All Potatoes are Not Created Equal Submitted by Jackie Bantle
One of the most common questions I hear from eager vegetable gardeners is , “ What is the best potato to grow ?” My response is usually , “ What do you want to do with your potatoes ? All potatoes are not created equal .” According to the World Catalogue of Potato Varieties , there are at least 4500 cultivated varieties of potatoes in over 100 countries . In Canada alone , there are 160 registered cultivars .
Potato cultivars grown in Saskatchewan can be organized into one of four categories : red ( and purple ), russet , white or novelty .
Red skinned potato varieties are recommended for boiling since their flesh is usually more watery . Potatoes high in solids ( i . e . most russet varieties ) are preferred for frying as they use less oil or for baking ; these same potatoes usually become mushy when boiled . The cooking qualities of white skinned and novelty potatoes depend on the variety .
Pontiac was the long-established ‘ red-skinned ’ potato variety grown on the Prairies for many years . While Pontiac is early maturing , has good boiling qualities and usually produces excellent yields , it is also known for intense scab problems , hollow heart ( i . e . holes in the centre of the potato ) and deep-set eyes . A better choice for red potatoes is Norland . Norland ’ s skin is a brighter red and does not oversize as quickly as Pontiac . It is early maturing , somewhat resistant to scab and has excellent boiling qualities .
Other recommended red skinned potato cultivars recommended include Viking ( early maturing , but with oversize tubers late in the season ), Sangre ( midseason maturing , excellent boiling , medium sized tubers ) and AC Peregrine ( mid to late season maturity , uniform size and shape , resists oversizing , resistant to scab , the best storage variety of the reds ).
Two purple skinned cultivars with bright white flesh that perform well in the Prairie garden are Purple Viking ( early-maturing , large tubers and excellent flavour ) and Caribe ( mid-season maturity with good flavour ). as Netted Gem ) is the traditional russet potato . It is late maturing , oblong with brown russet skin with a dry texture making it an excellent choice baking or frying but often turns mushy when boiled . Growing Russet Burbank can be challenging in a dry climate like the Prairies as it is prone to hollow heart and knobs that form under variable moisture conditions during the growing season . Better choices for drier fleshed potatoes for baking or frying include Pacific Russet , Ranger Russet , Goldrush and Russet Norkotah . This last cultivar produces a very uniform potato but is not as flavourful as the others .
Shepody is an all-purpose potato with white skin and excellent flavour and can be used boiling , French frying and baking . It has excellent yields but tends to oversize later in the season and is susceptible to scab and hollow heart .
Yukon Gold ( good yields , boiling , baking or fried ) and Bintje ( late maturing with excellent yields of small to medium sized potatoes ) are both yellow-fleshed cultivars recommended for their flavour .
A few unique potato cultivars to try include : Banana or French Fingerling ( long to banana-shaped , small , yellow-fleshed tubers ), Russian Blue ( purple skin and purple flesh ) and All Red ( red skin and red flesh ). Eagle Creek Farms from Bowden , Alberta ( www . seedpotatoes . ca ) is an excellent source for unique and interesting seed potatoes including heritage varieties . Orders are accepted between January- April for shipment from April to mid-May . Specialty potato varieties may also be found in your local garden centres .
Always plant certified potato seed , preferably locally grown . You can reduce the risk of spreading devastating potato and soil diseases by purchasing local potato seed grown by experienced Saskatchewan seed potato growers .
Russet Burbank ( formerly known ABOVE : Spuds ( Jackie Bantle ) martensville messenger - marCH 2 , 2017 - Page 5
With just over a month left in the NHL ’ s regular season the trade deadline is on the horizon . March 1st is the last day for teams to make changes to help their playoff push ( buyers ) or for some teams to start rebuilding ( sellers ). The Colorado Avalanche are the top sellers this year after a terrible season . The Av ’ s have just 17 wins and are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention . The team ’ s young stars Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog are the two hottest names on the trade market . Duchene was drafted 3rd overall by Colorado back in 2009 and has been an offensive gem , scoring around 60 points per season over 7 seasons . This year has not been stellar for the 26-yearold center who has just 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points this season . Duchene has two years left on his contract that earns him $ 6 million per year . The other young gun on the trade block for Colorado is 24-year-old Gabriel Landeskog . The 2nd overall pick in 2011 has averaged around 50 points in each of his 5 seasons but , like Duchene , has struggled this year only managing 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points this season . Landeskog has four years left on his contract that earns him $ 5.57 million per year . Another player for Colorado who may be on the move is veteran right winger Jarome Iginla . Iginla is on the home stretch of an illustrious career and has tallied over 600 goals , 1200 points , and 1024 penalty minutes . The 39-year-old has won just about every championship in hockey . “ Iggy ” has won the Memorial Cup , World Junior Gold , World Championship Gold , and two Olympic Golds . There is just one thing missing from his trophy case and that is a Stanley Cup . This may be the last year for Iginla in the NHL and he is hoping to go to a Cup contender so that he can take one more shot at Lord Stanley ’ s Mug . Some teams got a bit of a head start on the deadline . The Tampa Bay Lightning traded starting goaltender Ben Bishop to the LA Kings for goalie Peter Budaj , defenseman Erik Cernak , a 7th round pick , and a conditional pick if the Kings make the playoffs in the 2017 draft . The Kings will also receive a 5th round pick in 2017 . The Lightning also traded away forward Brian Boyle to the Toronto Maple Leafs for prospect Byron Froese and a second round pick in 2017 . Brian Boyle had 13 goals and 9 assists this year with Tampa Bay . The Arizona Coyotes are starting a rebuild after trading center Martin Hanzal to the Minnesota Wild for three draft picks . A 1st round pick in 2017 , 2nd round pick in 2018 , and a conditional pick in the 2019 draft .
Ball season is right around the corner and spring training is well under way . The Toronto Blue Jays have started their Grapefruit League action down in Florida but still have some decisions to make . The Jay ’ s starting rotation looks solid with the likes of Marcus Stroman , Aaron Sanchez , J . A . Happ , Marco Estrada , and Francisco Liriano . Roberto Osuna has the closer position locked up and the only questions are with the relief pitching . Joe Biagini is looking to take the brunt of the workload but other than that there are no real solids . Toronto is looking to have a third straight playoff season and this year to make it to the World Series .
Members of the Warman / Martensville Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police attended a total of 190 calls and 79 traffic charges were laid during the week of February 20th to February 27th , 2017 .
TRAFFIC Charges laid in Warman accident
February 24th at 4:47 pm a two vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Central Street West and 1st Avenue North in Warman . There were no injuries . Charges were laid to the driver who drove through a stop sign .
two taken to Hospital Following accident
February 26th at 1:30 pm a two vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 11 and the south entrance to Warman . Two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries . One vehicle proceeded to cross the Highway before safe to do so . Charges are pending .
PROPERTY
main gate Cut in Corman Park Break and enter
February 20th at 1:50 pm a break and enter was reported at Commercial Sandblasting in the North Corman Industrial Park . This occurred sometime overnight . The main gate lock was cut off and a vehicle was entered .
Police receive numerous Calls in Warman
February 24th at 6:30 am a report of a window smashed on a vehicle in Warman was received . The garage door was opened , but nothing taken . Several other calls were received from the same area throughout the morning .
Female Charged in martensville theft
February 25th at 6:45 pm the Martensville Co-Op grocery store caught a 28 year old female stealing from the store . She was charged with theft .
investigation Continues in martensville theft
February 22nd at 11:00 am a complaint of theft was received from the Martensville Co-Op Grocery store . The matter is under investigation .
two trucks stolen From martensville Driveway
February 24th at 6:00 am two trucks were reported stolen from a driveway in Martensville . They have not been recovered .
PEOPLE animal Cruelty reported near saskatoon
February 21st at 1:30 pm members were advised of a matter of animal cruelty west of Saskatoon .
suspicious Kids reported in Warman
February 21st at 4:10 am two suspicious kids were reported near the Legends Center in Warman . Patrols were made but kids could not be located .
attempted Break and enter reported in martensville
February 27th at 2:50 am a person was observed trying to break into vehicles in Martensville . The subject jumped into a waiting vehicle .
NOTICE
if you have information regarding these or any other crimes , please contact Warman / martensville rCmP at 306-975-1670 / 306-975-1610 or if you have information and you wish to remain anonymous in your reporting , please contact Crime stoppers at 1-800- 222-tiPs ( 8477 ), submit a tip via their website : http :// saskcrimestoppers . com / or text in a tip : tiP206 + your tip to Crimes ( 274637 ).