Potato Ermak: variety characteristics, yield, reviews

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 Ermak potato variety

Ermak potatoes were obtained in the 70s of the 20th century by specialists from the Omsk Agrarian University (selection based on the Early Rose variety). The culture passed successful tests, and in 1978 it was included in the State Register under the name “Ermak Improved” (the most promising variety).

Initially, the variety was created for the climatic conditions of Western Siberia (Omsk, Novosibirsk, Tyumen regions). However, potatoes turned out to be unpretentious, so they can be cultivated in the Urals, in the middle zone and in the south of Russia. The culture spread to other countries and took part in international exhibitions.

Main characteristics of the Ermak variety:

• mid-early – 70–90 days;
• table – mass fraction of starch 10–12%;
• tall – 60–80 cm.

Ermak potato bushes are erect and compact, which makes them easier to care for and saves planting area

At the same time, the stems are thick and durable. The leaves are a rich dark green color, with moderate waviness. The corollas are medium-sized, red-violet. It maintains its structure well, does not become overcooked, and does not darken when cut.

The tubers are oval-round, pink, reddish in color. The surface is smooth, the eyes are small and invisible. The pulp is white, with small pink inclusions. According to consumer reviews, the taste is very good.

Important! The marketable yield of root crops is 88–90%.

Growing Ermak potatoes is profitable in most regions

Characteristics and description

general characteristics

Potatoes belong to the table mid-season varieties of domestic selection. The selection time from planting to harvesting depends on weather conditions and ranges from 80 to 95 days.

Description of appearance and photo

• Escape. Potato bushes are dense, low, spreading with white flowers. Medium sized green leaf.
• Roots. The tubers are oval-shaped, large with small eyes and thin skin. Their color is creamy-brown, the flesh is white with excellent taste and does not darken when cut.

Below you will see a photo of this potato variety:

Seeding rate and yield per 1 ha

Potatoes are planted in rows (in furrows), due to the need for hilling. The distance between furrows depends on the processing method. The Ideal variety was originally created for the population, and not for mechanized cultivation on collective farms. With manual care, the row spacing can be reduced to 60 cm, and the distance between bushes in a row is 30 cm.

The seeding rate will be:

• 4 buckets per hundred square meters;
• 28 kg per hundred square meters;
• 2.8 tons per 1 ha.

Taste

Among the Ideal taste assessments there are the following:

• great;
• fabulous;
• real Russian;
• potatoes from childhood.

This explains his longevity.

Chemical composition

The main component of potatoes is starch. Ideal contains from 17 to 20% of it. Starch in any living organism is easily broken down into sugars, including glucose, which is easily digested and nourishes our muscles. Athletes drink glucose solution during marathon running.

Another carbohydrate in potatoes is fiber (cellulose), which is necessary for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The calorie content of potatoes is 77 kcal per 100 g of product.

Potatoes contain few other useful substances, although they include essential amino acids.

Average tuber weight

The average weight of commercial root crops of Ideal ranges from 90 to 120 grams. The tubers are aligned in size. When using intensive technologies, their weight may increase.

Marketability

The marketability of Ideal exceeds 90%. This is a mid-season white table variety. The oblong tubers have an attractive appearance. The buyer will like the taste of these potatoes even more.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The long history of the Ideal variety already speaks of its survival in our gardens. The main scourge of all nightshades is late blight. Our variety is relatively resistant to this scourge, and this applies to a greater extent to tubers and less to tops.

Ideal is moderately resistant to common scab, rhizoctonia and many viral diseases. Plants cannot be immune to insect pests such as the Colorado potato beetle, but there are now effective chemicals (insecticides) that can solve these types of problems if they are noticed early.

Keeping quality

The keeping quality of the harvested crop is 90%. This is achieved in particular due to the resistance of tubers to mechanical damage. On the other hand, this means that a tenth of the potatoes will be rejected after winter storage.

Where is it used?

In terms of use, Ideal is a table variety. Initially, the variety was created for personal consumption. And its excellent taste did not allow new varieties to displace Ideal from our gardens.

In which regions of Russia is it usually grown?

Since the late 60s, the Ideal variety has become widespread in the central and southern regions of Russia, as well as in Ukraine and Moldova. But this variety is not included in the State Register and is not zoned in any of the 12 regions of Russia.

All this creates problems with growing seed material and, as a result, re-grading and degeneration of the variety occurs.

Characteristics of the Ermak potato variety

The variety tolerates drought and hot summers, which are characteristic of all regions of Western Siberia. The culture is frost-resistant, so the tubers can be planted in early May. Keeping quality is high, potatoes are stored until spring at low temperatures and in the absence of light. The scope is universal: boiling, frying, stewing, for making chips, fries and salads.

Productivity

The yield indicators of Ermak potatoes are very high:

• 1–2 kg from 1 bush;
• 3.5–4.7 kg per 1 m2;
• 350–470 kg per 1 hectare.

Each bush produces 12–15 tubers. If conditions are good, the figure increases to 18–20 pieces. They ripen relatively quickly - 2.5–3 months after planting. The maximum recorded yield is 470 kg per hundred square meters. This result can be achieved by growing Ermak potatoes on fertile and light soils (sandy or loamy). It is also important to follow basic care rules:

• rare but abundant watering (especially during drought);
• fertilizing with organic matter 1–2 times per season;
• loosening and weeding - as necessary.
• hilling twice during the summer.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Ermak variety has been known to summer residents and farmers for a long time. It produces large tubers, which is why the popular name “Lapot” or “Lapot” has spread in some areas. Gives a stable harvest even in regions with unfavorable climatic conditions.

Ermak potatoes have an attractive presentation

pros

• excellent taste;
• very high yield;
• resistance to frost and drought;
• low maintenance requirements;
• good keeping quality;
• transportability.

Minuses

• not resistant to cancer;
• immunity to most diseases is average.

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.

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

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Landing rules

The field for planting Ermak potatoes should be illuminated and dry (not located in a lowland). The site begins to be prepared for planting in the fall or April. The area must be cleaned, dug up and humus applied at the rate of 5–6 kg per 1 m2 or complex mineral fertilizer 50–60 g per 1 m2. If the soil is clayey, you can add sand or sawdust (500–800 g per 1 m2).

Ermak potato tubers are also prepared in advance. 4–5 weeks before planting, they are placed in a lighted and cool room (+14–15 °C). Can be laid out on the floor in 2-3 layers or in wooden boxes. The seeds should be sprayed with water periodically. On the day of planting, they are poisoned with any effective means:

• weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• "Home";
• "Fitosporin";
• "Oxychom."

Important! All dried and damaged tubers are discarded.

Seeds that are too large can be cut in half, sprinkled with ash and also placed in the holes.

Ermak potatoes are planted in the first half of May, when the soil warms up to +8–10 °C. At this time, the first leaves of the birch tree bloom. You can also determine the convenient moment using an outdoor thermometer, which is buried 10 cm into the ground and left for 10–15 minutes.

The landing technology is two-line. The instructions are as follows:

1. Form 2 rows with an interval of 50–60 cm.
2. Leave a strip of 1 m and dig 2 more rows.
3. Tubers are planted to a depth of 8–10 cm (if the soil is heavy – 5–6 cm).
4. An interval of 20 cm is left between large seeds, and 15 cm between small ones.
5. Pour a little wood ash into each hole.
6. Bury and water at the rate of one bucket of water per 3-4 bushes.

On clay soils, Ermak potato tubers are planted at a minimum depth

Plant care

For full development and the formation of large volumes of crops, potatoes require breathable soil. With traditional planting, plant care involves the following steps.

Loosening and hilling

Hilling and loosening allow the potatoes to “breathe” and develop well

5–6 days after planting, they begin to loosen the soil, removing weeds. The bushes are also hilled several times throughout the season. This can be done with a hand hoe or chopper. The work is carried out after watering or precipitation.

The number of hillings depends on weather conditions. If there is a possibility of frost returning, the procedure is carried out immediately upon the formation of seedlings, which are completely covered with soil. At the initial stage of development, potatoes are quite sensitive to low temperatures. At temperatures from -1°C to -3°C, the tops become black.

If frost is not expected, the bushes are earthed up for the first time when the stems reach 20 cm. At the same time, a mound is formed around the plant, using soil from the rows. After 15–20 days, the procedure is repeated. To ensure uniform illumination of the stems by the sun, they should be spread apart.

Fertilizer application

Fertilizing is an integral measure for caring for potatoes.

The plant uses a lot of nutrients to form tubers.

Therefore, proper attention should be paid to feeding. The compositions are applied into grooves dug at a distance of 15 cm from the row

Table: features of potato fertilizer

Watering

It is advisable to water the potatoes in the evening hours

Water the potatoes three times a season. But you should pay attention to weather conditions. If there is frequent precipitation, it is recommended to postpone watering until the flowering stage. Water can be supplied under bushes or into grooves along the rows. The next day, loosening should be done. You can make sure that the potatoes receive enough moisture by checking the condition of the tops. Wilting of the above-ground part of the plant indicates a lack of watering. Also note that it is best to carry out the procedure in the evening, after sunset. This will help avoid burns.

Table: according to potato watering rates

Features of cultivation

Agricultural technology is standard. Ermak potato bushes require rare watering: after germination, then before flowering and after it. If it rains, additional moisture is not needed, but if there is a drought, water is given at least once a week (1 bucket for 2-3 bushes).

You can feed after the seedlings grow to 20 cm (first hilling). They give a complex mineral fertilizer or organic matter - an infusion of grass, bird droppings or mullein.

Hilling of Ermak potatoes is carried out at least 2 times - after the tops grow to 20 cm and after 2 weeks. The higher the bush, the larger the layer of soil should be. Don’t forget about loosening (especially after rains) and weeding (by hand or with a hoe).

How to properly care for the variety

For Ermak potatoes, not only planting is important, but also care. It does not take much time, but must be regular.

Features of watering

Ermak is a variety that tolerates drought well, so even in hot weather it can produce a good harvest. However, to get more quality tubers, it is recommended to take time to water.

Important! After planting, the first watering is carried out when the height of the tops reaches 10 cm. Until this moment, irrigation of the bushes is not required.

The second watering is carried out after the first inflorescences appear on the plant, the next time - after the flowers begin to disappear. Watering immediately after flowering is not recommended. Irrigation during such a period can lead to the appearance of fungal diseases.

Pests and diseases

According to the register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation, the Ermak potato variety has average immunity to most fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. Therefore, damage to late blight, scab and other diseases cannot be ruled out. Also, productivity may decrease due to pest invasion (aphids, Colorado potato beetles, mole crickets, thrips, nematodes and many others).

Diseased bushes are very difficult to cure, so it is better to immediately dig them up and burn them. For prevention, you must follow the basic rules:

1. Do not plant Ermak potatoes in one area for more than three years in a row.
2. Avoid areas where tomatoes or potatoes have recently grown. It is optimal to sow in a field where zucchini, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, any legumes, wheat, white mustard and other green manure grew.
3. Treat the tubers with potassium permanganate or fungicide before planting.
4. Plant fragrant tobacco, calendula, coriander, and marigolds next to the potato field.

When the tops grow to 10–15 cm, it is recommended to treat Ermak potatoes with fungicides:

• "Quadris";
• "Home";
• "Fundazol";
• "Maksim";
• Bordeaux mixture.

To prevent insects, spray an insecticide solution:

• "Decis";
• "Fitoverm";
• "Agravertine";
• "Colorado";
• "Confidor";
• "Biotlin."

If the Ermak potato bush has suffered from late blight, it must be removed immediately so as not to infect neighboring plants

You should not abuse chemicals. If there are few insects, you can get by with folk remedies:

• dust Ermak potato bushes with wood ash. The procedure is carried out on a windless day;
• pour a weak tar solution into the rows;
• add fresh sawdust to the beds as mulch;
• treat the bushes with a decoction of marigolds, infusion of garlic, onion peels, and mustard powder.

Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews about the Ermak variety

Farmers recommend carrying out care activities in a timely manner and choosing 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."

Harvesting and storage

The Ermak potato harvest is harvested in early or mid-August. Two weeks before digging, it is recommended to mow the tops, which will allow the tubers to gain mass. It is better to dig up potatoes in dry weather (there should not be heavy rain before). The tubers are laid out on a ridge, dried and sorted (small and very large ones are consumed first).

Then they are packed in bags or placed in boxes and sent for storage in a dark place (barn, garage, cellar). In the first 2–3 weeks, Ermak potatoes are kept at a temperature of 14–16 °C. The room is then cooled to 2–4 °C. The humidity in the vegetable storage should be between 70–80%.

How to properly store potatoes

The keeping quality of fruits depends on many reasons. First of all, these are weather conditions. If it was very cold and cloudy during ripening, then during storage there may be severe losses. The soil itself also affects storage. If root crops were grown on sandy loam and chernozem soils, then the potatoes will be stored much better. If you overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers, the fruits will not last long. Diseases can kill them. Such factors also apply to roots that were low in potassium.

If the fruits become infected with late blight, they will not live long. The last and most important reason is the conditions in which the vegetables will be stored. In order for the fruits to survive until the next planting, you need to know a few rules. In order to provide all the necessary conditions, after digging the crop must be dried. If you are about to hide the potatoes in the cellar, you need to sort the fruits before doing so.

Damaged and diseased fruits are discarded. Potatoes should only be stored whole and healthy. The shelf life depends on the size of the fruit itself. The middle period includes large tubers. If the storage time is long, then medium potatoes are set aside. The rest must be used quickly.

The best varieties for Siberia

To obtain high potato yields, regardless of the region of cultivation, you need to select a suitable variety, purchase high-quality seeds and ensure proper agricultural technology.

Of course, growing potatoes in the Siberian region, including the territory of Eastern Siberia, begins with choosing the most suitable variety.

Popular and promising potato varieties that were bred by leading foreign experts in the field of breeding this vegetable crop are also suitable for cultivation in Siberia.

The best yield indicators are typical for such potato varieties as “Rozhdestvensky”, “Prolisok”, “Solnechny”, “Tuleevsky”, “Kolpashevsky” and “Yubilyar”. Knowing the basic description of potatoes and their characteristics, you can easily make the right choice of variety.

What parasites and diseases can Ermak catch?

The characteristics of the variety are also positive during diseases, since it is not affected by almost everyone. But there are exceptions, so preventive measures need to be taken. To do this, use various products that are sold in special stores.

In addition, you can use traditional methods to combat midges by treating the leaves of the plant with a solution of potassium permanganate (add a small amount to the water until it turns pale purple).

Source

Undeniable advantages

For those who decide to grow Ermak potatoes on their plot of land, it will be valuable information that this vegetable was bred for cultivation in Western Siberia. But this does not mean at all that potatoes will not produce a good harvest in another area; the main thing is to create the necessary conditions for it. It is also worth noting that this species tolerates heat well.

Those farmers who doubt whether it is worth buying seed potatoes of the Ermak variety and introducing it into their personal potato farm should familiarize themselves with the advantages of this vegetable:

• Very tasty.
• Large tubers (100-120g.)
• A yield that will please every vegetable grower (10-14 tubers per bush).
• Does not crumble during cooking.
• The flesh does not darken when cut.
• An ideal variety for making chips and French fries.
• Heat resistance.
• Easy to use, keeps well until the next harvest.
• Tolerates transportation well.

In order for all the above advantages to appear in all their glory, Ermak potatoes must grow in ideal conditions. The owner of potato beds, wanting to get an excellent harvest of large, healthy tubers, will make every effort to provide the potato bushes with proper care. As a result, the bins will be filled with delicious vegetables in the fall.