Potato Flowers 2022 (Part 1?)

Year after year, potato flower posts rank near the top of the most popular content on this site, so I know you like potato flowers.  Due to difficult weather and a late planting, mine are behind schedule this year and really just coming into widespread flowering.  With a few exceptions, these are seedling varieties from 2021 that were selected for 4, 8, or 16 plant trials this year, depending on my confidence in their virtues.  There are four blocks represented here: the diploid block, the yellow flesh block, the blue flesh block, and the expanded Llumchuy Waqachi population, which is a group of seedlings derived from crosses with Llumchuy Waqachi, aiming for a better long day adapted type.  There are other blocks that aren’t in flower just yet, planted later to limit the amount of natural cross pollination between incompatible blocks (for example, if blues and reds are in flower at the same time, more of the progeny will be blues, since blue is dominant over red.)

I am learning to use a new (real) camera, rather than my phone, so forgive the imperfect focus on some of these.  The pictures can be a lot better than with the phone, but they can be a lot worse too.  My near vision is also getting worse as I get older, which adds new and interesting challenges.

Diploid group: Jancko Phinu seedling
Diploid group: Jancko Phinu seedling
Diploid group: BS278 (tuberosum haploid) seedling
Diploid group: Valparaiso (S. maglia hybrid) seedling
Diploid group: Valparaiso (S. maglia hybrid) seedling
Diploid group: Valparaiso (S. maglia hybrid) seedling
Diploid group: Valparaiso (S. maglia hybrid) seedling
Diploid group: Valparaiso (S. maglia hybrid) seedling
Wild potato: Solanum maglia
Llumchuy Waqachi group: LW x Loowit cross
Yellow flesh group: Inka Gold x Nebula
Yellow flesh group: Yungay seedling
Yellow flesh group: Yungay seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Negro y Azul seedling
Blue flesh group: Azul Toro seedling
Blue flesh group: Azul Toro seedling
Blue flesh group: Azul Toro seedling
Blue flesh group: Azul Toro seedling
Blue flesh group: Azul Toro seedling
What the heck? A red flesh potato in the blue group? Well, nobody’s perfect. Negro y Azul seedling with a sloppily written R that looked like a B.
Blue flesh group: Desiloo seedling showing the characteristic underdeveloped anthers inherited from Desiree.
Blue flesh group: Blue Bolivian x Negro y Azul
Blue flesh group: Nebula seedling
Wild potato: Solanum juzepczukii
Wild potato: Solanum x edinense
Blue flesh group: Blue Rose seedling
Blue flesh group: Blue Rose seedling
Genebank seed bulking: Best of PI 232842 #1
Genebank seed bulking: Best of PI 232842 #2

2 thoughts on “Potato Flowers 2022 (Part 1?)

  1. Tom Wagner says:

    William, you are so right, potato blossoms reign supreme with people interested in TPS (true potato seed). Of the 42 photos of different varieties fully 57% have a pedigree that goes back to my now ancient era of potato breeding, namely Negro y Azul. Azul Toro and October Blue with a touch of Mt St Helens

    Brings back memories!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *