Medium-early, unpretentious potato variety "Red Fantasy" with bright oval tubers

German potato varieties are valued for their high productivity, strong immunity and impeccable presentation. Red Fantasy (Red Fantasy) - fully meets these criteria. The culture is undemanding to watering and is often content with precipitation. Complex mineral compositions and a minimal amount of nitrogen are used as fertilizers.

The article contains detailed information about Red Fantasy potatoes with a description of the variety and photos.

Origin and description of the variety

The mid-late potato variety Red Fantasy is a product of breeding work by employees of the German company Europlant pflanzenzucht GMBH. Culture was included in the State Register of Russia in 2011. It is popularly known as fantasy potatoes, Red Fantasy and simply Fantasy.

The photo shows Red Fantasy potatoes.

The table gives a description of the variety.

Chemical composition

The table shows the vitamin and mineral composition of raw potatoes with skin.

What regions is it suitable for?

The crop has received permission for cultivation in the following regions of the country:

• Central (Bryansk, Kaluga, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Moscow, Tula, Ryazan, Smolensk regions);
• Volgo-Vyatka (Kirov, Nizhny Novgorod, Sverdlovsk regions, Republic of Mari El, Perm Territory, Chuvash and Udmurt Republics);
• Middle Volga (Penza, Ulyanovsk, Samara regions, Republic of Mordovia, Republic of Tatarstan).

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the variety:

• high productivity rates;
• attractive appearance;
• fruit evenness;
• pleasant taste;
• keeping quality;
• high level of transportation;
• optimal starch content;
• universal use in cooking;
• strong immunity.

Judging by the enthusiastic reviews of gardeners, Red Fantasy has no shortcomings.

Interesting fact. Potatoes are the first tuberous vegetable grown in space. The experiment was carried out in 1995 on the US space station Columbia.

Features of planting and growing

Red Fantasy potatoes can withstand short-term drops in air temperature during the growing season, but are sensitive to low soil temperatures. To achieve high yields, a drip irrigation system is installed on the site, and the bushes are fed with organic matter and minerals.

Tuber preparation

14-20 days before the expected landings The tubers are brought out into the light and re-sorted, leaving only healthy material. Seeds are soaked in a disinfectant solution with potassium permanganate or copper sulfate:

• 5 g copper sulfate;
• 1 g potassium permanganate;
• 40 g urea;
• 10 g boric acid;
• 60 superphosphate.

Pour hot water at 80°C over the components, stir thoroughly and cool. The tubers are dipped into the resulting mixture and left for 20 minutes. Then they are laid out on the floor to dry.

The optimal germination temperature is +14°C.

Immediately before planting, the material is treated with growth stimulants - “Epin” or “Zircon”.

Soil requirements

Potatoes grow on loose and nutritious soil - chernozem, loam - with neutral acidity (pH 5.2-5.7). Proper soil preparation is the key to successful crop cultivation. To determine pH, use litmus strips or a device with a long probe. Acidic soil is deoxidized by adding dolomite flour, chalk, ash, and slaked lime. Manure, compost, sawdust and pine needles will help increase the acidity of alkaline soil.

To enrich the poor soil, the area is sown with green manure. Lupine, oats, rye, wheat, peas, and beans are best suited.Mown and rotted greens serve as an excellent fertilizer, saturate the soil with nitrogen and loosen it.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

Potatoes are planted in mid-April - early May, depending on the region and weather conditions. The soil temperature should be +8...+10°C, air temperature - +16...+18°C.

Taking into account the tallness and spreading nature of the bushes, the tubers are planted at intervals of 30-40 cm to a depth of 10 cm. The row spacing is 50-60 cm.

A handful of superphosphate and wood ash are added to each hole. The seeds are planted with the sprouts facing up. The holes are filled with soil, but not compacted.

The area is mulched with hay, straw, and sawdust to prevent weed growth and moisture retention in the soil.

Nuances of care

The Red Fantasy variety does not require strict adherence to the watering regime. The plant is content with precipitation, and during periods of prolonged drought, the bushes are watered manually - 2-3 times every 10 days. In large planting areas, drip irrigation is installed to regulate humidity levels.

It is impossible to do without loosening the top layer of soil and weeding. Shallow loosening prevents the formation of a hard crust on the soil surface and promotes the penetration of oxygen to the root system. Weeds are removed as they grow.

Hilling is carried out in two stages:

• the first (3-4 cm) - after the sprouts appear to protect the potatoes from frost and the Colorado potato beetle;
• the second (16-20 cm) - after 3-4 weeks, during the budding period, to create favorable conditions for fruit formation.

During the season, potatoes are fed three times:

1. The first portion is applied 14 days after planting, using a minimum amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers that enhance the growth of green mass. For 10 liters of water take 0.5 liters of mullein and 15 g of urea. The consumption rate per bush is 0.5 l.
2. The second portion - 14-20 days after the first, using mineral fertilizers with potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, boron, manganese for the formation of tubers. For 10 liters of water take 15 g of potassium sulfate, 100 g of wood ash, 15 g of double superphosphate. The consumption rate per bush is 0.5 l.
3. The third portion - organic matter - is added a month before harvest to saturate the plant with useful substances. Take 300 g of horsetail greens per 10 liters of water, boil for 20 minutes, cool and use for spraying bushes. As an additional remedy, Epin-Extra is used (1 ampoule per 5 l). Consumption per bush - 0.5 l.

Features of cultivation

An interesting method of planting in bags is used to grow potatoes. One of its advantages is mobility. Bags can be moved from place to place if necessary. Growing in bags is economical - with minimal use of space, it is possible to harvest a large harvest.

Bags made of dense, breathable fabric, for example, granulated sugar or flour, are suitable for planting. The edges of the bag are tucked in and filled with moist fertile soil with a layer of 20 cm. Sprouted tubers are planted in depressions up to 10 cm and 20 cm of soil is filled.

The bags are placed in a sunny place, near a fence or wall, and dug in. Plants are watered after the top layer of soil has dried, and more is added as they grow.

Advantages of the technology:

• potatoes do not rot and are not infected with late blight;
• there is no need to carry out weeding and loosening.

Minuses:

• the need to add a large volume of compost;
• constant monitoring of soil moisture.

Disease and pest control

The German variety is immune to cancer, golden potato nematode, wrinkled and banded mosaic, and leaf curl virus.According to the originator, it is moderately resistant to late blight of tops and tubers.

Late blight most often appears during periods of prolonged rain. Brown spots of irregular shape and a whitish coating on the reverse side are found on the leaves. After digging, dark spots are visible on the potatoes.

To prevent the disease:

• tubers are treated with disinfecting solutions of potassium permanganate and copper sulfate;
• timely removal of weeds and potato tops;
• control the nitrogen content in the soil;
• fertilize the plantings with potassium and phosphorus;
• do not allow the soil to become waterlogged.

The following drugs are used for treatment: “HOM”, “Oxychom”, “Bravo”, “Ridomil Gold”.

Fungicides will help cope with attacks of the Colorado potato beetle and wireworm: “Aktara”, “Inta-Vir”, “Protection”, “NO Colorado potato beetle!”, “Confidor”, “Prestige”, “Commander”.

Traditional methods against the Colorado potato beetle:

• dusting with birch ash (10 kg of ash per 1 m³);
• mulching beds with fresh pine sawdust;
• spraying with celandine infusion (pour 1.5 kg of herb into 5 liters of boiling water, leave for 3-4 hours and add 1 liter of 1.5% calcium chloride solution);
• treatment with a solution of birch tar (100 ml of tar per 10 liters of water).

To combat wireworms, infusions are used:

• nettle (500 g per 10 liters of water);
• dandelion (200 g per 10 liters of water);
• coltsfoot (200 g per 10 liters of water);
• celandine (100 g per 10 liters of water).

Collection, storage and use of crops

Harvesting rules:

• carry out digging in the morning in sunny and dry weather;
• leave the tubers to dry until evening;
• Peel the potatoes from the soil and put them in a warm, dry place for two weeks;
• sort through the tubers and throw away the rotten ones with signs of infection;
• completely collect tops and weeds from the site;
• after two weeks, place the harvest in boxes made of wood or plastic, mesh, or breathable bags;
• sprinkle the tubers with ash to prevent rotting;
• Place beets or apples on top to absorb excess moisture.

Reference. The optimal temperature for storing crops in the cellar is +3…+4°С

Red Fantasy potatoes have an excellent taste; the flesh does not darken after cooking. It is baked, stewed, boil, fried. The moderate starch content allows the variety to be used for dietary nutrition.

Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews

Reviews of Red Fantasy potatoes are positive. Gardeners fell in love with this variety for its unusual rich skin color and balanced taste.

Valentin, Krasny Yar: «I really like this German variety for its absolutely simple care and high yield. In addition, bushes rarely suffer from late blight, which makes caring for them much easier. I fertilize the potatoes at the same time as watering them. I laid hoses for drip irrigation on the site, and before supplying water I mixed liquid mineral fertilizer. I dissolve 2 tsp in a 10 liter bucket. potassium salt, and add it early in the morning.”

Igor, Saransk: “I plant Fantasy potatoes when the dandelions bloom. This is a sure sign that the soil has warmed up sufficiently. I rarely close up the tubers, since the bushes grow sprawling. When planting thickly, the tubers will turn out small.”

Veronica, Nizhnekamsk: “A friend introduced me to this wonderful variety. She and her husband grow potatoes to sell, and Red Fantasy is one of the favorites. Its taste is excellent, it does not fall apart when cooked, and does not crumble when frying. It is stored in the cellar for a long time, does not sprout and does not rot.”

Read also:

What is the calorie content of potatoes and do they make you fat?

Mid-early table potato variety "Laura" with excellent taste and aroma.

Domestic potato variety "Aurora".

Conclusion

Red Fantasy is a highly productive German potato variety with strong immunity and excellent taste. The optimal starch content allows you to include potatoes in the diet menu and prepare a variety of dishes from them. Buyers are primarily attracted by the unusual red color of the peel and rich yellow flesh. Farmers value the crop for its ease of care, high yield and long shelf life.