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 (cwt/A) Marketable Yield (cwt/A)](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/08cada572179873ad806f535710ce730.jpeg)
- 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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![more crops](images/more_crops_right_sm,.gif)
Upcoming Events
Niagara Region Vegetable Meeting
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August 14, 2024
Clarence Center, NY
We'll start this meeting off at Root Down Farm to hear late season disease management updates in peppers and cole crops, plus current best management practices to limit fungicide resistance. Potato variety recommendations and disease control questions in potatoes will be addressed.
Then we'll head to Kreher's beet field to view and discuss alternative weed control technologies. The beet field is an on-farm demonstration of various flame weeding protocols in comparison with stacked tool cultivation equipment. One or two weeding robots will be on-hand for live demonstrations and discussion of the technology's current abilities and future potential. We'll also cover industry updates and a review of late summer disease management in squash.
2.0 DEC credits will be available in categories 23, 1a, and 10.
2024 Chipping Potato Twilight Meeting
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August 20, 2024
Dansville, NY
Join us for a brief, on-farm meeting including insect pest updates and viewing of the chipping potato variety trial. 1.0 DEC credits in categories 10, 1a, and 23 will be offered. Dinner follows!