GEM RUSSET (A 8495-1)

Characteristics Shape: Long Skin: Russet Flesh: White Market Use: Fresh and Processing Market Medium Maturing

Gem Russet is a Medium maturing fresh market/processing potato released in 1999 by USDA in Aberdeen, ID. It ranks high in all taste tests. It has an attractive tuber type, good fry color even when stored at cooler temperatures, long storage ability and resistance to net necrosis.


Plant/root Plants emerge Moderately and produce a vine that is medium and compact with a determinate growth habit. A deep spreading root system helps provide adequate water and nutrient uptake for the large vines.

Tubers have white flesh and are long with a light russet skin. Eyes are shallow and well distributed; tubers consistently have high specific gravity (1.085).

Yield potential 400 to 450 cwt. range with a high percentage of No. l's.

GROWING SEASON MANAGEMENT

Pre-planting considerations Tubers have a long dormancy; either single drop or cut seed is acceptable. Germination tends to be uniform, regardless of eye location on the tuber. Adequate warming of seed is very important (10 days at 65 F) to planting obtain uniform emergence. Plant this cultivar 2 to 4 inches deep.
Fertility (soil test basis; lbs/acre)

Apply total fertilizer in the following range: N(l60-180#), P(80-190#), K(0-100#). Performance in alkaline soils is excellent. Pre-plant incorporated N should be 80 to 100#. Early season N applications does not appear to affect timing an amount of tuberization. Sprinkler applied N should be 60# applied at a rate of 20# per application, no later than early-August. Late applications of nitrogen can result in problems with skin set.

Irrigation Irrigation interval at the maximum ET is 3 days. Drought tolerance is excellent.

Pest control

Weeds Competition against weeds is good with no major herbicide sensitivities known.

Insects Standard insect control measures generally are effective, but must be applied in a timely manner as PVY spread by aphids can be a problem.

Fungicides Control of foliar early blight usually is accomplished with one to two fungicide applications. Leak can be a problem in this variety so planting application of ridomil is recommended.

Tuber/bulking Tubers set in the middle of the hill and spread throughout by the end of the season. Under proper fertility tuber bulking occurs evenly throughout the season. Tuber set averages 9 to 10 tubers per plant. Tubers are moderately resistant to hollow heart, second growth, growth cracks blackspot and shatter bruise.

Vine kill Average days from planting to vine kill are 100 to 110 days. Vine killing is required. Excessive N can delay maturity making this operation much more difficult. However, once mature, vine killing is readily accomplished. Adequate skin set occurs within 21 days unless excessive application of nitrogen was applied late season.

STORAGE MANAGEMENT

Gem Russet stores well with few problems and sprouting is negligible. Leak can occur at harvest so, if present, adequate drying of the pile may be necessary.

DISEASE REACTION

Overall disease problems are minimal. Bacterial ring rot foliar symptom expression is somewhat mild and occurs within 90 days after planting. This variety is susceptible to PVY and it is difficult to identify as naturally the plants look like other PVY infected varieties.

Disease reaction ratings susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderate, moderately resistant andresistant,