Potato Ermak

It is hard to imagine a more famous domestic potato variety than Ermak, because at one time, along with many Dutch varieties, it was recognized all over the world. But it is precisely for this reason that this variety has acquired an incredible number of legends, rumors, and folk names, some of which have nothing to do with reality.

History of origin

Initially, in the mid-70s of the last century, scientists from the Omsk Agrarian Research Center bred a potato called Ermak by the method of clonal selection of the Early Rose variety. During the tests, a new variety of this potato called Ermak improved was selected and obtained. It was under this name that this variety was included in 1978 in the State Register of Our Country. Although experts recommend Yermak potatoes for cultivation, primarily in the West Siberian District, this variety at one time successfully spread and conquered not only all of Our Country, but also the near abroad. True, later he was ousted from the gardens by varieties of foreign selection, which many gardeners still regret.

Much later in the XNUMXst century, with the light hand of an unknown gardener who received tubers of this potato variety of unprecedented size, he was nicknamed Laptem. And in recent years, the Ermak variety has received a new wave of recognition and is often distributed among gardeners under the popular name Lapot. And many do not even suspect that they are acquiring under this name the long-known variety of the Siberian selection Ermak.

Description and characteristics

Ermak potato bushes are erect, the stems branch rather weakly. The corollas of flowers are very beautiful – they are painted in a pale red-violet color.

Yes, and the tubers are distinguished by a pinkish skin color. The eyes are small in size, there are not very many of them on a smooth peel.

The flesh is white on the cut, sometimes there may be reddish inclusions near the eyes. It does not darken when cut and cooked.

The tubers are large in size from 90 to 120 grams each and oval-round in shape. At the same time, from 8 to 20 tubers are formed in each potato bush. In addition, the tubers of this variety have a fairly high marketability, which means the percentage of marketable tubers to all others grown on the bush. Marketability is about 88-90%.

Therefore, the Ermak potato variety is considered high-yielding – from one bush you can collect from one to two kilograms of delicious tubers.

On an industrial scale of cultivation, where the yield is measured in tons per hectare, this value is 35-47 t/ha.

The Ermak potato variety can be safely attributed to early ripening – the tubers ripen already 70-90 days after the appearance of the first shoots.

At the same time, potatoes store very well, especially for such an early ripening period. The percentage of safety is 94%.

The taste qualities of Ermak potatoes are recognized by most experts as excellent – the potatoes are really very tasty, which is important compared to many modern varieties, especially of imported origin. The purpose of the variety is table, the use is universal – delicious vegetable salads are obtained from Ermak’s tubers, it is suitable for frying and baking.

Variety Ermak shows medium resistance to the main potato scourge – scab, as well as to most fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. But its resistance to potato cancer is very low.

But the Ermak variety tolerates heat well, and responds with large yields to regular fertilizing and irrigation.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ermak potatoes have the following advantages and disadvantages.

Landing

When planting early varieties of potatoes, it is especially important to pay attention to the pre-planting treatment of tubers, since it allows you to get a crop in the earliest possible time.

One of the main methods of such preparation is the vernalization of tubers – their greening in the light and in relative heat. It usually starts a month before planting. Ermak potato tubers are laid out in boxes on plastic wrap in a bright and relatively warm room. You can use the veranda or non-freezing balcony. The tubers are regularly sprayed to maintain moisture and uniform fouling with strong sprouts.

Vernalization helps to get an earlier and better harvest, but the most important thing is to reject diseased and weak tubers with filamentous sprouts.

Tubers that float during this procedure are discarded. But after this procedure, healthy potatoes must be washed under running water.

A plot for planting potatoes is allotted after growing onions, garlic, peas, pumpkin crops on it. If a wireworm or nematode bothers you in your area, then the best way to get rid of them is to sow oats or rye immediately after harvesting. And in the spring, having cleared the place of straw, plant potatoes in this soil.

Considering that the Ermak potato has an early ripening period, it makes sense to plant it as early as possible. In the conditions of the middle lane, it is best to meet the first ten days of May. In the southern regions, potatoes can be planted a month earlier. In the Urals and Siberia, the deadlines may move a week later. The main thing is that the soil managed to warm up to a temperature of + 8 ° + 10 ° С.

It is best to plant Ermak potatoes in a two-line way. That is, two rows with a distance of 50-60 cm make up a strip. Make intervals of 90-100 cm between the strips. And the tubers themselves in each row are laid out in 10-15 cm (small) and 18-20 cm (large).

Care

Caring for potatoes of the Ermak variety is fundamentally no different from caring for other varieties of potatoes: watering, top dressing, hilling and protection from pests and diseases.

This potato variety is especially susceptible to additional irrigation, and under these conditions it demonstrates the maximum yield. Watering is especially important during the germination of tubers, at the time of the first hilling and during the flowering of potatoes. If during these periods there is dry weather without rain, then it is highly desirable to provide additional artificial irrigation for Ermak potato plantings.

Hilling and top dressing

Hilling in potato care plays a paramount role for three reasons:

• It helps to remove weeds.
• Helps loosen and saturate the upper layers of the soil with oxygen.
• Helps retain soil moisture.

The larger the potato bush, the greater the height it should be spudded. On average, bushes need to be sprinkled with earth or organic materials to a third of their height.

The first hilling is carried out traditionally when the sprouts reach a height of 15-20 cm only the next day after a good rain. Only then will it make sense. Otherwise, potato plantings are abundantly shed and only then spud.

The second hilling is carried out ten days before flowering, while the bushes have not yet closed in the aisles.

It is most advantageous to combine fertilizing Ermak potatoes with its irrigation if you have small plantations. The most optimal top dressing is an infusion of manure and chicken manure with the addition of wood ash. You can also use a herbal cocktail – pour a mixture of any weeds with a double portion of water, add a little droppings, ash and leave for a week until a specific smell appears.

Diseases and pests

The main diseases of potatoes are late blight and scab. As a preventive measure, before and after flowering, spray the potato plantings with a solution of Fitosporin or a mixture of Alirin and Gamair.

Bushes infected with viruses are usually distinguished by small curly and twisted foliage with light spots. At the same time, their growth is strongly inhibited. When digging, they need to be separated – the tops should be burned, and the tubers may be fed to animals. Drugs for the treatment of viruses have not yet been invented.

To combat the Colorado potato beetle, it is first good to use biological preparations: Fitoverm and Agravertin.

With a large number of them, heavy artillery can also be used – systemic insecticides – Aktar, Confidor, Mospilan.

Harvesting

Ermak potatoes, due to their early ripening, are most often used for summer consumption. Tubers can be dug up for food as early as two weeks after flowering. But since it is well stored, it is recommended to bring part of the crop to full ripening. This happens about a month after flowering, when the tops begin to turn yellow and dry out.

Conclusion

Potato Ermak is one of the most popular domestic potato varieties. Some time ago, the variety was almost lost due to total infection with viruses – the nursery in the Irtysh region where it was produced was closed. But thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts from the people, the variety continues to live, albeit under other names.

Grade Reviews

For many gardeners, the Ermak potato variety is associated with almost the best domestic potatoes.