Processing potential of potato cultivars at early harvests

Summary Assessments were made in three seasons of yields and tuber dry-matter percentages at harvests from June to early August in a range of cultivars gorwn at a coastal site in south-west Wales. Lareg differences in tuber dry-matter percentage were found between cultivars within seasons and also at similar dates between seasons.The cultivar Home Guard produced consistently high dry-matter percentages each year in the period from late June to early August but cv. Redord achieved similar or higher dry-matter contents after mid-Julyl. Most other cultivars produced lower dry matter percentages throughout the sampling period. The potential for the use of early maturing cultivars in late June and July for processing into crisps is discussed.