High-yielding potato variety "Ermak" with pinkish skin

Gardeners value the Ermak potato variety for its early ripening, high yield, presentation of tubers and excellent taste. This variety was once widespread not only in Russia, but throughout the world and was valued among farmers no less than the famous Dutch varieties. In the 21st century, the popularity of Ermak has decreased somewhat, but it is still loved by adherents of traditional and proven agricultural crops.

The article will tell you what kind of variety this is, what features it has and how to grow it correctly.

Description of the variety

Ermak is a domestic potato variety introduced to the State Register of the Russian Federation back in 1978. Refers to early ripening, table varieties.

Origin and development

Ermak - an improved version of the elite Early Rose tubers. The painstaking work of domestic breeders led to the production of an improved Ermak. It is under this name that the variety is listed in the State Register.

Reference. A few years later, an unknown farmer grew tubers of unprecedented size on his plot. Potatoes originating from this population were nicknamed Lapot.

Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins

Potatoes have significant nutritional value and low starch content - 10-12%. Composition includes:

• vitamins A, K, B, E and carotene;
• macroelements – potassium, calcium, iron, copper, manganese.

Low starch content determines the friability of the pulp of tubers. Potatoes acquire excellent taste and good keeping quality.

Characteristics of tubers, description of appearance and yield

The following parameters will help describe the Ermak variety:

1. Tubers. The peel is pink, the flesh is white with reddish clear dots. The weight of each fruit is 90-117 g.
2. Bushes. Erect, sparsely covered with leaves. The flowers are pale purple. One bush produces up to 15 medium-sized potatoes.
3. Productivity. The volume of the harvest depends on the quality of care. From 350 to 470 centners are collected from 1 hectare.

Important! After heat treatment and cleaning, the pulp does not darken. Tubers are suitable for boiling, frying, stewing. The variety is not suitable for making purees due to its low starch content.

For which regions is it best suited?

Ermak recommended for cultivation in the West Siberian District. But there are no restrictions for other regions and CIS countries.

What is the difference from other varieties

Ermak is frost-resistant and generally unpretentious to weather conditions. It is noticeably inferior to modern varieties in terms of weight and number of tubers formed, and level of immunity.

The main advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the advantages of the Ermak variety:

• high taste and marketability of tubers;
• good yield;
• heat and frost resistance;
• high shelf life – up to 93%;
• suitability for long-term transportation and storage;
• versatility of application.

Flaws:

• low immunity - the variety is moderately protected from late blight and common scab, suffers from potato cancer and golden nematodes;
• low starch content, making it unsuitable for purees.

Advantages helped the Ermaku variety spread in Siberia and neighboring countries. But to obtain the best yield indicators, attention is required: regular fertilizing and hilling.

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Features of planting and growing

Ermak is planted in the traditional way in open areas, garden beds. Be sure to take into account crop rotation and predecessors: the best are legumes, pumpkins, green manure.

Preparing for landing

Activities include choice equipment, preparation of soil and planting material:

1. Tool. Planting is done using markers, planters or cones. This will allow you to create even grooves and ensure easy maintenance. Hedgehog cultivators, walk-behind tractors, and special plows are used to form ridges.
2. Planting material. 3-4 weeks before planting, select healthy, undamaged tubers. Healthy seeds are sorted by size. Selected tubers are germinated: laid out in a lighted room with a temperature of 12-16°C. Afterwards, large potatoes can be cut into two or four parts, leaving 2-3 eyes.
3. The soil. The variety loves loose chernozem soils supplemented with sand. Before planting, add a shovel of humus, 2-3 g of phosphorus-potassium mixture, and a glass of wood ash into each hole.

Seed material must be soaked in a disinfectant solution before planting. (1% potassium permanganate, boric acid or “Fitosporin”), liquid fertilizer (400 g of superphosphate and 400 g of nitrate in 10 liters of water), activators “Zircon”, “Agate”, “Sprostok”, “Heteroauxin”.

Important. Preparatory measures will speed up the formation of tubers and increase the yield by 10-20%.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

Ermak planting time depends on the region:

• in areas with a temperate climate - this is the first half of May;
• in the southern regions - mid-April;
• in Siberia and the Urals - mid or late May.

Weather conditions and natural clues are excellent helpers when choosing a planting date. Many vegetable growers claim that the appearance of a greenish haze on birch trees signals the start of work.

Planting scheme: distance between rows - 70-75 cm, between holes - 30-35 cm. Planting depth depends on the type of soil: in loose, light soil - 8-10 cm, loam and dense chernozem - 6-8 cm, heavy clay - 5- 6 cm. If spring is hot and dry, then the seed planting depth is increased by 2-3 cm. If it is rainy, then reduced by 3-4 cm.

Features of cultivation

They include proper planting care. Ermak is a variety with low immunity and additionally requires regular hilling and fertilization.. Simultaneously with watering, fertilizing and pest control, it is necessary to loosen the top layer of soil and remove weeds.

Loosening will ensure breathing for the root system, and weed control will minimize the appearance of harmful insects.

Watering mode

Ermak does not require regular watering. It is not one of those varieties that quickly die without liquid. Water procedures are required only before the first hilling and during the formation of inflorescences. If the summer turns out to be dry, artificial irrigation with drip systems is used.

For maximum results, follow a number of rules:

1. Avoid watering until the tops appear. Perform the first water procedures when the bushes have reached 10 cm in height.
2. After flowering begins, water a second time.
3. After the flowers disappear, water a third time.

Watering is stopped after flowering, when the ripening phase begins.. If overhydrated, Ermak's weak immunity may not be able to resist diseases.

Top dressing

Adding nutrients can increase yield by 20-25%. Experienced farmers use:

1. Biological infusions of herbs with chicken droppings and ash: dilute 1 part of weeds (burdock, nettle, dandelions, gooseberry) and 1 part of chicken droppings in 2 parts of water.
2. An infusion of mullein, droppings and wood ash.
3. Complex compositions “Ammophos”, “Nitroammofoska” - use strictly according to the instructions.

Important! The frequency of fertilization depends on the type of soil and the preferences of the farmer. The universal feeding regime is three times a season during the period of sprout formation, flowering, and tuber development.

Disease and pest control

Ermak is weak in front of potato cancer and nematode, is attacked by the Colorado potato beetle. Potato cancer is easy to detect: the leaves are covered with a bubble mesh. Methods of combating diseases include the use of drugs "Ridomil Gold", "Quadris", "Previkur", "Alyette".

Unand will help to kill the Colorado potato beetle and its larvae spraying tops with “Commander”, “Mospilan”, “Confidora”, “Regent”, “Prestige”. Biological products are less dangerous for bushes - “Agravertin” and “Fitoverm” have proven themselves positively.

Prevention and control methods for diseases:

1. Before flowering, spray the plantings with Ridomil Gold, Quadris, Previkur, and Alyette. Repeat the procedure after two weeks.
2. If fungal damage to the stems is detected, treat with systemic fungicides.
3. Remove diseased plants and burn them.

Attention! Negligence towards the above-ground parts of potatoes can lead to the destruction of the crop.To prevent the plant from attracting pests with its juicy greens, it is enough to plant calendula, marigolds, basil, garlic, celandine, and tobacco between the rows to repel the beetles.

Prevention and control methods with Colorado beetles:

• treat the bushes with “Fundazol”, “Fitosporin”, “Gamair” or “Alirn”;
• collect adults and larvae by hand into special containers;
• Weed the area in a timely manner.

The Ermak variety has an even more unpleasant enemy. This is a golden potato nematode that lives on the root system. By attacking the roots, these small worms prevent the stems and roots from developing normally. The bushes turn yellow, wither, and do not bloom. During harvesting, small rotten tubers are found in the hole or they are completely absent.

Fight with nematode will help chemical preparations “Bazudin”, “Nematicide”, “Nemabakt”, “BI-58”.

Attention! The nematode is a quarantine pest that poses harm and danger to humans. If large lesions are detected, you should immediately contact the phytosanitary service.

Harvest and storage

The timing depends on the subsequent use of potatoes. For immediate consumption, potatoes begin to be dug two weeks after the end of flowering. For winter storage, the crop is harvested in mid-August.

How and when to collect

Optimal timing: 35 days after flowering endswhen the tops turn yellow and dry. A week before harvest, the stems are trimmed.

Tubers are dug up using a shovel or pitchfork; it is better to burn the tops. After digging, they are dried in a ventilated, shaded place for 2-3 days, then sorted, immediately put aside for sowing next year.

Storage features and keeping quality of the variety

Dried potatoes are placed in sand boxes or fabric bags and transferred for storage to the cellar, where the temperature should be from 0 to +4°C, and humidity - 70-85%. Ermak has good shelf life - up to 93%. Therefore, the tubers remain fresh and firm until spring.

What difficulties may there be when growing

There will be no particular difficulties when growing Ermak. But difficulties appear at the stage of bush growth, when the risk of infection with potato cancer and golden nematode is high. Here it is worth carefully monitoring the plantings and observing crop rotation.

Many summer residents consider preparing seed material a labor-intensive process. But The volume of the harvest will depend on the quality of measures for disinfection and germination of tubers.

Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews about the Ermak variety

Farmers recommend timely implementation of care measures, choose only high-quality planting material. Be sure to mow the tops before harvesting. The procedure will allow the tubers to ripen better and accumulate more nutrients.

Reviews about Ermak are positive:

Ekaterina, Krasnoyarsk: “My family really loves potatoes. Therefore, we tried many varieties. For the last time I decided to plant domestic Ermak. The results were pleasing - the tubers were large, tasty and soft. But I couldn't make the puree. Among the shortcomings, I would like to note the weakness in relation to the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle. I had to treat it with Gamair several times. I give it a solid 4 out of 5".

Ivan, Tambov: “I’ve been growing Ermak for a very long time. Delicious and large tubers are pleasing. I would like to note that without careful care and fertilizing, the yield and quality are noticeably reduced. Because of cancer, about a dozen bushes had to be destroyed.If you don't have time to grow this variety, it's worth trying something else.".

Conclusion

Ermak potatoes are a decent variety with good yield and keeping quality. But it needs attention: timely feeding, loosening, hilling.

Do not forget about observing crop rotation - this will help protect plants from infection by fungi and nematodes. Preventive treatment of bushes will also reduce the risk of disease development and pest attacks.