Link to The Extreme Gardener dot com

[Tom Wagner]

I guess I should always be thankful that someone can be inspired to try growing potatoes from true seed. I read a post from HGG about this and thought I would bring it over to my forum for reference, if nothing else.

theextremegardener.com/?p=217

One of my two Blue Shetland offspring, Hurley’s Purple Gold, very closely resembles its parent, and I was fortunate enough to collect a viable seed ball from it in 1996. But, after my initial experience growing potatoes from TPS, I was a bit leery of the time and space required, at least the way I went about it the first time. However, last winter I was inspired to try it again by the videos of Tom Wagner’s TPS workshop at Bifurcated Carrots.
Tom has a genius growing method for TPS that speeds up the process, and requires very little space. I don’t have a greenhouse, so all my seedlings are started on windowsills, which makes me very picky about starting seedlings early. Initially, I was going to get some TPS from Tom but I came across the old seed from Hurley’s Purple Gold and decided to go with that.

Thanks for making those comments about my potato work.

Tom

[wmontanez]

That is a great post. That person had a lot more pounds from the TPS seedling hill that what I got but it's an inspiration for next growing season. All the Open pollinated TPS I got from you tuber lines are germinating in my window sill. I am noticing some Amey OP is showing red stems and I don't recall the mother Amey having stems dark at all but the plant next to it was Lumper and 225710. And some of the Cosima x Tom Kaighin OP TPS is growing so vigorously that is overgrowing the TPS seedlings next to it. Reiche Tom OP is also doing very good. I will post some more in tomatoville as time goes on.

[Tom Wagner]

Thanks Wendy for posting

Obviously, this is a poor time to grow potato seedlings...too cool, not enough light, etc. However I like to hear about these efforts.

The Amey seedlings that are showing red in the stems sounds like it may be crossed by PI 225710 - Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigenum - CCC 278 - Cauca, Colombia . It will throw red or blue stems. I sent this clone to you because it used to be classified as phureja until recently and for this reason I think it has some unique genetic history. Since 225710 has thrown resistance for virus A and virus S, and resistance to late blight and leaf roll virus, I expect some of your Amey X to carry these in the tolerance package.

The Cosima x Tom Kaighin crosses have done well for me and as you noted, the F-2 is showing outstanding vigor. The cross that I harvested just a few days ago was he Cosighin clone...yellow skin, yellow flesh, and purple eyes.
This family cross has the old German variety - Erdgold- from 80 years ago in both sides of the pedigree, therefore the pedigree complex is over 25% Erdgold. Personally, I attribute Erdgold as a major component of the flavor of Cosima x Tom Kaighin as well as many modern European yellow fleshed varieties.

Wendy, don't forget I have some great clones with TPS that would work well in Puerto Rico. Good heat tolerance with super late blight res. and Bacterial Wilt resistance....always a must in the tropics.

Tom

[wmontanez]

Tom, thanks for the background information. I always enjoy reading your posts, I learn a lot from them. I will be very busy with so many new possibilities from your tuber lines intercrossing and giving me OP TPS to play with plus the potato seeds that I saved from your tater sampler. Even thou I have plenty going for next growing season I am still interested in your red flesh inventory to add to my Massachusetts garden.

I haven't forgot about your selection of clones or tps for the tropics, you mentioned both in private message and in the tomatoville forum about some of the work you were doing with breeding the trichome hairs, Late Blight res etc. I was waiting until you made your offerings public or announce your website. I think it is important for folks to support your research, particularly because I think your work is amazing and bring so much diversity. A pleasure to grow some of the candidates you have and report back.

Let me know how to proceed to order some, perhaps a similar offer 1lb of tiny tubers or 10 clones to start?. We could have other folks interested here or in Tomatoville to grow some more. I am planning to make a short trip to visit my mom in February and would be great to plant them in the family garden since I have been unable to secure a collaborator in the island.

How's that PDF file with your lines/info website going? I can help with some PDF or PowerPoint presentation making if you want some help.

[Tom Wagner]

Wendy,

If you are leaving for Puerto Rico in Feb., I will make sure one way or another to get some tubers to you before then.

Nothing yet on the web site

[thefuture]

Dec 21, 2010 21:00:30 GMT -8 Tom Wagner said:

Wendy, don't forget I have some great clones with TPS that would work well in Puerto Rico. Good heat tolerance with super late blight res. and Bacterial Wilt resistance....always a must in the tropics.

Tom

don't forget me
don't forget me
don't forget me

[thefuture]

Is it correct that Wendy lives in PR? I am slated to visit there next year...

[Tom Wagner]

Wendy lives is MA but her mom is still in Puerto Rico.

Future, I think having you and Wendy trying tropical TPS would be advantageous. And the same families, too!

So... no forgetting you.

[wmontanez]

I am a transplant living in Massachusetts. I lived most of my live in Puerto Rico. Would be very interesting to compare notes on tropical varieties from Tom's breeding work.

PR has a very rainy/hot season starting in June to September, after that the weather is milder, less rain and more suitable in my opinion to try to grow potatoes from end of October to early April. That would be great for me since my season in MA runs from April to October...meaning-non stop potato fun .

[thefuture]

The varities I am about to try (again) are:

9 Dings / Skagit Valley Gold
AWOL Dude
Finns Fingerling
October Blood
Skagit Beets
Skagit Valley Gold / Viva El Sol F1

I know I am short on one of these - finns fingerling I think - but the rest I have enough to do a second trial. I managed to kill all of them the first time around.

[wmontanez]

How did you manage to kill them all? Weather alone probably did help a little. I saw a picture of skagit beets, very nice looking red flesh. I grew this year Skagit Valley Gold and I should add that is one of the best boiled potatoes I had so far...had to stop myself from sampling them. I tried them roasted, good too.

I haven't seen pictures of AWOL dude or October Blood. Could you post some pics or open a new thread when you start them? I would like to follow the progress, I enjoy seeing the pictures ;D.

Any relations to Nordic October? I grew it this year but saved all for seeds for next year.

[Tom Wagner]

Future, looks like most of those are in the next generation of offspring. I should have lots of TPS of this new group.

Let me know what you need.

[thefuture]

Wendy,
It was a case of neglect. I transplanted them on another property and did not visit often enough to water them hence they all died. I suspect wild chickens in the area scratching around didn't help but can't blame them if they did in fact play a part. This time around I have a chicken free area for them and will be sure they stay watered. I need to re-watch the video links for the techniqe to make sure I get it right too.

Tom,
I'm not following what you mean by "most of those are in the next generation of offspring". What do you mean?

[Tom Wagner]

I have seedlings of seedlings. Offspring of the listed ones. The next generation. New names, etc.

[melissa]

Dec 21, 2010 18:32:49 GMT -8 Tom Wagner said:

I guess I should always be thankful that someone can be inspired to try growing potatoes from true seed. I read a post from HGG about this and thought I would bring it over to my forum for reference, if nothing else.

theextremegardener.com/?p=217

One of my two Blue Shetland offspring, Hurley’s Purple Gold, very closely resembles its parent, and I was fortunate enough to collect a viable seed ball from it in 1996. But, after my initial experience growing potatoes from TPS, I was a bit leery of the time and space required, at least the way I went about it the first time. However, last winter I was inspired to try it again by the videos of Tom Wagner’s TPS workshop at Bifurcated Carrots.
Tom has a genius growing method for TPS that speeds up the process, and requires very little space. I don’t have a greenhouse, so all my seedlings are started on windowsills, which makes me very picky about starting seedlings early. Initially, I was going to get some TPS from Tom but I came across the old seed from Hurley’s Purple Gold and decided to go with that.

Thanks for making those comments about my potato work.

Tom