Mid-early potato variety "Rodriga" with large pink tubers

The mid-early potato variety Rodrigue can surprise even the most experienced gardeners. High productivity, unpretentiousness in cultivation and care, excellent taste ensured its recognition by European and then Russian summer residents. What are its main advantages and features, you will learn from the article.

Description of the variety

Rodrigue is a mid-early table potato variety whose growing season lasts 70-85 days. In the photo it looks like this:

Origin and development

The variety was bred in Germany. The author is the German company Solana GmbH & Co. KG". Thanks to a large number of advantages and minor disadvantages, this European variety has become popular in Russia. Our people usually call him “Rodrigo”.

Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins

Rodrigue's potatoes are rich useful substances. It contains potassium, calcium, carotene, phosphorus, vitamins A, B, C. Carotene acts as an antioxidant.

And here solanine is a substance that is toxic to humans. It accumulates in potatoes when exposed to sunlight and gives the tubers a green tint. It is also found in higher concentrations in above-ground potato berries.

Attention! It is better not to eat the green tuber.

The starch content in this variety is 12.5-15.4%.

Characteristics of tubers, description of appearance and yield

The tubers of the Rodrigue potato are oval-shaped with a smooth surface.The eyes are small, barely noticeable and shallow. The peel is smooth or slightly rough to the touch, the color is pink or reddish. The pulp is light yellow in color and does not darken when cooked.

Rodrigue bushes are tall, reaching a meter in height. The leaves are spreading, medium in size, not pubescent, wrinkled, with a wavy edge. The flower petals are red-violet in color. When ripe, the tops turn yellow and fall to the ground.

Under one bush usually grow 7-9 tubers weighing from 200 to 800 g; smaller ones are almost never found. The yield of the variety is high - up to 600 kg of tubers are harvested from one hundred square meters.

What regions is it suitable for?

The regions in which Rodrigue potatoes produce high yields on an industrial scale are Central, Volga-Vyatka, Middle Volga, North Caucasus and Far Eastern.

For personal consumption, the variety is grown throughout Russia. Even in regions that are considered “areas of risky farming”, it brings a good harvest.

What is the difference from other varieties

In the warm conditions of the Krasnodar region, the variety can produce two harvests per year. The sprouted tubers are planted for the first time in March, hilling up to protect them from frost. Dig in late May or early June.

Reference. Compared to other varieties of potatoes, Rodrigue contains less starch, and its shelf life is higher.

The second time, the remaining tubers from the spring or last year's harvest are planted at the end of August, and dug up at the end of October - beginning of November.

The main advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive qualities of Rodrigue potatoes include:

• undemanding to soil;
• disease resistance;
• high productivity;
• high shelf life during winter storage;
• excellent taste;
• ability to withstand damage;
• ease of care;
• presentable appearance.

The disadvantages include the large size of the bush, which requires an increased distance between the beds. Tubers of this variety do not like waterlogged soil and can rot during the rainy season.

Features of planting and growing

Rodrigue potatoes are not picky about growing conditions and show good yield in any weather. To get the best result, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with some of the nuances.

Preparing for landing

Almost any type of soil is suitable for growing the Rodriga variety. Before planting, organic and mineral fertilizers are added to the ground - for example, humus.

To get a good harvest, it is important to choose the right planting site. A rich potato harvest will be in a sufficiently illuminated place where root vegetables, legumes, onions, cabbage, and cucumbers previously grew.

For seed, the ideal size is considered to be a tuber the size of a chicken egg. Also, the seed of this variety can be cut.

Before planting, it is advisable to germinate the tubers in a warm and bright room. If they wrinkle, water is sprayed on them.

Before planting, tubers are treated with growth stimulants and pest control drugs. But this is optional.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

Rodrigue potatoes are planted from late April to May, depending on the region, when the soil warms up to +8-10°C and the air temperature reaches +18°C. This time is easy to determine, as dandelions and lilacs bloom. To prevent the seedlings from being exposed to frost, they wait until the end of the bird cherry flowering.

When planting, add a pinch of wood ash or mustard powder to the holes to combat nematodes. The tubers are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate.

Planting material is buried to a depth of 10 cm if the soil is light, and 5 cm if it is heavy. After this, water the beds a little, about half a liter per bush. To protect against sudden frosts, the rows are sprinkled with mulch.

Features of cultivation

This variety does not produce too many flowers, and there is no need to pick them off so as not to cause stress to the plant.

To prevent the growth of weeds between potato bushes, deep loosening is carried out. This is especially necessary after rain. Rodriga does not like herbicides against weeds and can slow down its growth.

To strengthen the tubers, the bushes are watered with calcium nitrate at the root twice a season. Although this variety is resistant to pests and diseases, it does not hurt to carry out preventive treatment with insecticides.

Nuances of care

The main stage of caring for the Rodrigue variety is hilling the bushes. The procedure is carried out for the first time when the planting grows to 10 cm in height. Almost the entire green mass is covered with earth, a small portion of 2-3 cm is left on the surface.

The next time hilling is necessary when the remaining tails grow by 10 cm.

The third time the procedure is carried out with the tops completely closed.

It is also necessary to loosen the soil between rows more often so that dense soil does not interfere with the formation of potatoes. It is easier to do this after watering or rain.

Watering mode

Plantings need to be watered abundantly, but infrequently. Three good irrigations per season are enough to ensure the soil moisture depth is 20-25 cm. The spreading leaves of this variety retain soil moisture for a long time. Watering is carried out using the drip method or simulating rain.

Top dressing

Before planting, manure is applied in the fall or spring one and a half months before planting the tubers.

Before planting, it is useful to add a little wood ash.

For feeding For planted potatoes, mineral fertilizers are used - for example, potassium chloride, superphosphate, and organic fertilizers - urea, wood ash.

Fertilizing is applied three times: during the growth of greenery and stems, during the formation of buds and in the flowering phase.

Disease and pest control

The Rodrigue variety is disease resistant. The main pest is the Colorado potato beetle. You can try to scare him off with folk remedies. For example, a beetle cannot tolerate the smell of garlic and calendula planted nearby. Among chemical agents, spraying with preparations is used: “Prestige”, “Oktara”, “Korado” and others.

Attention! All treatments are stopped a month before harvesting.

Harvest and storage

Since Rodrigue potatoes are considered a mid-early variety, they cannot be kept in the ground for a long time.

How and when to collect

Tubers of this variety are dug up as soon as the tops turn yellow and dry. The harvested crop is dried for 24 hours. If long-term storage is expected, the drying time is extended to 2-3 days.

When the tubers are dried, they are cleaned of dirt and stored.

Storage features and keeping quality of the variety

The Rodrigue variety is not particularly demanding on storage conditions. The main thing is that the tubers are clean and dry. A ventilated room is suitable for storing crops, where the temperature does not exceed +3...+5˚С, and the humidity is maintained at 75-85%.

The tubers of this potato last well until spring and begin to germinate just before the onset of warm weather.

What difficulties may there be when growing

Rodrigue potatoes are grown in all climate zones of Europe.The variety shows good results in northern and southern regions, although it is recommended for cultivation in subtropical conditions. Rodrigue is not afraid of heat, drought, or coolness.

The success of cultivation is confirmed by summer residents who cultivate these potatoes in areas with different weather conditions.

Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews about the Rodriga variety

Gardeners mostly leave positive reviews about the Rodrigue potato variety.

Larisa, Balashikha: «For the first time I grew the Rodrigue potato variety, or, as we called it, Rodriguez. At landing the tubers had to be cut into 3 parts. They were grown like other varieties, only they were dug up earlier. All the tubers turned out about the same, the taste is excellent!”

Alexander, Tver: “Our family really loves the Rodrigo potato variety. Of course, you have to fight the Colorado potato beetle, but the rich harvest is worth it! Our secret is that we germinate tubers in plastic bags.”

Valentin, Belgorod: “This undemanding variety survived the hot summer perfectly, the harvest appeared in 70 days, and this is on not very rich soil! It stores well, even if the tubers are damaged by a shovel.”

Conclusion

Mid-early Rodrigue potatoes are popular among gardeners. Its demand is due to its excellent taste, high yield, easy care and unpretentiousness to climatic conditions. The variety of German origin gives a good harvest even under minimally favorable circumstances. Try and plant Rodrigue on your site!