Zekura Potato: Description and characteristics of the variety, reviews

Potatoes are a fairly common crop in many countries. For both home and commercial cultivation, varieties that produce large yields, are easy to care for, and are resistant to most known diseases and pests are selected. An example is the Zekura potato.

The Zekura potato, a German selection, is low-maintenance and relatively easy to grow. Large tubers, flavor retention for four months, and high starch content—these and other advantages of the Zekura potato variety have made it quite popular not only in its native country but also in several European countries.

Description and characteristics of the Zekura potato

Experienced farmers and gardeners attribute the Zekura potato variety's popularity to its low maintenance and ease of cultivation. This starchy vegetable's bushes don't tend to spread, significantly simplifying maintenance procedures such as loosening and weeding. The nest it forms is very compact, allowing for large numbers of plants to be grown in small areas, simplifying harvesting.

The tubers are typically regular and oblong in shape. The eyes are small. The skin and flesh are yellow. The description of the Zekura potato variety states that the weight of a single tuber often reaches 150 grams. The minimum weight is 59 grams. The Zekura variety is distinguished by its high starch content, ranging from 13 to 18.2%. This allows it to retain its marketable appearance and flavor for a long time (for three to four months).

Zekura Potato: Yield, Breeding History

Productivity

A single cluster can contain between 12 and 25 tubers during harvest. With strict care and cultivation under suitable climatic conditions, an average yield of 323 to 325 centners can be obtained per hectare.

History of selection

The Zekura variety is the result of the work of German breeders. Through extensive experimentation, they succeeded in achieving increased root hardiness, resistance to common diseases, a short ripening period, and excellent flavor. The breeders also focused on shelf life. The resulting variety, named Zekura, is now known in many European countries.

The Zekura potato variety is included in the State Register of the Russian Federation. It is recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth Region.

In the former CIS countries, Zekura is actively grown by farms in Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Speaking about the merits of the Zekura variety, farmers note its yellow flesh, which is equally suitable for mashed potatoes, frying, soups, stews, and salads. It's also worth noting that the root vegetable has a long shelf life, provided the room maintains moderate humidity and a temperature of 1-2°C. The harvested crop contains virtually no green tubers. The plant retains its varietal qualities for several years.

When used in cooking, one should be aware of its tendency to overcook, which can be considered a minor drawback. Another drawback of this variety is the change in tuber size during periods of water and heat shortage. Even with its natural resistance, these factors negatively impact the root vegetable, causing it to shrink to 50-70 grams.

Value of the variety

Varietal values ​​are:

1. Low-maintenance. If there's a prolonged lack of natural rainfall, occasional artificial watering is sufficient. This will help prevent the tubers from shrinking. Unlike many other varieties that require fertilization throughout the growing season, this variety doesn't. The variety description and reviews of the Zekura potato confirm this.
2. The plant adapts well to adverse climatic conditions, including heat, drought, and sudden temperature drops and rises. Due to this, high yields are observed even when grown in Siberia and Kazakhstan.
3. The harvest is stored for a long time, and natural losses in the quality of the tubers are minimal.
4. High commercial quality of tubers – there are practically no defective, green, too small or, conversely, excessively large potatoes in the harvest.
5. The fleshy yellow flesh has excellent flavor, making it widely used in cooking.

The value of the Zekura potato variety explains its prevalence and popularity among farmers and homestead owners both in Europe and in the post-Soviet space.

Growing rules

Growing the Zekura variety is straightforward, even for novice vegetable growers. General guidelines can be summarized as follows:

• It is recommended to plant in soil that has warmed to a depth of at least 10-15 cm. Soil temperatures should range from 8 to 10°C. The best time for planting is mid-May. Strict adherence to these conditions promotes accelerated germination and also eliminates the risk of tuber rot.
• The seed is placed in the soil in rows according to a 60x35 cm pattern. The potatoes are buried in the soil to a depth of 8-10 cm (the final figure is determined by the type of soil used);
• To further increase yield, active fertilizer is added to each hole.

Important: To avoid a natural decline in yield, planting material should be renewed in a timely manner.

Care instructions

The Zekura variety is easy to care for. It requires regular weeding and loosening the soil after artificial or natural watering. The first weeding is done in June, and then as needed. In the first half of July, the bushes are hilled up, which helps retain soil moisture longer and create a compact, natural-sized nest. Generally, it is recommended to hill up at least three times during the growing season.

Hilling should always be done after watering the soil. This will help prevent a crust from forming on the damp soil, which would impede air circulation.

To protect the soil from overheating and, at the same time, excessive moisture evaporation, mulch the plantings. Mulch can be made from compost, pine needles, or rotted sawdust.

Diseases and pests

The characteristics of the Zekura potato and reviews of the variety indicate that this variety is resistant to most known pests and diseases. However, wireworms, Colorado potato beetles, mole crickets, and cutworms pose a serious threat to potatoes.

Wireworms are often found in areas that haven't been properly cultivated, as well as in sawdust, manure, and couch grass. Acidic soil is a breeding ground for this pest. To adjust the soil pH, the following procedures are recommended:

• liming (10 m² 1 kg of slaked soda must be added);
• application of wood ash (per 10 m² (You will need two buckets with a total volume of 20 liters).

If it is necessary to combat pests that threaten the above-ground parts of plants, the preparations intended for this purpose should be used only according to the instructions.

Among folk remedies, the most effective is planting garlic, marigolds, calendula, and coriander in any order. The mole cricket dislikes the smell of these plants.

Harvesting and storage

The Zekura harvest typically takes place from mid-August to mid-September. With strict adherence to cultivation guidelines, approximately 200 kg of potatoes can be harvested per 100 square meters.

The room where the harvested potatoes will be stored is disinfected and dried beforehand. The tubers themselves are carefully sorted, removing any that show signs of disease or damage. They are also dried and cleaned of soil. Wooden boxes or special nets are ideal for storage. The optimal temperature is 1 to 2°C. Avoid exposure to natural light to prevent the tubers from turning green and sprouting.

Tubers intended for use as seed should be stored separately. At least twice a month, the condition of the tubers is assessed, particularly for rot. About two weeks before planting, the seeds are transferred to a warm, well-lit area.

Reviews

To get a full picture of the Zekura potato, it's not enough to just read the variety description and look at all the available photos; it's also a good idea to read reviews. Here are a few.

Alexander, 35 years old, Moscow region:

I've been growing potatoes for 10 years now. I've grown many varieties. One day, I saw the German variety Zekura at a show. I really liked both the plant and the tubers. After talking with the owner of the plot where the potatoes were growing, I decided to give it a try. I allocated a small plot on my farm. I planted them in May and harvested them in August. Even from the amount I planted, a lot grew. I liked the taste, too.

Irina and Mikhail, 49 years old, Minsk:

We own a farm. We grow several varieties of potatoes on our land. Two years ago, we planted Zekur for the first time. We didn't have any particular problems. There were no pests, as the land is regularly cultivated. And the variety itself is resistant to them. We sold the first experimental harvest at the September fair. People looked at the neat, bright potatoes with interest and bought them. Many of them returned a few days later and asked for more – they really liked the taste.

Natalia, 40 years old, Kyiv:

I planted 10 Zekura potato plants at my dacha after a friend recommended them. I didn't bother with much weeding or tilling. Despite this, I got a good harvest. The potatoes have excellent flavor.

Svetlana, 54 years old, Moscow:

I'm a restaurant owner. We try to source our vegetables from farmers. One day, a regular supplier suggested a new variety – Zekura. I took a few to try. The flavor is rich, very vibrant. The only problem is that the potato is very crumbly, which is not a bad thing in itself, making it difficult to use in dishes where it needs to hold its shape. But it's an excellent choice for mashed potatoes, soups, and salads. Zekura is now my chef's favorite variety for making his signature creamy soup.