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Summary
Current Licensees

‘Vanguard Russet’ is a fresh market russet potato with uniform, oblong, blocky tubers and with low incidence of internal and external defects. It has high yield of marketable tubers and wide adaptability. Vine size and growth habit of ‘Vanguard Russet’ are medium and semi-erect, and it matures midseason. It was selected based on its tuber type, shape, and skin characteristics. The name “Vanguard” means ‘front guard’ or ‘leading the way’.

Vanguard Russet Potatoes
Vanguard Russet Potatoes

Key Attributes

  • Fresh market russet potato (medium russet skin, white flesh)
  • Uniform tuber size and shape
  • Attractive blocky oblong tubers (higher width/length ratio than Russet Norkotah)
  • Tolerant to high temperature stress
  • Few external defects (fewer culls than Russet Norkotah)
  • Low incidence of external defects (hollow heart, second growth, and blackspot bruise)
  • High yield of marketable tubers, particularly in the 6-10 and 10-18 oz. classes
  • Wide adaptability (good performance in more than eight US States)
  • Medium plant size, semi-erect
  • Medium maturity
  • Good skin set
  • Resistant to common scab and Fusarium dry rot
  • Susceptible to PVY, but showing good disease expression (clear mosaic symptoms)
  • Weaknesses – low specific gravity and solids, susceptible to Verticillium wilt/early die, and shatter bruise

Management

  • Typically requires 160 to 200 pounds of nitrogen, depending on carryover and soil type
  • Not sensitive to Metribuzin
  • Medium-long dormancy. It stores better than Russet Norkotah
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