Red Companion: A New Red Potato Variety for Fresh Market

Red Companion is a medium-early maturing variety with round tubers, stable red skin, and white flesh. Its intended use is as a tablestock variety. Red Companion has consistently outyielded Dark Red Norland in state and regional trials. The vines are more vigorous and mature 10 days later than those of Dark Red Norland. Red Companion has a higher specific gravity and longer tuber dormancy than does Dark Red Norland. The sloughing of Red Companion potatoes after boiling is less than for Dark Red Norland or Red Pontiac. Less shatter bruise was found when handled in cold storage. Red Companion is less susceptible to soft rot (Erwinia carotovora) and corky ring spot (Tobacco Rattle Virus) than Dark Red Norland and has a medium resistance to early blight (Alternaria solani).