Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners

Reviewed on 02/21/2011 by macinator - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Trumbull, Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
2008 was my first year for potatoes and I grew blight resistant varieties. Elba was one and this was the other. Yield was excellent, but the potatoes were smaller than I prefer. Flavor was very good also.

Reviewed on 04/29/2006 by skiman - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Franklin, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Island Sunshine is unusual in that it was developed by a private breeder. In 1984, using old fashioned open pollination techniques, Gerrit Loo of Springwillow Farms, Kensington, PEI, Canada crossed Dutch varieties, Alpha x Irene. It must be noted that some sources say he crossed Irene x Irene, while others say the male parent is unknown. Regardless, he ended up with a bright yellow fleshed potato with resistance to late blight and common scab. Mr. Loo and his brother Everit had begun potato breeding experiments to achieve disease resistance in the 1970s; Island Sunshine was the culmination of this work. The Loos registered Island Sunshine as a new variety in 1995 and they received USDA plant variety protection in June 2000. Springwillow Farms began its transition to organic farming in 1993.