What is good about the German potato variety “Zekura”: description, characteristics and reviews

It is impossible to imagine traditional Russian cuisine without potatoes. This is our second bread, like rice for the Chinese. Often, in pursuit of high yields, farmers forget about taste, giving preference to new super-productive varieties. The German variety Zekura has all the properties of a high-quality crop - it has a wonderful taste and high yield. The tubers contain the optimal amount of starch (13–18%) and are suitable for any culinary experiments.

Description of the variety and its origin

Zekura is a mid-early variety from German breeders of the Solana company. Potatoes were included in the State Register of Russia in 1997.

Hold a patent for the sale of seed material:

• CJSC "Samara-Solana";
• ZAO "Oktyabrskoye";
• CJSC "Prinevskoye Breeding Plant";
• LLC "Agrofirma KRIMM";
• Elite Potato LLC;
• FGBNU "VNII Potato Farming named after. A.G. Lorha";
• BRANCH OF FSBI "Rosselkhoztsentr in the Irkutsk region";
• Biolab LLC;
• FGBNU "Samara Research Institute of Agriculture" named after. N.M. Tulaikova";
• Molyanov Agro Group LLC;
• SPK "Plemzavod "Detskoselsky"

The photo shows Zekura potatoes.

In the table - description and characteristics of the plant.

How to grow a variety on the site

Zekura potatoes were bred specifically for cultivation in European countries, therefore, it shows the best results in the regions of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia. During the experiment, it was possible to find out that the variety quickly adapts to different climates and soil types, due to which it is successfully cultivated in areas with cold climates.

Zekura resistant to drought and tolerates excessive soil moisture. The plant is characterized by being unpretentious in care. It responds to moderate watering and fertilizing by increasing productivity.

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Dates, scheme and rules of planting

Zekura has enviable resistance to most nightshade diseases, therefore there is no need to treat the tubers before germination. But for preventive purposes, gardeners soak the seeds in a pink solution of potassium permanganate and Fitosporin, and 24 hours before planting they treat them with Epin or Zircon to stimulate growth.

Selected the area is dug up before planting, harrow and fertilize with mullein - 10 liters per 1 m². The planting time depends on climatic conditions.In the southern regions, planting work begins in late April, in the middle zone - in the first ten days of May, in the north - in the middle or at the end of May. The optimal soil temperature is +10…+12°C.

Plant has a powerful rhizome, so the tubers are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm. Planting depth is 10 cm on sandy and sandy loam soils, and 6-8 cm on loam and chernozem.

Care

The bushes can withstand dry periods, but long-term lack of moisture is detrimental to them. The best solution is to organize drip irrigation on the site. This is especially true for the southern regions of the country. In temperate climate areas, plantings are watered as needed.

Loosening and weeding are carried out during the period of active growth of green mass. To do this, use saps, hoes, and flat cutters in small areas. Industrial potato growing is not complete without cultivators and walk-behind tractors, which greatly facilitate the care of plantings.

Hilling is a mandatory procedure to protect the tubers from the cold, saturate the rhizome with oxygen, facilitating access to nutrients. The first hilling is carried out after the appearance of sprouts 10–15 cm high, the second – after 2–3 weeks.

The originator did not provide recommendations for applying fertilizers, so farmers focus on the standard scheme:

Nuances of cultivation and possible difficulties

To successfully grow potatoes on a plot, it is recommended to observe crop rotation.. The best crop predecessors: cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, onions, garlic, beets, peas, beans, lupine, flax, wheat, rye, oats.

The Zekura variety is prone to degenerationTherefore, timely renewal of planting material (once every 7–8 years) guarantees high yield and marketability of tubers.

In addition to traditional cultivation, in practice Vladimir Kartelev’s method is often used. A famous scientist and agronomist suggests cultivating potatoes without tillage. Instead of soil, use grass, which serves as an excellent fertilizer and prevents late blight infection.

The cut grass is left to dry outside, then small stacks are formed and stored in the woodshed. In late autumn, the preparations are laid out on the site. You can use hay and straw.

In the spring, 30% of the area is plowed, weeds are removed and even rows with depressions are formed. Manure is placed in the furrows and covered with soil. Next, lay the tubers and beans, sprinkle with wood ash and soil. No need to compact. After the appearance of bushes 10 cm high, hilling is carried out.

Interesting fact. Marie Antoinette used potato flowers as hair decoration. Later, Louis XVI supported her hobby and decorated her boutonniere with them, helping to popularize flowers among French aristocrats.

Diseases and pests

Potato Zekura has strong immunity and is genetically protected from potato cancer, golden nematode, leaf curl virus, late blight of leaves and tubers, glandular spot, viruses A and Y.

The variety has moderate resistance to common scab, but with proper care the fungus has no chance of developing. Scab develops in calcareous and alkaline soil at air temperatures above +25°C. The fungus penetrates the tubers through microcracks in the skin. Hard, rough spots of irregular shape appear on the surface.

Reference. Potato varieties with thin pink skin are susceptible to common scab.

Helps reduce the risk of infection:

• watering the bushes during the period of active growth of tubers;
• deep planting in the ground;
• normalization of soil pH;
• acidification of alkaline soil - 40 g of ammonium sulfate per 10 liters of water;
• pre-planting seed treatment;
• crop rotation;
• minimal use of fresh manure;
• storing potatoes in a cool, dry place.

The danger for potato plantings is wireworm and Colorado potato beetle.

The larvae of the click beetle (wireworm) settle in plant debris. Timely removal of tops and weeds, deep spring plowing of the area and deoxidation of the soil will help get rid of the pest.

To reduce acidity, 500 g of slaked soda or lime and 10 liters of aqueous suspension of wood ash are added per 1 m².

Adding nitrogen-containing fertilizers to the soil will help repel the larvae.:

• 30 g ammonium sulfate or ammonium chloride per 1 m²;
• 20 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 m².

Highly effective against wireworms:

• treatment with chemicals “Aktara”, “Bazudin”, “Prestige”, “Diazinon”, “Grom”, “Gromoboy”, “Zemlin”, biological preparation “Nemabakt”;
• watering the holes with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate before planting;
• adding onion peels to each hole;
• watering the plants 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;
• planting near the beds of marigolds.

Used to repel the Colorado potato beetle:

• dusting bushes with gypsum, lime, corn flour, birch ash;
• spraying with “Corado”, “Commander”, “Bitobaxillin”;
• spraying with infusion of walnuts or sunflower flowers - 100 g of raw materials per 10 liters of water;
• planting garlic, marigolds, nasturtium, calendula, coriander on the plot.

Collection, storage and use of crops

Tubers form almost simultaneously. Selected, large fruits without small items are collected from each bush. Potatoes have an attractive appearance and are aligned in size.

Digging is carried out in dry, warm weather in early September. The tubers are cleared of soil and laid out in an even layer in partial shade to dry. Then the harvest is placed in wooden boxes, nets, burlap and stored in the cellar. The optimal temperature is +3...+4°C, humidity -70-80%.

On the balcony, tubers are stored in boxes insulated with foam plastic or a special foil screen. The containers are placed on elevations so that they do not come into contact with the cold floor. There are special thermal containers on sale that resemble large hiking backpacks. They operate from the mains and maintain optimal storage temperature. In such balcony cellars, the harvest can survive even the coldest winter.

Potato stored until the next season, maintaining its presentation and taste. The product is suitable for preparing mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, stewed, boiled and fried dishes.

Read also:

High-yielding potato variety "Farmer"

Difficult to care for, but productive and tasty variety "Merlot"

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Virtues of culture:

• keeping quality;
• tuber evenness;
• high productivity;
• universal use in cooking;
• strong immunity;
• high adaptive abilities;
• excellent taste.

The variety has no obvious disadvantages. Zekura is deservedly included in the list of the best potato crops.

What regions is it suitable for?

Zekura variety recommended for cultivation in such regions of Russia:

• Volgo-Vyatsky;
• Central Chernozemny;
• North Caucasian;
• Middle Volga;
• West Siberian;
• Far Eastern.

Reviews

Reviews about the Zekura variety are more than positive. The culture is valued for its undemandingness to growing conditions, high productivity and excellent taste.

Valentin, Kirov: “In the summer I move to the dacha and devote all my time to growing vegetables. Every year I set aside a small area for planting potatoes. I consider Zekura one of the best varieties. It is very easy to care for plantings. I water the bushes only when there is a long drought and feed them with humates.”.

Boris, Nizhny Novgorod: “Zekura is a reliable and undemanding variety. The plant practically does not suffer from anything, except that scab appears occasionally. But I immediately throw away the infected tubers, and the spores do not develop in the cellar. In the spring, I soak the tubers in potassium permanganate before planting.”.

Inga, Borisoglebsk: “This amazing German variety has pleased us for many years, remaining on the list of favorites. Tasty and aromatic yellow potatoes cook quickly, but do not turn into mush. We prepare all kinds of dishes from it and store it in the basement until spring. The variety resists most diseases, and we get rid of colorados by treating them with ash or infusion of walnut leaves.”.

Conclusion

Zekura is a high-yielding German variety with strong immunity and an attractive presentation of tubers.The harvested crop is stored in a cool and dry place until the next season without loss of taste. The tubers do not sprout or turn green and are suitable for preparing a variety of dishes.

The crop is undemanding to soil composition, adapts to any weather conditions and withstands short-term drought.