[tagwex]

We grew a few drills of roosters last year and got a reasonable crop. My lovely woman is and always has been a Golden Wonder woman (in many different ways!) and nothing else will do. However, she is now semi-converted to roosters and wants me to grow them again. This evening she stated that our roosters were really nice and more flavoursome than anything ever commercially grown bought in the shops. I haven't a clue but put it down to the ground which had grown nothing for 11 years and had gone wild and the non use of any additives, fertilisers or sprays. She also stated that they are really white as compared to ones that are more yellow in colour that she has seen before. Just wondering is this colour variation possible and what would cause it?

[Greengage]

Are you sure its Rooster you bought and planted as they are often mistaken for the Desiree potato because it’s pretty similar in colour and appearance. Rooster have a deeper coloured red skin and has deeper set eyes or indentations on the skin. the Desiree was bred in Holland in 1962 and has yellow flesh, while the Rooster was bred in ireland.
I looked up both on the British variety data base and here is what it said,
http://www.varieties.potato.org.uk/display_description.php?variety_name=Rooster
http://www.varieties.potato.org.uk/display_description.php?variety_name=Desiree
Buyer beware.........

[tagwex]

They are very similar indeed. I 'bought' my seed from my cousin who is a commercial grower and he said they were roosters so anymore than that I cannot tell you. When I say bought what I actually mean is that he gave me his leftovers!
Thanks for the input though.

[Greengage]

I think you've answered the question, You did not receive certified seed in a in a packet with all the info from a reputable supplier (Not saying your cousin is not reputable) If I gave you some seed potatoes and told you they were Rooster could you tell the difference between them and Desiree, Or even King Edward and Kestrel, I couldn't, So what are you going to do to convince the wife you know what your about, I would plant both the Rooster and Desiree and say nothing see if she notices.

[tagwex]

Now that is just devious.

Ahh but the seed is certified, the cous assured me of that, sure it would have to be seeing as that is his business. Having looked at the links that you posted up then I would consider myself to be not expert enough to tell a rooster and a disiree apart and I will take your word for it about the other two as well. Miss Golden Wonder is not the wife, I am living with a wan for the last few years, tried the marriage thing - didn't work out, but one thing I have found out that there is no codding this woman - far too clever and sharp for me!!!

The question is not answered as I wanted to know if there are colour variations to be had in the roosters. Maybe it is down to local conditions, maybe there are variations in the seed stock, maybe they change colour depending how long they are in storage or maybe we are just wrong in thinking it so. We were just wondering.

[My Potatoes]

You know when you buy something made from a natural material, say a leather couch, and it comes with a warning to the effect "this product is made from a natural material. Variations in colour, texture, etc., are a normal feature...".

To answer your question:

[tagwex]

Good man my potatoes, question answered, it's soil conditions then. I presumed you would be the one to answer in the end. Thanks.