Even though the Burbank strain was developed in New England and mutated in Colorado, it remained for Idaho growers to make the variety famous. Idaho that made the Russet Burbank famous. The rationale for this statement is based on the fact that Idaho growing conditions tend to produce a superior potato of any variety. Since potatoes were originally a high altitude plant, they tend to grow better at elevations somewhat above sea level. Summer days along the Snake River Valley in Idaho are sunny and warm.
Photosynthesis creates carbohydrates in the green leaves of potato vines in the form of starch.
However, the leaves cannot store the starch and a process called translocation takes place. This action requires cool temperatures between sunset and sunrise for the successful transfer of the starch from leaves to tubers. Idaho's climate of warm days and cool nights provides ideal climatic conditions for the growing and production of potatoes. In addition to climate, potatoes require a high moisture content in the soil. It is thought that the ideal water content is around eighty percent.