Potatoes Fantasy - description of the variety
The Fantasy variety (Red Fantasy) belongs to the mid-season table varieties. And they are the most common in the world based on statistics on the amount of potatoes consumed per year. This variety has a high content of vitamin C and a high content of starch.
With proper agricultural cultivation techniques, proper care and maintenance, about 45 tons of this potato can be harvested from one hectare. On average, one bush bears 11 fruits.
There are more than 4,500 varieties of potatoes in the world
For reference! Some online catalogs list the Red Review potato variety and its characteristics. In fact, it is Fantasia that is described and sold under this name.
Ripening time and yield
Potatoes have two ripening periods. The first term is called technical. This is the time during which potatoes gain the required mass, vitamin and mineral composition. As a rule, potatoes must be harvested just at the onset of technical maturity.
After the vegetable has been dug from the depths of the earth, it must be given time to rest and acquire taste. The time from the moment of harvesting until the potato can be consumed is considered the period during which the potato reaches full ripening.
The Fantasia variety has a technical ripening period of 95 days. The period of full ripening lasts up to 130 days from the moment the tubers are planted.
Disease resistance
Fantasia has strong immunity and resistance to many diseases. It resists cancer well and is weakly susceptible to nematodes. Less resistant to diseases such as late blight of tops and fruits, as well as ring rot.
Characteristics of tubers, description of appearance
Fantasia tubers have smooth edges and a slightly elongated, oval shape. The potatoes are medium in size. Basically, root vegetables fit wonderfully in the hand of an adult.
There are eyes on the surface of the potato. Their depth is no more than 4 mm. The smooth peel has a pronounced pink color, which exactly corresponds to the Latin name of the Red Fantasy variety. And the potato pulp has a yellowish tint. The weight of one fruit is about 110 g.
Potato tubers of the Fantasia variety
For which regions is it suitable, climate requirements?
This variety is suitable for cultivation in any territory of Russia. Its main feature is drought resistance. It tolerates sharp fluctuations in air temperatures well, but does not tolerate frost on the soil.
It can be grown in any region of Russia, you just need to calculate the planting time correctly. In the southern regions this can be done at the beginning of May, and in the northern regions - no earlier than the middle or even the end of the month.
Note! Before planting, it is recommended to make sure that the threat of frost has passed.
Taste qualities
Fantasia potatoes have good taste characteristics. Tasters rate this variety 8 points. Fantasia is suitable not only for stewing and frying, but also for preparing tender and airy puree. Refers to non-brewed or slightly boiled varieties.
Video review of the Red Fantasy variety
Fans of red-skinned potatoes will certainly appreciate a promising Dutch variety called Red Fantasy.
Large elongated tubers have excellent commercial quality, the pulp is rich in proteins and vitamins.
Potatoes of this variety are popular among buyers; they are perfect for personal consumption or the preparation of semi-finished products in industrial conditions.
In the article you will find not only a detailed description of the variety, but also get acquainted with its characteristics and cultivation characteristics, find out what diseases potatoes are susceptible to and how they resist pest attacks.
The main advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Fantasy has many advantages:
- High yields.
- Does not change the color of the pulp during heat treatment.
- Has high taste characteristics.
- At least 95% of the harvest is marketable.
- The optimal starch content allows this variety to be used for preparing baby food.
- It is resistant to many diseases, including cancer and late blight.
- Has a long shelf life.
- The variety is drought-resistant.
- Unpretentious to soil composition.
- Withstands sharp fluctuations in air temperatures.
Potatoes Fantasia have a lot of advantages
The variety has practically no disadvantages. The most important thing is to water the plants on time, treat them against pests and common diseases, and also apply fertilizers in a timely manner.
Diseases and pests
The Red Fantasy potato variety is resistant to many dangerous diseases : potato blight, golden cyst nematode, common scab, blackleg.
Not susceptible to many viruses, for example, leaf curl or tobacco mosaic. Early ripening makes plants less susceptible to late blight.
For greater safety, pre-planting treatment of tubers and soil is necessary . At the peak of late blight, you can carry out a single spraying with copper-containing preparations.
Planting and growing Fantasy potatoes
In order to get a bountiful potato harvest with high marketability, you should take into account some features when planting. Tubers intended for germination must be healthy, with smooth edges, medium or large. It is not possible to grow large potatoes from small planting material.
Preparing for landing
Since the variety is mid-season, it does not need to be germinated if it is planted in the southern regions of the country. But, for cultivation in central and northern Russia, experienced agronomists advise germinating this variety.
The procedure will allow you to get an earlier and more abundant harvest. In order to germinate tubers, it is recommended to place them in a room with good ventilation and sunlight. The optimal temperature for germination is 18-20°C.
Attention! After the first sprouts appear on the tubers, it is recommended to carefully turn the potatoes towards the daylight on their side, on which there are still no sprouts.
Sprouted potatoes are ready for planting when the length of the sprouts is 4 mm and they acquire a dark color.
Tubers should be germinated before planting
Soil requirements
Soil with weak acidity is most suitable for growing potatoes. If acidity levels are very high, liming is used.
When planting potatoes, you should know at what distance from the surface the groundwater flows. If necessary, before planting, the ground is dug up and a drainage layer is added to it, which may consist of expanded clay, pebbles or fine crushed stone.
Autumn plowing of the soil will allow the latter not only to be saturated with the applied fertilizers, but also with air. Oxygen loosens the soil well, making it lighter. Also, during the autumn digging of the site, you can remove many weeds.
Important! In autumn it is recommended to apply fertilizers. As a rule, when preparing the soil for planting potatoes, organic fertilizers are used. This could be compost, manure, ash, bird droppings, etc.
Dates, scheme and rules of planting
The most common method of planting potatoes is the “shovel” method. The optimal distance between planting material in one row is 30 cm. The distance between rows should be at least 70 cm.
Features of growing crops
Planting material can be purchased at the market or in a specialized store. You can also use your own tubers from a previous harvest. The main rule is to select quality material. The word “quality” means healthy tubers of average weight (about 80 g), without any visible defects (growths, rot, spots, insect holes, etc.). Also, before planting, it is recommended to treat the seed material with special pesticides to protect the crop from damage by insects and fungal diseases. If the soil is heavy and it is very difficult for the crop to develop, growth stimulants can be used.
Planting begins only when the soil warms up to +10 degrees Celsius to a depth of at least 10 cm.
The landing pattern is standard. Rows are made with a hole distance of 35-40 cm. Row spacing is made from 60 to 70 cm. Such a large distance between rows is necessary for several reasons:
- Firstly, during hilling the neighboring rows will not interfere.
- Secondly, the plants will not shade each other, contributing to better illumination of the crop.
- Thirdly, artificial aeration will be observed, due to which the risk of plant disease is reduced.
Planting depth is up to 10 cm. This is if the soil on the site is light. If the soil is heavy, then the depth of the tuber should not exceed 5 cm. Also, if there is a lack of organic matter, it is recommended to add a little wood ash (or humus) to each hole.
The basis of caring for Red Fantasy potatoes is watering, hilling, loosening the soil and clearing it of weeds. These are fairly simple agrotechnical procedures that any summer resident (even a beginner) can handle.
When watering, it is not necessary to follow any rules. It is enough to water the crop during severe droughts. Experienced gardeners water potatoes with a drip irrigation system. If it is not possible to construct it, then you can water it in any convenient way. It is only important that the soil is slightly moist and the crop does not suffer from lack of moisture.
Of the nuances, it is worth noting that it is undesirable to water potatoes after flowering, since at this time the late blight fungus is activated, for which moisture is an ideal propagation medium. Moreover, after flowering, the tubers enter the ripening phase (starch accumulates, a dense shell is formed) and do not develop much. Therefore, they do not need water.
In addition, do not forget about hilling. This is the most important agrotechnical procedure, thanks to which the yield increases by 20-30%. This is achieved because after hilling the bush forms additional stolons, and tubers, in turn, appear on them. Also, hilling helps loosen the soil, clear the area of weeds and form a bush (making it less spreading).
You need to loosen the soil as often as possible. After watering or rainfall, the soil becomes very compacted. This affects the culture in at least 2 negative factors:
- Firstly, the penetration of oxygen into the soil deteriorates.
- Secondly, the tuber develops worse in hard soil.
Therefore, it is advisable to carry out loosening after watering and precipitation.
As for weeds, they have a depressing effect on the crop. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically weed the garden, clearing it of weeds.
Victoria Ivanovna, Rostov, 32 years old.
At one time I lived in the city, in an apartment, and never encountered a vegetable garden. Three years ago I got married, and my husband has his own house and plot. Grows potatoes, tomatoes, etc. Despite the fact that I am a “city girl,” I like to tinker in the garden and watch our tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. grow. In general, we also plant potatoes. My husband has been cultivating Red Fantasy for several years. What can I say, even I, with my little experience, can grow a good harvest from Fantasy. The tubers are large and even in shape. It is also good in cooking, especially if you cook puree.
Dmitry Nikolaevich, Kharkov, 59 years old.
We mainly grow Gypsy, I like both the taste and appearance. In addition, a small area was allocated for Red Fantasy. Quite a good variety too. The taste is not particularly inferior to Gypsy. Among the shortcomings, I can note that sometimes there are potatoes with moiré red and white flesh. If such tubers are used in puree, it will have a slightly grayish tint.
Larisa Ivanovna, 53 years old, Kyiv.
I liked the variety. It is boiled, but at the same time goes well in soups and for frying. In terms of cultivation, it is also quite unpretentious.
Every year more and more potato varieties appear with excellent characteristics. And, of course, this makes me happy. Now, in order to get “a whole carload of benefits”, it is not necessary to make incredible efforts - just choose the right variety. If you dream of planting potatoes that will produce consistently high yields, but do not require strict control, then Red Fantasy is what you need! Let's get acquainted with this wonderful “invention” of Dutch breeders.
"Red Fantasy" is a mid-early table variety. Inscribed in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2011. Recommended for cultivation in the Central and Volga-Vyatka region. Potatoes reach full maturity 100-110 days after planting. Erect, tall bushes are covered with light green leaves with pronounced veins. Small corollas consist of pink-violet flowers.
The roots are strong and well developed. Up to 12 large tubers are formed under each bush. The root crops are as chosen - even, neat, of the same color and size.
How to properly care for the variety
The Fantasy variety is not too demanding in care and maintenance. But there are still some features, the observance of which will allow you to grow a more abundant and high-quality harvest.
It is not recommended to over-water the soil in which potatoes grow. Excessive moisture in the soil leads to rotting of tubers and the occurrence of fungal diseases. Moreover, this variety has high drought resistance.
Features of watering
During the entire growing season, potatoes need abundant watering no more than 4 times.
- The first watering is carried out a week after planting.
- The second abundant supply of moisture should occur when the height of the tops reaches 10-15 cm.
- The third watering is carried out during the formation of buds.
- Fourth after flowering.
Feeding and fertilizing
When growing potatoes, it is recommended to apply fertilizer no more than 3 times.
The first feeding is carried out with the appearance of the first ground shoots. During this period, 1 glass of humus is added to each bush.
When the period of bud formation begins, the plants are fertilized with ash. And during the flowering period, it is recommended to add superphosphate to the soil.
Hilling and weeding
Hilling and weeding are integral processes in agricultural technology for growing potatoes.
Fantasia needs regular weeding. This will avoid the attack of many diseases and pests. Hilling is carried out about 10 times. It is recommended to spud the fantasy once every 14 days. This will help maintain the shape of the bush and protect the crop from pests.
Reviews from gardeners
The variety is very good. What I like most is that the tubers are large and neat and have good immunity to many diseases. They have high commercial characteristics and are stored for a long time. For me, Red Fantasy is the best potato to sell.
What I like most is that the potatoes don’t get overcooked and turn into mush when cooked. Pleasant in color and taste. Easy to clean. The dishes made from it are very tasty.
I love this variety. Potatoes are large, beautiful, tasty. The only thing is, when planting, leave the bushes more free space. Red fantasy produces tall, wide bushes that need space for rapid development.
I didn't like the variety. I don't know why everyone is talking about large tuber sizes. One little thing is growing on me. The taste is really good. But for me the most important thing is the mass of potatoes. So Red Fantasy did not pass the “professional aptitude test”.
How to harvest and store crops
To avoid damage to the crop, you need to be able to harvest it correctly. Slightly drooping tops will help you understand that the potatoes can be dug up. Before harvesting, it is recommended to mow the tops, at the same time removing all weeds from the area.
Attention! Harvesting is best done in the morning. To give the potatoes time to dry.
Most often, shovels or pitchforks are used to collect potatoes. In order to minimize damage to the tubers, it is recommended to dig up the bush with a pitchfork and free it from the remaining soil with your hands.
It is better to immediately remove dug up tubers from sunlight, as they can get burned.
Storage features and shelf life of the Fantasy variety
Tubers damaged during harvest should not be stored with other potatoes.
Firstly, the shelf life of damaged tubers is significantly different, and secondly, they can be carriers of various diseases, including fungal ones.
The harvest is stored in a dark, cool room, in a well-ventilated container, for example, in wooden boxes.
The harvest is stored in a well-ventilated container
