Small-Scale Fresh Market Potato Variety Trial Results
Margie Lund, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
This year, the Cornell Vegetable Program planted a potato variety trial focused on commercially available fresh market potato varieties, with the small-scale potato grower in mind. This trial allowed us to test different varieties of potatoes that might be of interest to consumers at farm markets and see how well they perform in a western NY climate. In this overview, we share overall yield results from the trial as well as some details on some stand out varieties.
Marketable yield of all varieties in this year's small-scale fresh market potato variety trial. Varieties are color coded according to skin color (yellow, red, white, purple, and russet). Vivaldi highly outyielded all other varieties, and Norwis performed the worst in the trial.- Vivaldi (yellow skin, yellow flesh) was a standout variety in the trial and the highest yielding yellow skin variety. In our trial, Vivaldi showed some netting and scab, but otherwise performed well.
- Baltic Rose (red skin, yellow flesh) was the standout of the red skinned varieties and second highest performer in the trial overall. This variety showed some scab as well as color variation among tubers and skinning, but overall tubers were a nice size.
- Among the white skinned varieties, Upstate Abundance (white skin, white flesh) performed the best with tubers looking very nice with smooth skins.
- In the purple skinned varieties Magic Molly and Blackberry (both varieties purple skin, purple flesh) were neck and neck. Magic Molly produced nice oblong tubers and Blackberry produced deep purple round tubers, both with some scab and skinning present.
- Lastly, we grew two russet varieties in this trial, with Caribou yielding the highest. However, due to our hot summer we did see a large amount of internal browning in this variety.
If you would like the full report (PDF with photos and yield data) emailed to you, email Margie Lund.
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