Kennebec potato facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Potato 'Kennebec'
Genus	Solanum
Species	Solanum tuberosum
Cultivar	'Kennebec'
Breeder	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Origin	Maine, USA in 1941

The Kennebec is a popular type of white potato. It grows to be a medium-sized to large potato. This potato was first created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1941. It was chosen at the Presque Isle Station in Maine, USA.

Kennebec potatoes grow quickly and produce many potatoes. They also store very well, keeping their good quality for a long time. People grow Kennebec potatoes for eating fresh, and they are also great for making potato chips!

What Makes Kennebec Potatoes Special?

Plant Features

• The Kennebec potato plant is large and stands tall.
• It has thick stems that are clearly angled.
• The plant's sprouts are a grayish-green color, with a slightly purple bottom.
• Its leaves are wide, long, and a dark green.
• The main leaflets are large and oval-shaped, growing in groups of four.
• The plant produces very few large white flowers.

Potato Tuber Features

• Kennebec potatoes are medium-thick.
• They have an oval or oblong shape.
• The skin is smooth and has a creamy color.
• The "eyes" (small indentations where new sprouts can grow) are not very deep.

Growing Kennebec Potatoes

How Kennebec Potatoes Resist Diseases

Kennebec potatoes are quite strong against some plant diseases.

• They can resist a problem called tuber net necrosis. This disease is caused by the Potato leafroll virus.
• They are also somewhat resistant to a common potato disease called late blight that affects the leaves.
• Other diseases they can resist include black leg, fusarium dry rot, and potato wart.
• They also show resistance to seed-piece decay and some common potato viruses like PVS and PVX.

Diseases Kennebec Potatoes Can Get

While strong, Kennebec potatoes can still get certain diseases.

• They are sensitive to common scab, which affects the skin of the potato.
• They can also get fusarium dry rot in the tubers and late blight on the tubers.
• Other issues include leaf roll, pink eye, and Rhizoctonia.
• They are very likely to get a serious disease called Verticillium wilt.

See also

In Spanish: Patata Kennebec para niños