Fingerling potatoes, best variety?
 

wondering what are the best varieties to try in central Illinois? I know it's a little late

The Russian Banana fingerling potato is the one I wanted to plant, but I never found it. It is recommended for growing in my area in Texas. I did many searches for central Illinois, but didn't find anything useful. I even looked up fingerling potatoes for Chicago and still didn't find anything useful.

Everything I've read about Russian Banana fingerling potatoes - sounds really good. Buttery tasting with a waxy skin.

I go to Madison WI every once in a while to visit, they have an awesome farmers market on the square downtown on Saturdays... Always have a nice selection of fingerlings, but by that time it is way to late to plant them here... and I haven't had any luck keeping any over winter. Any good sources of seed fingerlings would greatly be appreciated.

In southeastern Wisconsin, I have grown Banana, Magic Molly and French Fingerling, all bought from Fedco. The one that produced the most for me was Banana, then FF and then Magic Molly. All were very tasty and I will be growing them all again this year.

Amazing harvest from one hill of French Fingerling last year - one small potato purchased as local farmer's market used as seed - these are nice roasted

[URL]http://pnwtomatoes.blogspot.ca/2014/08/july-22-plot-5s-bounty.html[/URL]

I've grown a dozen, Ozette, Banana, etc. I give high marks to Russian Banana for texture and flavor, but production is about half what I expect from La Ratte. I also love the flavor and testure of French Fingerling. My vote would be to grow La Ratte and French Fingerling.:panic:

I never grew potatoes before so this year is the first year, and i have to grow them in a root pouch as I have no more room in ground. My wife said i should grow finerlings, but I already ordered some Yukon Golds. I'll try them next year. I grow garlic and was thinking of growing Ozette, which is sold at the nursery i buy garlic from
[URL]http://www.filareefarm.com/seed-garlic-for-sale/Ozette-Fingerling-Potato.html[/URL]

They sell a couple others, but maybe I should grow the Banana as the nursery also state it is the easiest to grow.

I found Russian Banana fingerlings at my local Whole Foods and gonna give 'em a try planting.
1 1/2 lbs. for 3.99. I've had luck before growing from grocery-bought potatoes like this.

I like the Russian fingerlings and not a fingerling but I love the things are the Dutch Cream potato.
You should see what I can do with them with nutmeg, mace Irish butter white pepper and heavy cream.:love:

Worth

our local Menards carried 3 or 4 varieties, needless to say I got them all to try. I will be planting around May 1, hoepfully.

I have grown russian banana and austrian crescent and both were good. If you are going to grow a supermarket or farmers market potato make sure it is organic. Conventionally grown potatoes have a growth inhibitor sprayed on them so than can sit on the shelf without sprouting for alot longer.

Last year I grew papa cacho. They grew great long red fingerlings with some pink in the flesh. It was one of our favorites for roasting. I grew 15 different varieties of potatoes looking for ones that performed well in less than ideal soil, as well as the ability to set true potato seed. This year the winners will get better soil to see how they perform.

Papa Cacho is one of the varieties I'm trying this year, along with Peanut, French Fingerling, Rose Finn Apple, and LaRatte (all from The Maine Potato Lady).

Oh, and also the Russian Bananas I found at Whole Foods. We'll see.

Worth, if I didn't have a hubby and a home I would like to come live with you--LOL! You do the most interesting things, and the food you create sound wonderful, not to mention your escapades that you post about. I think you must be one of the most interesting- and real people in the world. You are a treasure!

[QUOTE=JoParrott;467743]Worth, if I didn't have a hubby and a home I would like to come live with you--LOL! You do the most interesting things, and the food you create sound wonderful, not to mention your escapades that you post about. I think you must be one of the most interesting- and real people in the world. You are a treasure![/QUOTE]

Thank you very much.
Sometimes people say the nicest things about me and I dont know why.:?

I would surely hope if that if the ones that haven't met me would still feel the same way if they did meet me.

Yes I have been called real many times by many people.
Some people dont like it.:lol:

Worth

I thought I might revive this thread as I am new here and planting season is just around the corner.

I grew Terra Rosa last year and highly recommend it. They have a red center as well as a red exterior. They have a super buttery flavor-I think they were best roasted. I bought 5 pounds of seed potatoes (ended up with six) and the yield was incredible. I would guess we'll over 100 pounds.

I have gotten potatoes from the following company for many years (used to be Ronninger's and Milk Ranch, now they are merged) and have had excellent service from them.

[url]http://www.potatogarden.com/[/url]

I'm on the outskirts of farm country and can buy a few common seed potato varieties in bulk at hardware stores and the grocery in nearby smaller communities. Garden centers carry seed potatoes, including Fingerlings, from Holland in small fancy boxes. Why Holland for potatoes?

- Lisa

[QUOTE=greenthumbomaha;541830]I'm on the outskirts of farm country and can buy a few common seed potato varieties in bulk at hardware stores and the grocery in nearby smaller communities. Garden centers carry seed potatoes, including Fingerlings, from Holland in small fancy boxes. Why Holland for potatoes?

- Lisa[/QUOTE]

Lisa, Holland/Netherlands and Belgium make the best darn fried potatoes in the world hands down.
I have had them in both counties and have spent the rest of my life trying to duplicate them.
One of the reasons is they use beef tallow the other is the variety.
Where the US is stuck on the reds and russets these people excel when it comes to potatoes.


Worth

Got my 5#s of assorted fingerlings ready to go this year, a lot of people around here plant on St Patricks Day, I'm going to wait a week or two.

Worth, I should jump over to the potato forum and learn more, thanks.

Back to fingerlings, Menards (midwest hardware store) has 4 varieties for 5 dollars each tiny bag.

[QUOTE=Worth1;541850]Lisa, Holland/Netherlands and Belgium make the best darn fried potatoes in the world hands down.
I have had them in both counties and have spent the rest of my life trying to duplicate them.
One of the reasons is they use beef tallow the other is the variety.
Where the US is stuck on the reds and russets these people excel when it comes to potatoes.


Worth[/QUOTE]

For those of you who grow fingerlings well, anything special about growing them? I did few fingerlnigs right next to Red Norland and while had good main crop, fingerling were few and between. So this year I am planning to do some pots with fingerlings.
Any suggestions?

Farmers Market Potatoes BIG Problem
 

Here in the Bozeman area many of the US supply of seed potatoes are grown. The problem with different potato diseases is critical to this major industry. Commercial sold seed potatoes are treated to prevent disease. Recently there have been small out breaks of disease blamed on grocery store or farmers market seed potatoes. So in our area do not buy untreated seed potatoes.

[QUOTE=whoose;549748]Here in the Bozeman area many of the US supply of seed potatoes are grown. The problem with different potato diseases is critical to this major industry. Commercial sold seed potatoes are treated to prevent disease. Recently there have been small out breaks of disease blamed on grocery store or farmers market seed potatoes. So in our area do not buy untreated seed potatoes.[/QUOTE]

Any idea as to what they treat them with?
Worth

Treatment??
 

I will ask my soil guru next time I see her. Probably nothing long lasting or too bad. More later.

[QUOTE=Lindalana;547863]For those of you who grow fingerlings well, anything special about growing them? I did few fingerlnigs right next to Red Norland and while had good main crop, fingerling were few and between. So this year I am planning to do some pots with fingerlings.
Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Lindalana, I've been growing fingerlings for 10 years and have tried various kinds. I find that fingerlings just produce less than "regular" white potatoes. I've grown both at the same time and the fingerlings always produce a smaller crop. I like them, so I keep growing them. Especially since they are very expensive to buy at the grocery store. Perhaps there is a reason for that. Less production equals higher price.

This will be my third year growing Austrian Crescent and Red Thumb from seeds I saved from the year before. Both are good and I get as good a yield as any other fingerling I've grown.

Jen

[QUOTE=imp;541497]I have gotten potatoes from the following company for many years (used to be Ronninger's and Milk Ranch, now they are merged) and have had excellent service from them.

[URL]http://www.potatogarden.com/[/URL][/QUOTE]

Hey Imp, since you garden in the heat like I do, can you tell me which potatoes you like best?

Worth1 Question
 

What do commercial growers of seed potatoes put on the potatoes to stop virus and blight?
Nothing, no really nothing. They do very comprehensive field inspection and scientific lab work to determine that all are free of any issues. This is very rigorous work to become or continue certification of disease free.

This seed potato business in southwest Montana is worth many Billions of dollars locally and many more Billions to the finial growers.

[QUOTE=whoose;551041]What do commercial growers of seed potatoes put on the potatoes to stop virus and blight?
Nothing, no really nothing. They do very comprehensive field inspection and scientific lab work to determine that all are free of any issues. This is very rigorous work to become or continue certification of disease free.

This seed potato business in southwest Montana is worth many Billions of dollars locally and many more Billions to the finial growers.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your reply I knew you would come through.
It came from something I read on the internet that I thought was a wee bit not right.
Due to the same thing you said.
Constant inspection.
If there was something found they would shut the field down for seed potato production from what I have read.

Worth

I positive test of 1,000's and the file is gone. But disease free seed potatoes.