Planting potatoes in your Prairie plot need not be a perplexing predicament so long as you follow these tuber tips and techniques
“What is the best potato to grow?” is one of the most common questions that I often hear from eager vegetable gardeners. According to the World Catalogue of Potato Varieties (co-edited by Lukie Pieterse and Uwe Hils), there are at least 4,500 cultivated varieties of potatoes in more than 100 countries around the world. The best potato for you to grow depends on the end use.
Potato cultivars typically found in Saskatchewan can be organized into one of four categories: white, russet, red or novelty.
Red skinned potato varieties are recommended for boiling since their flesh is usually more watery. Russet varieties generally have more solids/tuber and usually become mushy when boiled. Potatoes that are high in solids are preferred for frying as they use less oil. The cooking qualities of white skinned and novelty potatoes are dependent on the variety.
Traditional potato varieties on the Prairies have included mainstays like Russet Burbank (formerly known as `Netted Gem'). Russet Burbank has a dry texture and is excellent as a baking potato or french fry but often turns mushy when boiled. Growing Russet Burbank can be challenging in a dry climate like the Prairies as this variety is prone to hollow heart (i.e. holes in the centre of the potato) and knobs when moisture conditions fluctuate during the growing season. Better choices for drier fleshed potatoes that are good for baking or french fries include Gold rush, Gemstar Russet, Umatilla and Ranger Russet.
Pontiac was the traditional red-skinned potato variety grown on the Prairies for many years. Pontiac is early maturing, recommended for boiling and usually produces excellent yields of large-sized tubers. However, Pontiac is also known for its intense scab problems, hollow heart and deep eyes.
SEE POTATOES 6