Red LaSoda Guide

Description
Tuber Shape Round to Oval
Eyes Medium Depth evenly distributed eyes
Skin Red
Flesh White
Plant Medium sized spreading vine with large lavender flowers
Red LaSoda is an medium-maturing, fresh market red potato released around 1952 by the Lousiana Agricultural Experiment Station. It is considered good for baking and boiling and ranks high in taste tests.

Plant/roots This cultivar is medium emerging with a medium vine and lavender flowers. Red LaSoda has a determinate growth habit and a large, extensive root system.

Tubers are white fleshed, oval and smooth with a deep red skin color; eyes are Medium Depth and well distributed; low specific gravity.

Yields potential 450 to 500 cwt. range.

GROWING SEASON MANAGEMENT

Pre-planting considerations Tubers have a medium dormancy; either single drop or cut seed is acceptable. When using cut seed, be aware of the potential for serious seed piece decay caused by Erwinia bacteria. Adequate warming of seed prior to planting is essential to obtain uniform emergence. Relatively close seed spacing may help optimize yield and tuber size. Plant seed 4 inches deep with a good hill cover. Since Red LaSoda has a relatively fast growth rate, later planting dates may be selected without compromising yield potential. However, the time required for skin set can be a week longer than other cultivars.

Fertility (soil test basis; lbs/acre)

Apply total fertilizer in the following range: N(l30-160#), P(l20-200#), K(O-60#). Performance in alkaline soils is poor. Pre-plant incorporated N should be from 90 to 100#. Early season N applications do not adversely affect the timing of tuberization. Sprinkler applied N should be in the 40 to 60# range at a rate of 20# per application.

Irrigation Irrigation interval at the maximum ET is 3 days. Drought and heat tolerance is good. Water use drops dramatically during vine maturation, so careful monitoring is essential to prevent late season overwatering and potential tuber decay caused by Pythium and Phytophthora.

Pest control

Weeds Competition against weeds is good.

Insects Standard insect control measures generally are effective.

Fungicides Control of foliar early blight usually requires two to four fungicide applications.

Tuber/bulking Tuber set is moderate and localized evenly in the hill. Tuberization occurs early and tubers bulk at a rapid rate early in the season. Tubers are resistant to second growth and slightly susceptible to hollow heart, growth cracks.

Vine kill Average days from planting to vine kill are 80 to 100. Vine killing is required in most years; can be easily accomplished once mature. Adequate skin set occurs within 18 to 26 days. Oversized tubers can be a problem so carefully monitor the crop after the first week of August.

STORAGE MANAGEMENT

Red LaSoda stores well with few problems and sprouting is minimal. Growers have observed that Red LaSoda's red color tends to fade during long-term storage.

DISEASE REACTION

Overall disease problems are minimal. This variety is widely adapted to grow well in North and South regions. Erwinia caused bacterial soft rot can be a problem in storage if foliage blackleg incidence is high.

Field Storage
Foliar early blight: Moderate Resistant Tuber early blight Moderate Resistant
Verticillium wilt: Moderate Resistant Bacterial soft rot Moderately Susceptible
Blackleg Susceptible Fusarium dry rot Moderatley Susceptible
Seedpiece decay Moderate Leak (Pythium) Susceptible
Leafroll virus Moderately Resistant Pink rot (Phytophthora) Susceptible
Leafroll Net necrosis Resistant Silver scurf Susceptible
PVY, PVX Moderately Resistant Rhizoctonia scurf Moderate Susceptible
Bacterial ring rot Susceptible
Common Scab Moderately Resistant


Disease reaction ratings susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderate, moderately resistant and resistant.

Note: This information should only be used as a guide. Adjustments for local conditions must always be made.