This article appears in the February 2017 issue of Potato Grower.
Blazer Russet is an early maturing, dual-purpose russet with excellent processing qualities developed by the Tri-State Breeding and Research program and PVP-applied for in 2006. Russet was recently accepted by McDonald’s for production of the fast-food chain’s french fries. The variety is currently grown primarily in Maine and eastern Canada. A full list of Blazer Russet seed growers can be found at www.pvmi.org.
Parentage
A7816 × Norking Russet
Key Attributes
- Early yield and grade, good alternative to Shepody
- Outstanding culinary qualities
- Resistant to external defects
- Attractive appearance for fresh pack
- Resistance to black spot bruise similar to Russet Burbank, better than Ranger Russet
Management
- Optimal seed piece spacing for 36-inch rows is 9 to 11 inches with a planting depth 5 to 6 inches. Blazer Russet has an intermediate number of uniformly distributed eyes. Seed piece size should range from 2 to 3 ounces.
- Requires 90 to 100 percent of nitrogen required for Russet Burbank (200 to 220 pounds per acre in southeastern Idaho). However, a higher proportion of the seasonal nitrogen requirement should be applied early in the growing season to support its earlier tuber development. Typically, one-half to two-thirds of the total nitrogen requirement should be applied by row closure, with subsequent in-season applications made via sprinkler irrigation based on petiole nitrate concentrations.
- Seasonal irrigation requirements similar to those for Russet Burbank
- Resistant to water stress-related tuber defects. Available soil moisture should be maintained within the range of 65 to 80 percent
Storage
- Tuber dormancy 40 to 50 days shorter than Russet Burbank
- In the absence of tuber dry rot problems, can be stored up to nine months for processing or fresh market uses.
- Good resistance to metribuzin when applied at labeled rates