Banana (Fingerling)

Parentage – Unknown¹

Breeder – Grown in British Columbia for over 90 years; thought to have been introduced to British Columbia’s Native Americans and early settlers by Russian fur traders; registration granted by Agriculture Canada in 1990^1,2

Maturity – Mid-season¹

Usage – Specialty fresh market^1,2; good for boiling, baking, frying and in salads^2,3

Plant – Small to medium size, non-erect, spreading foliage; few, light green stems with prominent wavy wings^1,2

Leaves – Small, closed; dark green, slightly pubescent upper leaf surface and light yellow, moderately pubescent lower leaf surface; pigmented midribs; terminal leaflets are ovate with a rounded tip^1,2; three to four pairs of symmetrical, primary leaflets that narrow in size toward the mainstem; numerous, small, secondary leaflets; up to twelve pairs of tertiary leaflets which may not be paired; petioles not pigmented¹

Flowers – Numerous, large lavender with white tipped petals and deep orange anthers^1,2; fused petals give distinctive round shape; limited berry production²

Tubers – Small, banana shaped with smooth light-yellow skin and shallow eyes; yellow flesh^1,2,3; fifteen to twenty tubers produced per plant; medium specific gravity; medium tuber dormancy²

Strengths – Good storability; moderately resistant to common scab^1,2

Weaknesses – Overall low yielding with a high number of small tubers produced; susceptible to potato leafroll virus, potato viruses X and Y although symptoms are typically not observed; susceptible to bacterial ring rot^1,2, Verticillium wilt and late blight²

References: ¹Coffin, R. et al. 1993. Banana: A Yellow-fleshed Fingerling Type Potato for Home Garden Production. American Journal of Potato Research 70: 1-5. ²http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/potatoes/potato-varieties/banana/eng/1312587385647/1312587385648 ³https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Russian_Banana_Fingerling_Potatoes_133.php

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Last Revised: 5/8/19

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