Purple potatoes, also known as Peruvian purple potatoes, have naturally purple or deep blue skin and flesh, and are unusually high in antioxidants which makes them super healthful. Their unique colors come from natural anthocyanin pigments; some Peruvian potatoes are naturally purple, while others are bred for deeper shades.
They are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and much more! Purple potatoes have been valued in South America for a long time. In their culture, it is known as the “food of gods” for centuries.
What are Purple Potatoes?
Purple potatoes, sometimes referred to as blue potatoes, are a type of potato which are native to South America. While very similar to their white grocery store counterparts, these potatoes exhibit a beautiful purple colored skin and flesh. Heirloom and hybrid purple potato varieties range from solid purple to a mixture of purple and white.
Though quite the interesting addition to the garden, perceived nutritional blue potato benefits are numerous. Regardless of the cultivar, purple and blue potato varieties contain the valuable antioxidant called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin, of course, being responsible for the plants’ vibrant purple color.
Purple Potato Varieties To Grow In Containers:
There are many varieties of purple potatoes. Let us take a look at them.
1: The purple Peruvian is purple throughout and produces well late in the season. Purple Fiesta is a mid-season speciality potato which retains its colour when cooked.
2: The Purple Viking has a glowing purple skin with pink-red splashes and snow-white flesh which gets sweeter during storage.
3: The Purple Majesty is perhaps the darkest purple variety.
Growing Purple Potatoes
Potato tubers sprout from short stolons on the lower stems of leafy plants, but must be kept in total darkness to avoid greening in the sun, or a poisonous plant alkaloid called solanine can build up. Prevent this by piling soil or thick mulch around young plants, repeating as needed until six or eight inches of lower stems are buried.
Water and Add More Soil:
Purple potatoes will start to grow quickly. Keep an eye on them as they grow. Roughly add more soil around the plants. I will give you a rough estimate, for example; if you observe 6 inches or more growth every two weeks than add a shovel full or so.
Keep the soil moist and don’t allow it to drain out. This is where the drainage comes in. Good drainage is very important as it keeps the moil optimum. If the soil gets too moist then it will destroy the potato.
