Early maturing, frost-resistant potato variety "Rosalind"

The Rosalind variety is especially popular among gardeners who prefer potatoes with pink skin and yellow flesh. Early ripening allows you to harvest twice per season. Due to the optimal starch content, a variety of dishes are prepared from the tubers and used for dietary nutrition.

In the article, we have prepared for you information about Rosalind potatoes with a description of the variety, methods of growing it, preventing and treating late blight, and getting rid of insect pests.

Description of the variety

Rosalind potatoes are the result of the work of German breeders of the company EUROPLANT Pflanzenzucht GmbH. The variety was included in the state register of the Russian Federation in 2002 in the Central region, but was excluded in 2016 due to the refusal of the patent by the originator.

Pictured are Rosalind's potatoes.

The table summarizes the distinctive features of the variety.

Chemical composition

In the table you can see the vitamin and mineral composition of raw, unpeeled potatoes (per 100 g of product).

Growing regions and climate requirements

The Rosalind variety is intended for cultivation in the following regions of the Russian Federation:

• Central;
• Volgo-Vyatsky;
• Central Black Earth;
• North Caucasian;
• East Siberian.

Advantages and disadvantages

The variety has many more advantages than disadvantages:

• frost resistance;
• adaptation to any climatic conditions;
• high commodity value;
• excellent taste;
• amicable maturation;
• early ripeness;
• keeping quality;
• disease resistance;
• the ability to get two harvests per season.

Disadvantage: predisposition to late blight of tubers and tops.

Features of planting and growing

The culture is undemanding to the type and composition of the soil, but better results can be achieved when grown on light soils (sandy loam, loamy) rich in organic matter and minerals.

Planting care - traditional, provides for moderate watering, loosening the beds, weeding, and fertilizing.

Preparing for landing

Germination of tubers before landing allows you to shorten the germination period and increase productivity. The seed material is taken out of storage into the light, treated with disinfecting solutions with potassium permanganate, copper sulfate, “Fitosporin” and left in a bright room at a temperature above +14°C. Under such conditions, seedlings appear in about 14 days.

24 hours before planting, potatoes are soaked in growth stimulants “Epin”, “Zircon”, “Potain”, “Stimpo”, “Regoplant” according to the instructions on the package.

Soil requirements

The area chosen for planting potatoes is prepared in the fall. The soil is dug up, harrowed, loosened and humus added. In spring, the ground is sown with green manure plants: rye, lupine, peas, flax, wheat, oats.

After a month, the seedlings are mowed down and buried shallowly in the ground. Rotted plants loosen the soil, saturate it with oxygen and nutrients and inhibit the growth of pathogenic microflora.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

The timing of planting depends on climatic and weather conditions. In the regions of the middle zone, planting work is carried out in early May, in the southern regions - at the end of April, in the northern regions - in mid-late May.

Prepared seeds are planted with seedlings upward to a depth of 8–10 cm with an interval of 30 cm. The distance between rows is 70 cm.

Holes for a shovel are formed on the site, a handful of wood ash and superphosphate is added to each. The top is covered with earth, the beds are leveled, but not compacted.

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Care

Rules for caring for potatoes:

1. Watering. Rosalind responds gratefully to moderate watering, increasing productivity. In regions with a temperate climate, rainwater is sufficient; in the southern regions, plantings are watered manually or through a drip irrigation system once every 10–12 days. During drought, the frequency of watering is doubled.
2. Mulching. Covering the beds with straw, hay, sawdust, and pine needles retains moisture in the soil and stops the growth of weeds.
3. Loosening and weeding. The procedures are carried out without fail. The beds are loosened after each watering to prevent the formation of a hard crust. Weeding is carried out regularly, preventing weeds from taking root.
4. Hilling. This is a standard potato care procedure that should not be neglected. The first hilling is carried out after the sprouts reach 10 cm, the second - after flowering.
5. Feeding. Potatoes are fed with fertilizers with a minimum nitrogen content, with an emphasis on mineral compositions.

The table shows an approximate scheme for applying fertilizing.

Disease and pest control

Rosalind potatoes are susceptible to late blight of tops and tubers. The spread of the fungus is facilitated by excessive soil moisture and low air temperature. Timely preventive measures will help prevent infection:

• control of nitrogen levels in the soil;
• compliance with crop rotation rules;
• cleaning weeds and potato tops;
• disinfection of tubers in potassium permanganate, “Oxigumate”, “Fitosporin-M”;
• fertilizing with potassium and phosphorus;
• treatment of plants with Bordeaux mixture, whey with iodine.

At the first symptoms of infection, the potato tops are cut off and the bushes are sprayed with Oxychom, Ridomil, Gamair, Metaxil, Bravo, and Planriz. At the stage of tuber formation, the bushes are irrigated once with Alufit.

The fight against wireworms is carried out using:

• insecticides “Aktara”, “Bazudin”, “Prestige”, “Diazinon”, “Grom”, “Gromoboy”, “Zemlin”;
• adding onion peels to each well;
• watering the bushes with herbal infusion: 200 g of nettle, 100 g of dandelion and coltsfoot, 50 g of celandine per 5 liters of warm water - leave for 24 hours.

To destroy the Colorado potato beetle, which loves to crunch juicy potato tops, use the highly effective drug “Prestige”. It contains the fungicide pencycuron, the insecticide imidacloprid. The tubers are soaked in the prepared solution before planting.

Ladybugs and dragonflies are attracted to the site; beans, nasturtium, marigolds, and valerian are planted. According to gardeners, all this together is highly effective.

There is another interesting way to combat Colorado insects - their own poison contained in the bodies of insects. A jar with a capacity of 0.5 liters is completely filled with beetles and larvae, then poured into a 10 liter bucket, filled to the brim with water, tightly closed with a lid, and left for 4-7 days. The infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2 and sprayed on the plants.

Important! Wear rubber gloves and protective clothing.

Collection, storage and use of crops

The first potato harvest is carried out in July.The tubers fully ripen at the end of August. The variety does not have high yields, but at the same time it has an attractive presentation.

The collected tubers are cleaned of soil and left to dry in the shade for 3-4 days. Then they are sorted, rejecting damaged ones with signs of rot.

The harvest is stored in the cellar at a temperature of +2...+3°C and air humidity of 70-80%. On a balcony or loggia, potatoes are stored in double boxes made of wood or plastic, which are inserted into each other. Foam plastic is placed in the gaps for insulation purposes.

Tubers can be stored in large boxes insulated with a foil screen. The container is placed on a hill so that the bottom does not touch the cold floor in winter.

In specialized stores, heated “balcony cellars” are presented to customers. They look like large hiking backpacks, are powered by electricity and can withstand temperatures down to -40°C.

Rosalind has a bright taste and attractive presentation due to its red peel and yellow pulp. The moderate starch content allows you to cook from these potatoes boiled, fried, stewed, baked dishes. The tubers do not darken when cooked.

Nuances of cultivation and possible difficulties

Even beginners do not have any difficulties when growing this variety. The plant adapts to any type of soil.

In addition to the traditional method of growing potatoes, the Dutch method is used. For planting, choose an area with a deep arable layer, since the tubers are planted to a depth of 10-15 cm. The first shoots are immediately earthed up. As soon as the shoots appear above the surface, the procedure is repeated.

The row spacing is 70-80 cm, the gap between holes is 25-35 cm.

Advantages of the method:

1. The tubers are located above the soil level, since soil from the rows is used for hilling.
2. The ridges receive enough solar heat and oxygen.
3. During periods of prolonged rains, the bushes do not die from excess moisture, the water flows into the aisles.
4. During drought, a sufficient amount of moisture is retained in the ridges.

Planting care is standard and includes watering, loosening, weeding, and fertilizing. To remove weeds, herbicides “Titus”, “Centurion”, “Lazurit” are used.

The area is watered three times a season: before flowering, 10 days after flowering.

Tips and reviews

Experienced gardeners speak positively about the Rosalind variety and share tips on growing it.

Taras, Pavlovsk: «I have been growing Rosalind potatoes for a long time. The variety is liked for its ease of care, long shelf life and the possibility of early harvesting. The tubers are all as picked, aligned, medium in size. When cooked, the skin does not crack and the flesh does not fall apart. I use bone meal for feeding. It supports flowering and promotes the rapid formation of tubers.”

Daria, Vyazma: “I’ve been planting Rosalind for three years in a row. I purchased the seeds from a local farmer and really liked the appearance. Caring for bushes is no different from caring for other varieties of potatoes. I prefer to plant the tubers not deeply - 5 cm deep, with the sprouts facing up. I know that potatoes like to breathe. I throw a few beans into the hole to stimulate plant growth and repel beetles.”

Read also:

Early ripening table potato variety "Colette".

Potatoes in the fight against hemorrhoids.

A young but promising German potato variety, Krona.

Conclusion

Rosalind potatoes have been highly praised for their excellent taste and almost simultaneous ripening of tubers, which are formed in large quantities on one bush. They are distinguished by uniformity in size and weight, excellent presentation and long shelf life.

The crop withstands short-term frosts and adapts to any climatic conditions and soil type. The variety cannot boast of high productivity, but attracts with stable ripening on time. Gardeners prefer Rosalind because of the ability to harvest two crops.