On the dining table, it is also nice to treat your household and guests with even beautiful potatoes “Son”. The slightly flat shape of the root crops with a pink-cream skin gives the Sonny potato an attractive, neat appearance. The eyes are few, small, superficial harmoniously fit into the mesh peel. Root crops reach a mass of 70-85 g.
- Bush. The plant forms an upright compact low shrub. Some branches may be spreading, the green mass is medium, with the same size of leaves. When grown on fertile soils, the Sonny potato variety forms larger bushes. The corollas are compact during flowering, the flowers are large, white. It is distinguished by low berry formation. The root system is powerful, one plant produces up to 40 tubers. Potato “Son”, photo during flowering:
- Nutrient composition. The main nutritional value of potatoes is starch and protein. Varieties differ in the percentage of starch. Early potatoes have a low percentage, late potatoes have a higher percentage. “Sonny” contains about 14% of this useful substance. The biological value of potato protein is very high. In its composition, it has the necessary amino acids for our body. The list of vitamins and minerals is also quite wide, so potatoes are considered an important food product.
- Taste parameters. Everyone who has tried the Sonny potato in any preparation notes its excellent rich taste. The flesh of the roots is white. Heat treatment and damage do not lead to its darkening, so the dishes look very appetizing. Potatoes do not boil soft, due to the low percentage of starch. Suitable for any culinary processing.
- Unpretentiousness. This potato variety is not certified, but its excellent parameters make it suitable for cultivation in all climatic regions. Resistance to weather changes, deficiency or excess of moisture and sun, undemanding care, which the Sonny potato demonstrates, are very high.
- Resistance to diseases. To common scab, potato cancer, nematode, the Sonny potato has a very high resistance, to late blight – medium.
- Keeping quality, storage capacity. This feature is one of the most important. The tubers are perfectly stored, they are able to withstand even violations of the requirements of humidity and temperature during storage.
The description of the Sonok potato variety can be continued, but these advantages are enough to make a decision about growing it.
Getting ready for spring planting
Although Sonok potato tubers are inherent in the property of maintaining varietal qualities, it is still better to properly prepare for planting. Seed material is taken immediately at the time of harvest. To do this, carefully inspect the tubers so that damaged or diseased do not fall into the total mass. For planting next year, an average of 45 kg of Sonny potatoes per one hundred square meters of a garden is required. If small tubers are laid, they should be taken from healthy, well-developed bushes. They are celebrated during the flowering period. Important characteristics are strong stems, deployed leaf blades. And at the time of harvesting, they make sure to choose from the marked plants those on which at least 10-14 potatoes have formed. If they have typical characteristics of the variety, are not damaged mechanically or by diseases, then the entire crop from the bush can be used for storage for seeds.
A normal fruit-bearing bush grows from each part of the tuber.
Preplant treatment of tubers has a great impact on the quality and quantity of the crop. The most important stage of such preparation is germination in the light. It will take about 40 days to carry out the procedure correctly. Tubers of the Sonny variety are placed in a warm, well-lit room with an air temperature of 12-14 degrees above zero.
Potatoes are laid out in a layer (in 2 – 3 tubers) on the floor, racks or in boxes. Some gardeners, in order to save space, germinate the Sonny variety in bags or nets. If there are enough holes in the mesh, then they will have to be made in the bag. The optimal distance between the holes is 15 cm. This option will increase air access, but lighting for Sonny tubers must be provided.
Qualitatively germinated tubers are those that form strong thick sprouts (up to 1 cm). So that they do not stretch out, at night the temperature is reduced to 4-6 degrees. Spraying the passages in the storage room helps maintain the desired percentage of air humidity. Do not delay planting germinated tubers of the “Sonok” variety. As soon as the soil warms up to +8 degrees, you can start.
Selection, site preparation and care
Potatoes “Sonny” can grow well on any soil, if certain conditions are met. For example, you should not plant the Sonny variety in the area where tomatoes were its predecessors. The most friendly to this crop are cucumbers, cabbage, gourds, alfalfa and meadow grasses. The soil for potatoes is best prepared in the fall. Choose an open, well-lit area. It will be great if it is still protected from the winds. The soil is dug up and levelled. Be sure to loosen in the spring. Sonok potato variety responds well to the combined application of organic and mineral fertilizers. It is better to bring them in one go.
Of the mineral fertilizers, ash remains the most affordable and valuable.
Tubers are planted in holes or in rows. Landing pattern 70 x 35 cm.
Caring for potatoes Sonny begins as early as 5-6 days after planting. At this time, the most valuable operation is loosening the row spacing and removing weeds.
Thus, the crust is destroyed, which prevents the tender shoots from breaking through. And the absence of weeds allows young plants to get enough light, moisture and nutrients.
Watering is carried out for the Synok variety during the period of tuber formation (budding phase – flowering). If intensive watering is carried out earlier than this period, then the tops grow strongly, and then quickly wither. In the dry period, regular watering is necessary (after 1,5 – 2 weeks). Otherwise, the roots will crack. Although the variety Sonok is extremely drought tolerant, do not refuse watering if possible. Do not completely deprive the plant of moisture.
Hilling is done as needed. This well strengthens the trunks of the plant, helps root formation. A powerful root system is the key to sufficient water and nutrition to all parts of the potato. Do not get carried away with high hilling. It can disrupt the heat balance and is contraindicated for Sonny potatoes.
Cleaning can be carried out manually and mechanically.
It depends on the landing area and possibilities. Potato “Sonok” gives a quality crop without rejection. The number of malformed, damaged or diseased tubers is always minimal.
Reviews of vegetable growers
Video on how to grow “Sonny” from the eyes:
