The origin of Russet Burbank was reported by Luther Burbank in 1914 as being a chimera selected from the variety Burbank by Lou Sweet. Lou Sweet was a potato grower in the western slope area of Colorado and was President of the Potato Association of America in 1920. A late maturing variety that requires a 140 to 150 day growing season to produce maximum yields and quality. The cultivar is well adapted and primarily grown with irrigation in the northwestern states of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and in Canada. Plants are vigorous, spreading and have an indeterminate type of growth.
Stems are thick, prominently angled and finely mottled.
Leaflets are long, medium in width and light to medium green in color. The blossoms are few, white and not fertile. Tubers are large, long and cylindrical or slightly flattened with russeted skin. They eyes are shallow and the flesh is white. The variety is the standard for excellent baking and processing quality.