Capricious to care for, but very productive and tasty German potato variety "Merlot"

Merlot potatoes - a variety of German selection. It appeared on the Russian market relatively recently, but has already won the love of farmers and consumers. Despite the exactingness of watering and feeding, the crop is among the leaders in cultivation in the central regions of the country. Tubers attract attention with a rich red hue of the peel, bright yellow color of the pulp.

From the article you will learn how to grow Merlotte potatoes, what difficulties farmers may encounter in the process and what are the ways to eliminate them.

Origin and description of the variety

Merlot potatoes are a late-ripening variety bred by biologists of the German company Nordika Nordring kartoffelzucht und vermehrungs GMBH. The culture was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2015.

Variety received permission to grow in Central region, including Bryansk, Vladimir, Ivanovsk, Kaluga, Moscow, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tula regions.

Description and characteristics of the plant are presented in the table.

Agrotechnics of culture

Variety Merlot (Merlot) is picky about care and soil type... It is preferable to grow the culture on black soil, sandy loam, peat, loam. Potatoes do not tolerate acidic soil well, so a pH test is recommended before planting. The optimal indicators are 5.2-5.7. Dolomite flour, hydrated lime or chalk are used for deoxidation. Wood ash will help normalize the balance of alkaline soil.

Timing, scheme and landing rules

Planting work begins in early or mid-May... The soil should warm up to at least + 8 ° С, and the air - up to + 15 ° С. According to the originator, tubers do not need to germinate. It is enough to soak in a disinfecting solution with copper sulphate, potassium permanganate or in the "Maxim" and growth stimulators "Epin", "Zircon" one day before disembarkation.

Those who prefer standard pre-planting 2-3 weeks before planting, the seeds are taken out into the sunlight... The optimum temperature for germination is + 15 ... + 17 ° С. In such conditions, the sprouts will appear in 2 weeks.

In the fall, the site is dug up, harrowed, weeds are removed and fertilized with humus... In spring, green manure plants (lupine, wheat, flax, peas, rye, oats) are planted and mowed down a month later. Plants are buried shallowly into the ground. Overripe green manures serve as an excellent fertilizer, loosen the soil, restrain the growth of pathogenic microflora.

The ridges are located in the direction from south to north... So the potato plantings will receive enough sunlight.

The tubers are sealed to a depth of 10 cm with an interval of 35 cm... The row spacing is 50-60 cm.A handful of ash and superphosphate is added to each hole, sprinkled with earth on top, slightly leveling, but not tamping.

About other potato varieties from German breeders:

Young but promising German potato variety "Krona"

Medium early resistant potato variety "Satina"

Medium early, unpretentious potato variety "Red Fantasy"

Care

Care rules:

1. Watering... Potatoes need timely and sufficient watering. The frequency of soil moisture depends on the climate. In the southern regions, a drip irrigation system is installed on the plots and water is supplied as the soil dries out. In the regions of the middle zone, there is enough atmospheric precipitation, but during the period of tuber formation, the supply of moisture is doubled. The soil is moistened to a depth of 45-50 cm.
2. Loosening and weeding... It is recommended to loosen the beds after each watering. Weeding is carried out as needed, preventing weeds from rooting.
3. Hilling... The procedure increases the productivity of the variety by 30-40%. Dusting the bushes with soil stimulates the growth of the root system, protects against night frosts, provides unhindered access of oxygen to the tubers, accelerating their ripening. Hilling is carried out when the sprouts reach 10-15 cm in height, during the flowering period and is repeated after 2-3 weeks. The beds are pre-moistened, and after that the procedure is started.
4. Top dressing... Potatoes are fertilized three times throughout the season. Pay special attention to foliar mineral dressing during the growing season, since the plant absorbs only 50% of nutrients when root applied.

In the table - indicative scheme of potato dressing.

The nuances of growing and possible difficulties

To increase yields observe the rule of crop rotation... Potatoes are planted after carrots, cabbage, lupines, alfalfa, cucumbers, peas, beans. It is undesirable to plant a crop after tomatoes, eggplants, peppers because of the tendency to the same diseases.

In addition to the traditional method of planting potatoes in the beds with a shovel, gardeners practice the barrel growing method... This method is suitable for those who are limited in space, but do not want to stay without potatoes for the winter.

Technology advantages:

• saving space;
• no need to do weeding, huddle plants;
• protection of bushes from fungi and insect pests;
• resistance of tubers to rotting;
• reduction in labor costs;
• reduction of the ripening period.

Disadvantage - requires careful preparation of the soil and collection of containers for cultivation.

Technological process:

1. For growing potatoes, metal and plastic barrels with a volume of 7 liters and more, a height of 30 cm, are used.
2. In containers, the bottom is cut out and processed inside with boiling water and soda. Then wipe dry with a clean cloth. The outer surface is painted with light-colored paint so that the barrels attract less ultraviolet radiation.
3. Through every 10-15 cm cut through holes with a diameter of 1 cm for ventilation.
4. The soil is prepared from compost, turf and humus in equal parts. The earth is pre-disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate.
5. The barrels are placed in the selected area and a 10 cm layer of soil and compost is poured onto the bottom. The prepared tubers are laid out along the diameter of the circle with an interval of 20 cm, 10 cm of earth is poured on top.
6. After the sprouts appear (2-3 cm), they are sprinkled with a new layer (10 cm) of soil, repeating the procedure until the layer rises to a height of 1 m.
7. The bushes are watered 3-4 times per season.
8. The plants are fertilized with nitrogen and potassium after the first shoots appear. After flowering, they are fed with phosphorus.
9. The crop is harvested 3 months after the last portion of top dressing is applied, when the tops begin to turn yellow and dry. Approximately one bag of potatoes is harvested from 1 m².

Diseases and pests

According to the All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology, the variety has a moderate susceptibility to late blight pathogen in tops and tubers... In unfavorable growing conditions, gardeners are faced with late blight of tubers and tops. The spread of the fungus is facilitated by excessive soil moisture and low air temperature.

The best way to protect plantings is prevention:

• control of nitrogen levels in the soil;
• crop rotation;
• cleaning of weeds and potato tops;
• soaking tubers in potassium permanganate, "Oksigumate", "Fitosporin";
• application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers;
• treatment of plants with copper-containing preparations and milk serum with iodine.

At the first sign of infection, the tops are cut, the bushes are sprayed with "Oxyhom", "Hom", "Ridomil", Bordeaux liquid, "Ephalem", "Bravo". At the stage of tuber formation, the bushes are irrigated with "Alufit" once.

Potato plantings more often than other pests are affected by the Colorado potato beetle... Over the decades of stubborn struggle with it, farmers have developed an effective tactic that takes into account the high adaptive ability of the beetle to fungicides. The best results can be achieved with a combination of chemicals and folk remedies.

The larvae of beetles are most harmful during the period of flowering and formation of tubers. With a small area of ​​infestation, pests are collected by hand by throwing into a jar with a strong saline solution. With extensive distribution:

• dust the bushes with birch ash, gypsum, corn flour;
• water the bushes with a solution of birch tar (100 ml / 10 l), infusion of sunflower (100 g of flowers / 10 l), celandine (1 kg of grass / 10 l), tobacco (500 g of tobacco dust / 10 l);
• the plant is treated with sunflower oil three times (200 ml / 10 l);
• irrigate plantings with a "talker" 1-2 times a week (200 g of soda, 200 g of pressed yeast / 10 l);
• use fungicides "Stop-Zhuk + Eco Potassium Humate", "Ampligo", "TurboPresto", "Garden Rescuer", "Troyan", "Kolibris";
• planted nearby fragrant tobacco, marigolds, coriander, calendula, nasturtium, matthiola, cucumber herb (to scare away);
• attract ants, guinea fowls, starlings, ladybirds, golden eyes, ground beetles.

The Colorado potato beetle is able to hibernate for up to three years, which allows him to wait out the hungry years. After that, he reproduces healthy offspring.

Click beetle larvae (wireworms) "sit" in the ground, weeds and infect potato tubers, gnawing through holes in them. This leads to decay.

Effective against wireworm:

• treatment with Aktara, Bazudin, Prestige, Diazinon, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Zemlin chemicals;
• watering the wells with a pink solution of potassium permanganate before planting;
• adding onion peels to each well;
• watering the bushes with herbal infusion (200 g of nettle, 100 g of dandelion and coltsfoot, 50 g of celandine / 5 liters of warm water, leave for 24 hours).

Collection, storage and use of the crop

FROMboron harvest is carried out in mid or late September... The tubers are cleaned of soil and left to dry in the shade for 3-4 days. Then the potatoes are sorted, damaged specimens are discarded, with traces of rot.

The crop is stored in a dry, cool place when temperature + 2 ... + 3 ° С and air humidity - 70-80%. A cellar or basement in a garage is ideal. On a balcony or loggia, potatoes are stored in wooden double boxes, which are inserted into each other like a nesting doll. In a more spacious box, in the gaps, foam plastic is laid or sawdust is poured. For storage, use deaf boxes with a lid, insulated with a foil screen. The containers are installed on a hill so that the bottom does not touch the cold floor in winter.

There are heated “balcony cellars” for sale. They look like large hiking backpacks, they are powered, wall-mountable and can withstand temperatures down to -40 ° C.

Potatoes Merlot has a wonderful taste and attractive presentation thanks to the thick red peel and rich yellow pulp. The optimal starch content makes it possible to cook boiled, fried, stewed, baked dishes from it. Tubers do not darken after being cut raw, do not boil in water.

Read also:

Reliable and beloved by farmers potato variety "Alvara"

Early undersized Juvel potato from Germany

Potato variety "Adretta" from German breeders

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• high productivity;
• resistance to major diseases of nightshade;
• long shelf life;
• attractive appearance of tubers;
• pleasant taste and moderate starch content;
• the possibility of transportation over long distances.

Disadvantage - exactingness to the type of soil, watering and fertilizing.

Farmers reviews

Reviews of the German variety Merlot are positive. Farmers appreciate the culture for its high productivity, quality, presentation and keeping quality, consumers love the pleasant potato flavor.

Vladislav, Roslavl: “What varieties of potatoes have I not grown in all my farming practice. I try to periodically update the planting material, looking for new interesting crops. Merlotte potatoes attracted attention with their appearance: red skin and rich yellow flesh. The potatoes are very tasty, they are stored for a long time, they do not spoil, the peel does not crack during cooking ".

Victoria, Kaluga: “Two years ago, Merlotte potatoes became one of our favorites. The culture requires a scrupulous approach to watering and fertilizing, but for me this is not a disadvantage. I feed the bushes three times: after planting, during the flowering period and two weeks after it. I installed a drip water supply system at the site, I do loosening and weeding on time ".

Conclusion

Merlot potatoes are a German late-ripening variety characterized by high productivity, excellent presentation and taste of tubers, keeping quality and long shelf life. The culture is resistant to most diseases, but in conditions of high humidity it is prone to late blight.

Compliance with crop rotation, pre-planting treatment of tubers, preventive spraying of bushes with preparations with copper, cleaning of weeds can minimize the risk of infection. Modern fungicides and old but proven folk remedies will help get rid of the Colorado potato beetle and wireworm.