The University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center
Potato varieties grown in California
The authors are: R. E. Voss, Extension Vegetable Specialist, Davis; V. H. Schweers, Farm Advisor, Tulare County; D. N. Wright, Farm Advisor, Kern County; J. C. Bishop, Associate Specialist, Department of Vegetable Crops, USDA Cotton Research Station, Shafter; H. Timm, Specialist, Department of Vegetable Crops, Davis; O. A. Harvey, Farm Advisor, Riverside County; K. G. Baghott, Farm Advisor, Modoc-Siskiyou Counties; and M. J. Snyder, Farm Advisor, Santa Barbara County.
Over 100 new potato varieties have been released to growers and gardeners throughout the United States in the past 50 years. Despite this, most potato acreage in California is still planted to the same varieties grown 20 to 30 years ago: White Rose, Russet Burbank, and Kennebec. Of these, only Kennebec variety has
been developed since 1930. The Centennial variety is now being grown in large acreages in the sandy soils of Southern San Joaquin Valley. Several other releases also have potential for California conditions, and more will be available in the near future. Included are russet skinned varieties suitable for the hot interior valleys, more disease resistant storage potatoes for northern California, and varieties suitable for chipping. Attention is being given to processing of all types, as the consumption of potatoes is more than 50 percent from the processed form, and is increasing. Tables 1 and 2 summarize production areas, variety characteristics, and market use of potato varieties currently grown in California. Table 2 also lists several varieties thought to have potential (this information is based on annual variety trials in which yield and quality characteristics of recent releases and potential releases are compared with standard varieties).
TABLE 1. PRODUCTION AREAS AND APPROXIMATE ACRES OF POTATO VARIETIES ADAPTABLE TO CALIFORNIA
Variety Major production areas Approximate Acres 1974-1978
White Rose Southern San Joaquin Valley, Delta, Riverside 25,000
Russet Burbank Tulelake, Central Coast 16,000
Kennebec Southern San Joaquin Valley, Riverside, Central Coast, North Coast 12,000
Red La Soda Southern San Joaquin Valley, Riverside, Delta 3,000
Norgold Russet Southern San Joaquin Valley, Riverside 2,000
Centennial Southern San joaquin Valley 3,000
Chieftain Southern San Joaquin Valley, Delta 1,000
Others 3,000
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