Hello and happy March! I know we’re 8 days into it, but I am still surprised that it’s here. I guess all the snow keeps me thinking it’s winter. But spring is around the corner and I am hustling to get ready.

 

Dreaming of spring…

EDIT: There was a mistake in the evaluation guidelines, which I fixed – thanks to Brook Wilke for his sharp eye!. If you downloaded the guidelines before March 18 2013 at 6pm, your version gives the wrong set of rating guidelines for hopperburn.

For all our collaborators and potential collaborators: I have posted our potato variety evaluation guidelines, and I would love to hear your feedback on them. The first page gives overall advice on setting up the trial. There is a farm information sheet, to record some information about your growing environment and management – this helps with comparing evaluations between farms. Then there is an “in-season” evaluation, for looking at plant growth and the effects of weeds, insects and diseases, and a harvest evaluation. The in-season evaluation has a set of guidelines, followed by two sheets, one for early-mid summer and one for late summer or early fall. The “harvest” evaluation is one sheet, for recording the yield of harvested tubers (total and marketable), and the main reasons for culling tubers. Finally, there is a taste evaluation  – just in case you want to taste the fruit (well, tubers) of your labors!

I have tried to keep the evaluations straightforward and quick. Do they make sense to you, and does this style of evaluation seem feasible for you? Any suggestions? If the forms seem intimidating, PLEASE tell me! I want to make this as accessible as possible, and I need your help to do that. Thanks!

ETA: if your comment does not appear immediately, it is because I have to approve it before it appears. Please be patient!

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