Early Biggies

**Tom Wagner** · July 22, 2011

I realized that I post many more times on my own forum and often get near 250 folks visiting it daily. I tend to wait for topics to appear out of the blue here.

I thought of people wanting the earliest potatoes possible for various reasons.

I've had a lot of experience studying early potatoes...early bulkers..if you will.

In Europe they use Rocket for a first early. It is a waxy potato and it is a delight.

Here in the states...one of the potato varieties that was a consistent early potato was the FL 1533 used by Frito-Lay for potato chips. I had worked for Frito-Lay back before the variety was contracted to growers. I did, however, have lots of experience with the parents...Norwis and Atlantic. This combination was a dreamer's reality.....it took the heat and made its crop before the heat would get unbearable. I would recommend these parents to anyone wanting to get into potato breeding. Going further back it the pedigree...I would cross Monona with Lenape...

I have been admonished to keep looking for EARLY BIGGIES for many years....even my the research department of FL.

I have some breeding work that combines the attributes of Rocket and FL 1533.

First of all here is Rocket....

A few years ago I selected several hundred clones out of a Rocket/OP that I called Sky Rocket that was very early and bloomed profusely. I crossed it with pollen of the very fertile FL 1533 derived OP clone called Frito-Dan.

Fast forward....The hybrid TPS seedlings were transplanted a couple of days ago to plastic covered raised beds. What really struck me was the enormous mini tubers on the seedlings as I put the tiny plants into the prepared beds.

The plants are recovering nicely from the transplanting shock...they were fed with a liquid solution of granulated OMRI approved chicken manure and feather meal and dolomite lime.

The black plastic is a must here...rain every day and temps down to 45 as i type this...highs in the mid 60's. A little bit of SUN, but not much.

The crosses between extreme waxy and floury parents are good for multi-purpose use.

If anyone wants to sample some of my research...I will make a few of these hybrids available next year....

Some of the names I am thinking of are Rocket Dan, Sky Dan, Rocky Bandito, Lt. Dan Band, etc. They all are round whites.

Tom Wagner

cortona · July 22, 2011

wel wath yo show here look like the perfect potato for me....i know that you cant send tubers here but tps? i wil send yo a message on the other board to have some more info.

July 22, 2011	#1
Tom Wagner Crosstalk™ Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 8407 18th Ave West 7-203 Everett, Washington 98204 Posts: 1,157	Early Biggies I realized that I post many more times on my own forum and often get near 250 folks visiting it daily. I tend to wait for topics to appear out of the blue here. I thought of people wanting the earliest potatoes possible for various reasons. I've had a lot of experience studying early potatoes...early bulkers..if you will. In Europe they use Rocket for a first early. It is a waxy potato and it is a delight. Here in the states...one of the potato varieties that was a consistent early potato was the FL 1533 used by Frito-Lay for potato chips. I had worked for Frito-Lay back before the variety was contracted to growers. I did, however, have lots of experience with the parents...Norwis and Atlantic. This combination was a dreamer's reality.....it took the heat and made its crop before the heat would get unbearable. I would recommend these parents to anyone wanting to get into potato breeding. Going further back it the pedigree...I would cross Monona with Lenape... I have been admonished to keep looking for EARLY BIGGIES for many years....even my the research department of FL. I have some breeding work that combines the attributes of Rocket and FL 1533. First of all here is Rocket.... A few years ago I selected several hundred clones out of a Rocket/OP that I called Sky Rocket that was very early and bloomed profusely. I crossed it with pollen of the very fertile FL 1533 derived OP clone called Frito-Dan. Fast forward....The hybrid TPS seedlings were transplanted a couple of days ago to plastic covered raised beds. What really struck me was the enormous mini tubers on the seedlings as I put the tiny plants into the prepared beds. The plants are recovering nicely from the transplanting shock...they were fed with a liquid solution of granulated OMRI approved chicken manure and feather meal and dolomite lime. The black plastic is a must here...rain every day and temps down to 45 as i type this...highs in the mid 60's. A little bit of SUN, but not much. The crosses between extreme waxy and floury parents are good for multi-purpose use. If anyone wants to sample some of my research...I will make a few of these hybrids available next year.... Some of the names I am thinking of are Rocket Dan, Sky Dan, Rocky Bandito, Lt. Dan Band, etc. They all are round whites. Tom Wagner

July 22, 2011	#2
cortona Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: italy, tuscany, town of cortona Posts: 68	wel wath yo show here look like the perfect potato for me....i know that you cant send tubers here but tps? i wil send yo a message on the other board to have some more info.