Potato Lapot

Potato Lapot was bred a very long time ago, and it so happened that they forgot about it for many years, since selection made a step forward. Recently, however, gardeners are increasingly remembering this variety, looking for it, trying to propagate on their own. There are several reasons for this.

Lapot belongs to the varieties bred by the people. No one has specially selected it, the originators of this variety do not exist. Initially Lapot was grown in Siberia, therefore it was called Siberian Lapt. Later, the name of the variety was shortened.

According to the main sources, this culture was obtained in the 50s of the last century, however, this information may be unreliable. Some breeders believe that Lapot is much older. In the last century, the variety has been incredibly popular. It was grown throughout the Soviet Union. However, today very few gardeners know about the variety. It is most widespread in Transbaikalia.

Lapot is one of the most unusual potato varieties. Let's see what positive qualities he has:

• the culture tubers are simply gigantic;

• the potatoes are delicious;

• root crops can be harvested mechanically, moreover, they are easy to transport;

• the collected fruits are adequately stored, do not deteriorate after laying;

• potatoes perfectly tolerate both frost and drought.

There are only two disadvantages:

• this is a rather old variety, so it is very problematic to find tubers for planting;

• plants often get sick.

Laptya bushes are medium in height. It is usually 50-60 centimeters. The bushes are not compact, they are quite spreading, the tops on them are dense, wide. The leaf blades are light green in color and are of medium size. Potatoes of this variety bloom very profusely. His flowers are very large, snow-white.

Now let's consider the main characteristics of the root crops themselves:

• as already mentioned, the tubers are large, the standard weight is from 100 to 160 grams, however, potatoes with half a kilogram weight can grow on the bushes;

• one bush forms from 6 to 8 fruits (one of them will thus be huge);

• root vegetables are distinguished by an oblong flat shape, very similar to a bast shoe;

• the skin is colored in a dark pink shade, and the flesh is creamy;

• the eyes are small, lie close to the surface and there are very few of them;

• potato tubers Lapot contain from 12 to 14% starch.

The taste of the variety is decent. Root vegetables can be easily used for mashed potatoes and for frying. But for whole baking, it is better to choose smaller fruits.

Lapot is a very early potato variety. It matures in just 65-80 days. You can dig tubers out of the soil both at the end of summer and at the beginning of autumn.

This type of potato has an impressive yield. Usually, an average of 450 tons of root crops are obtained per hectare. With enhanced care, the amount can reach up to 500 tons. Moreover, the harvested potatoes are also easy to store. Its keeping quality under optimal conditions reaches 94%.

The first information about this variety came from Siberia.This fact means that Lapot was originally grown in areas with risky farming. Today the variety is cultivated throughout the country.

To obtain fast growth and the best varietal characteristics, Lapot must be germinated before planting. This procedure usually takes about 20-25 days. Planting is carried out in the middle of the second April decade, before that, the tubers are disinfected with manganese and sprinkled with ash. If frosts return, the planted potatoes are covered with plastic wrap on top. When planting, you must take into account the scheme - 35x60 cm.

Sprinkle Lapot by sprinkling, this is the most acceptable option for the variety. In the cold season, it is sufficient to water the plants at key stages of the growing season. This is only three times: bud formation, start and end of flowering. However, in hot weather, water it every 5 days. Starting in August, potatoes are irrigated only in the morning, so that the earth dries up by evening. If during drought it is not possible to irrigate often, then you can limit yourself to 3-4 times per season, but then mulch should be put under the bushes. To do this, take peat or cut grass.

To make the tubers large and tasty, Lapot must be fed. Fertilize the culture three times per season. Before the first hilling plants, the soil under the bushes is fertilized with ammonium nitrate (10 g) and humus (0.3 kg). When the buds appear, 100 grams of wood ash is added to the soil. And to form strong roots, the bushes are watered with a composition of 10 liters of water and 30 grams of superphosphate. It is worth noting that Laptyu really needs magnesium. Potatoes do not develop well without it. If the soil is slightly acidic, magnesium sulfate will need to be added to it. But acidic substrates are supplemented with dolomite flour - 50 grams are enough per square meter.

Potato Lapot grows successfully on any type of soil. The only thing he dislikes is excessive acidity. Therefore, such soils are lime before planting.

Here Lapot also has no special requirements. It is a hardy variety that can thrive in difficult areas. The culture also tolerates drought well. However, freshly planted tubers are afraid of recurrent frosts. In addition, plants will rot in areas where groundwater flows high. The culture will also require a lot of sun during the day.

Bast is not immune to the most common potato diseases. Due to the fact that breeders and genetics did not participate in the creation of the culture, it very weakly resists any diseases and pests. May be affected by late blight, Alternaria, Colorado potato beetle.

When growing this potato, it is necessary to carry out preventive spraying. Two weeks before harvesting, the tops are mowed from the bushes, which are then burned. This will allow the plants not to catch late blight of tubers. It is also very important during the entire growing season to monitor the weeds and not allow them to fill the plantation.

Lapot collects a lot of positive reviews. In short, gardeners are simply amazed at the weight of individual tubers. They also like the fact that the bushes can grow in different regions without losing their yield. Many healthy dishes are prepared from the collected potatoes, including extraordinary bast-shaped casseroles that can become a real decoration of the table.

Nevertheless, not everyone can afford to grow a crop. Many summer residents have been looking for planting material for years, because they remember what kind of potatoes grandparents raised in their childhood, and they strive to feel its taste again. Some even ask for advice on forums on where to find such a culture. Those who are lucky enough to propagate the variety on their own and leave the most positive feedback about it. However, the fact that plants get sick so often and quickly causes considerable chagrin of gardeners.