2013 Season Highlights - Potatoes

As previously mentioned, I grew small container crops of potatoes this year that tucked away neatly between the beds. Yields were small to medium but provided plenty of seasonal fodder.

It's interesting to note that none of the varieties actually bloomed except for Russian Blue which produced seed pods as well. (I'll be experimenting with those next year).

Warba

Blue Russian and seed pods (aka TPS - true potato seed)

Unknown supermarket. I suspect a Chieftain relative.

Sieglinde

Russian Banana fingerlings

Yukon Gold

Chieftain organic

I grew Chieftain before so nothing new there. Blue Russian does tend to be starchy while Sieglinde, Russian Banana and Yukon Gold are waxy and firm - just how I like 'em. Top producers: Yukon Gold, Russian Banana and Warba.

Warba

I'm growing spuds this year! (Why the exclamation point? Well, last time I did was in 2009, the year Late Blight swept the Northeast. Are we headed for a repeat?). I'm growing small, container crops of seven varieties. First up:

Warba

An early variety (some say mid-season). Pale skin and flesh. Pink eyes. Good for boiling and baking. They were planted April 27th and flowered (just barely) roughly 2 weeks ago.

Warba (right). I thought the chits were a bit sketchy
but they did well regardless

Simple straw-lined wire basket setup



Day 60 (or thereabouts). I think they were just starting to flower.
Curiously, the tiny buds didn't actually bloom.



Yield: not huge but decent for 3-4 seeds.
Roughly a dozen large, a dozen medium and a dozen small spuds




Modest but delicious little lunch. Lettuce, courtesy of the garden, as well.

Verdict: Nice potato. Good taste. (The neighbors seem to agree). A variety I would definitely grow again. Anyone with a longer growing season, or even me in a good year, could manage 2 crops.