Effects of date of planting on growth and yield of contrasting potato varieties in Pembrokeshire

SummaryFour experiments over 2 years which examined the effects of date of planting (from mid-March to early May) on the growth and yield of early, second early and maincrop potato varieties are described. In two experiments the seed used was physiologically old (heavily sprouted) and in the other two experiments relatively young seed (limited sprout development) was used. In the early variety, Home Guard, tuber yield at maturity was unaffected by delay in planting when physiologically old seed was used but increased leaf area and higher tuber yields resulted from later planting of younger seed. With both types of seed the maincrop varieties, Desirée and Maria Piper, produced larger leaf areas from later planting in one year but smaller leaf areas in the other year. In both years with both types of seed, tuber yields at the end of August were higher from the earlier plantings of these varieties. The physiologically young seed of Red Craig's Royal behaved in a similar manner to the maincrop varieties and the physiologically old seed behaved in a similar way to Home Guard.Any yield advantages of early varieties over maincrop varieties from any date of planting were small and short-lived and the physiological reasons for differences between varieties are discussed in the light of these results. It is suggested that the current classification of varieties is unjustified and that variety testing should take more account of the effects of physiological age.Tuber yields from the maincrop varieties were very high (60·80 t/ha) and this is attributed to the synchrony of leaf growth and increasing light receipts which may be readily achieved in the mild springs of W. Wales.