'Peter Wilcox' Seed Potatoes

Solanum tuberosum

Origin: Maryland

Improvement status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: One pound

Life cycle: Perennial, grown as an annual

Developed by USDA researcher Kathleen Haynes, based in Beltsville, MD, in collaboration with farmers in Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida, 'Peter Wilcox' was released in 2007. It was bred both for superior flavor and high nutritional content. It has high vitamin C levels and especially high carotenoids, including the eye-protecting antioxidants zeaxanthin and lutein. A New York Times food editor described the taste as "a full earthy flavor with hints of hazelnuts." It has an attractive purple skin color and a medium to dark yellow flesh. 'Peter Wilcox' is sometimes also known as 'Purple Sun' and Blue Gold. Peter Wilcox the man was a professor in the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Program at Loyola College in Baltimore.

Early to mid season variety.

These seed potatoes were grown organically by our friend Jesse at Mythic Farm in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. They have been tested and certified for all potato disease requirements.

GROWING TIPS: From EFN co-founder Dusty Hinz:

"I like to plant potatoes a foot apart in rows that are three feet apart. I find it preferable to plant whole tubers rather than cutting them, especially for small to medium-sized ones, but I would potentially cut the larger ones for better bang for buck (if I had bought them).

Or, if I grew the potatoes, I would eat all the large ones and only plant small to small-medium sized ones and not cut them. Part of the reason we have selected the potato varieties that we have is that they are on the small to medium side of things and so most tubers will not need to be cut. If you do cut your potatoes before planting, do it 2-3 days before and as many as 4-5 days before, so as to allow them to harden off.

You can plant your seed potatoes two weeks before the last frost if you want, or anytime in the month of May is fine. Best to plant prior to June though (for Northern climates). 

I have planted potatoes as much as one foot deep, though the internet in most places tends to recommend 6-8 inches or less. I have found that even at a foot deep it will shoot right up through the soil (particuarly if it is well worked) in no time. Planting this deep may allow you to not need to hill them up as soon, or as much. So sometimes what I have done is plant them one foot deep with the intention of hilling them possibly just once really thoroughly. But hilling 1-3 times during the season is standard practice if you wish. At a smaller scale it might be easier for you to hill multiple times.

If you are cutting your potatoes into relatively smaller pieces I would not recommend planting them as deep. A whole medium-sized tuber is going to have more strength and can be planted deeper.

When you are hilling you can cover the entire plant with soil so you can no longer see it.

Harvest the tubers maybe about two weeks after the plants have died off. Watch out for heavy rains and water-logged soil that may make them begin to rot a little."