Shepody

SHEPODY: CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristics | Management Profile | Performance

Shepody was selected in New Brunswick, Canada, and released in 1980 by Agriculture Canada (Young, Tarn and Davies. 1983. Amer Potato Jour 60:109-113). Its primary use is an early-season French fry potato. It may also be used for boiling and baking.

Shepody (F69016) is a determinate variety whose vine is early to medium maturing and is medium-sized. Due to its good frying quality and early maturity, usually ready for harvest in August, its grown for early fry processing and fries lighter than Russet Burbank. But, its main weakness is a potentially low specific gravity. Its specific gravity is very sensitive to amount and timing of nitrogen application. High amount and late, during bulking, applications reduce starch content, sometimes sufficiently do eliminate crop from processing. Sugars are low from the field but increase in storage making it unacceptable for frying. With respect to fresh market use, boiling and baking, Shepody scores about the same as Kennebec in taste panels.

Summary of Plant Characteristics

  • Purpose -- frying (early season); boil and bake possible
  • Growth Type -- determinate
  • Maturity -- early to medium, shorter than Kennebec
  • Dormancy -- short
  • Vine -- medium, spreading
  • Leaves -- large
  • Flowers -- numerous, large, light violent with white tips
  • Eyes -- shallow to medium deep; well distributed
  • Tubers -- oblong to long, slightly flattened; smooth, thin, lightly-netted skin (considered a long-white)
  • Set -- late-setting but bulk rapidly; may oversize
  • Specific Gravity -- low to medium; low end for frying
  • Sugar -- low increases in storage; good frier, lighter than Russet Burbank
  • Stem End Discoloration -- sugar end is common defect
  • External Defects -- mis-shapes and over-sizes
  • Internal Defects -- resistant to hollow heart
  • Yields -- medium; in Canada, just less than Kennebec
  • Disease susceptibility -- susceptible to all viruses, early and late blights, early dying and pink eye, and moderately so to common scab
  • Disease tolerance -- tolerant to dry rot and wilt, stem canker, and net necrosis
  • Herbicide - very susceptible to metribuzin injury
  • Other -- tolerant to heat stress; difficult to desiccate prior to senescence