Comments on: potato tower – results

By: onestraw

onestraw — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:33:51 +0000

I’ve heard the late variety explanation too, and will try to flush it out with my three towers next year – my focus will be on late varieties know to be high yielding. Bob’s Bintje are a good candidate. Here is a GREAT resource to compare spuds from my seed source Moose Tubers:
http://www.fedcoseeds.com/moose/varietychart.htm

I will likely try their Burbank Russet (Very Late – but I really don’t like russets), Romanze (the red / yellow sounds intriguing), and perhaps Desiree (we were very impressed with its yields in the field)
-Rob

By: Spink Bickle

Spink Bickle — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:18:20 +0000

Thank so much for the indeterminate / determinate explanation. That makes alot of sense. I believe we planted Kennebec potatos, but I will be sure to follow your advise for next year.

Eric

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:32:35 +0000

What variety of potato did you use? I found that towers really only work with late varieties such as Bintje. Yours look like they could be Bintje but also look like Yukon Gold which is not late enough.

The idea is that the late varieties are indeterminate, which means that they keep setting potatoes throughout the season (and throughout the tower). But early season potatoes are determinate, i.e., they set fruit only once, down near the bottom.

Hope you have great success next year. I will follow along!

Bob