Looking for tasty potatoes

[Lilypon]

So far I've grown Pontiac, Viking, Purple Viking, Yukon Gold, All Red, Norland, Russet Burbank and a blue (so long ago I'm not sure of it's name). This year I'm growing Caribe, AC Peregrine Red, and Goldrush.

This is a selection of seed potatoes available to me: http://www.seedpotatoes.ca/ecatalogue.htm

Are there any on that list that are a "must" to grow? I would really like to try potatoes that have impressed others (I've grown a few duds over the years).

(I'm adding Irish Cobbler here so I don't forget to look for a source for it.......I saw it listed at a Canadian site (unfortunately not a seed selling one).

I saw at another one of their sites that they are also growing LaRatte (which I'm sure I've read is very good so I'm hoping they will have it for sale next year).

BTW has anyone seen seed potatoes of Klondike Rose?

[Tom Wagner]

You must grow Agria, German Butterball, and maybe a few others from that list for flavor. La Ratte is good too.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/.../potpome.shtml

shows a list of varieties available in Canada. Maybe there is yet another variety you may wish to trial. Since you are in Canada, I cannot send any of my varieties to you.

Lots of luck trying to buy seed potatoes of Klondike Rose seed potatoes. That is just marketing name used by Green Giant. The variety used for that is Rosara, and I'll bet that variety is tied up for Green Giant, and you won't find it listed for sale to the public.

My guess is that Klondike Rose is marketed with sprout inhibitors applied to the tubers. If you still want to grow it, just buy a few and wait for a limited amount of the tubers to break dormancy...it seems that there are nearly always a few that will escape the chemical inhibition enough to grow some normal looking sprouts. Don't try to plant those will short rosette sprouts.


If you find a few tubers that sprout just plant them in a gallon container indoors. Harvest when the vine yellows a bit and there are quarter sized tubers to plant next year.

Tom Wagner

[Lilypon]

Thank you so much Tom! I've eyed the list many times but was a little leary that they might be extolling some varieties more than they deserved. I'm getting somewhat jaded regarding the write ups I've seen on some sellers sites.

I kinda figured American potatoes would have a problem crossing the border so I'm grateful for the link you provided above (I've looked at individual varieties at the inspection site but I hadn't run into the list you posted.

Next year I'll be growing Agria and German Butterball for sure (and La Ratta and any other potato that I can break out of dormancy) ;D I wish I'd asked you a year ago since my father, now deceased, loved that potato and had me write numerous Canadian companies that grew it (none of them replied to my emails...I guessed that they were protected). I told him I had a feeling he would have to stop growing pulse, cereal and oil crops to have a chance of getting his hands on that tater (and become a registered seed potato grower).

I will also be checking your link and the one I posted for any other hidden gems (but would be happy for further suggestions from peeps here that see a favourite on those linked to lists).

Scanning the list (yet) again Shepody, Green Mountain, Cherry Red and French Fingerling sound good too (if anyone has found them to be duds please let me know). If good I'll look at planting them in 2011.

[Lamb Abbey Orchards]

I'm growing both La Ratte and German Butterball this year and highly recommend them both. Cherry Red is intriguing to me too--possibly as an alternative to Red Gold with a bit longer of a dormancy.


John

[Lilypon]

John I'm really looking forward to growing/eating them!

re Red Cherry please report what you think of it next year.