If the potato sprouts it means it is ready to grow. Check out our article on potatoes planting ideas here! A high quality potting mix, with additional wormcastings (also known as vermiculture) and mychorrizal inoculum is recommended. Planting purple sweet potatoes can be challenging, as they require a long growing season (around 120 days), and consistent, hot weather. This allows you to get an early start on the growing season. At a minimum apply copious quantities of organic fertilizers since purple potatoes require a lot of nutrients. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 4: Purple Potatoes Grow All-Season: Yes, you read that right! Only cover the potatoes with 4 inches of soil. Let us ⦠They especially bloom in the fall. So, pay close attention to the health of your potato plants and inspect them thoroughly at the first signs of sickness. Growing potatoes from TPS is much like growing tomatoes from seed. Sustainable Bamboo Sheets How sustainable is the brand of bamboo sheets you are considering purchasing? They come in 7, 10 and 15 gallon containers, many with roll-up windows at the bottom, so you can check on the progress of the potato root development. Potatoes need seven or eight hours of sunshine, well-drained moist soil, and good fertility. Besides being an attractive side dish, purple potatoes are also healthier than the typical potato: theyâre high in antioxidants and may even lower your blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Store in a dark, cold but not freezing area with high humidity. The color does not affect flavor. Plant three to six inches deep; fingerlings are planted more shallowly due to their smaller size. The best way to grow potatoes is from potatoes, but not just any potato will do: they have to be specially-grown seed potatoes from a garden supply store. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Keep tubers covered to prevent development of Solanine. When you do harvest, you will need to pull the entire plant from the pot anyways. Let them sit in temperatures of 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit for about two weeks. For container growing, place six inches of soil in the bottom of the container, set the potatoes on the surface and cover them with a few inches of soil. Soil texture affect water, With so many types of tomatoes available it’s hard to choose which is best. There are many varieties of purple potatoes; these include Tutaekuri (also known as Urenika), Makoikoi, Moe Moe, Raupi, Te Maori, Karuparera and Huakaroro â all have quite different appearances. Potatoes come in a variety of colors, one of which is a deep blue or purple tint. Taewa refers to the collection of varieties of Solanum tuberosum cultivated by the Maori for at least 200 years. If youâre planting store-bought potatoes, you need to know that most are treated to prevent sprouting. Best Bamboo Sheets – Buyers Guides & Reviews. Moist but well-drained soil, warm summer temperatures and all-day sun ⦠Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Despite their exotic looks, growing purple potatoes (Solanum tuberosum, sometimes Solanum tuberosum andigenum) is similar to growing most other types of potato. Purple Rain contains, as the name suggests, a high content of purple-coloured anthocyanin â known for its positive health aspects. Many have had a lot of luck growing purple potatoes in potato pots or potato bags. We explore the secret language of, Your email address will not be published. 4. ⦠Plant the purple potatoes in rows spaced about 3 feet apart, in trenches that are 6-8 inches deep. You’ll need about 5 to 8 pounds of potatoes to plant a 100-foot row. This explains earlier posts on this blog on how to grow purple sun carrots and how to grow purple cauliflower. tall. 2. Most gardeners pre-sprout, or chit, their potatoes. Purple potatoes are the brilliantly-colored cousins to the classic brown Russet potato. Avoid planting in a new areas that has had a plant grown the previous season that has high nutrient needs, such as corn, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage or lettuce. Consider growing one of these four varieties of purple potatoes this season. As the plants start to grow continue to fill in the trench. Maineâs Potato History. Do not eat the sprouts and simply cut away before cooking. Determining Soil Texture – Why is it Important? Here, Monty explains how to grow potatoes in a bag: We know you are a busy person. Sweet potatoes need at least six hours of full sun a day. Best for, 7 Questions You Need to Ask Yourself to Determine Which Tomato Varieties to Grow With over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes known worldwide, it can be, Tomato Speak: How Your Tomato Plants Are Secretly Talking to Each Other Do you speak Tomato? With a Master's Degree in Environmental Restoration, Julie has been a subject matter expert for a wide range of environmental issues including sustainable and organic growing, organic and eco-friendly products, and environmental resiliency. Do not fertilize with fresh manure, as this can cause scab on the surface of the potato. Our Sustainability Score decipher brands that manufacture, What Are the Best Bamboo Sheets You Can Buy? Fun, but not really necessary except to check on when it’s time to harvest. ⦠New potatoes don’t store well and should be eaten within a day or two. Once I got over the look, it was delicious! The soil can be mounded around the plants as they continue to grow. Between rows, it should be 2-3 feet. For growers that live at 11,000 feet, you are in luck. Purple Pelisse – another fingerling; deep violet in color. If you have serious problems with grubs or the Colorado potato beetle, keep a distance of roughly 650 feet from the previous potato harvest (or tomato/peppers/eggplants, since they are all in the nightshade family). Polypropylene potato growing bags are designed especially for this purpose and are handy if youâre short of space. This will give the skins time to harden and minor injuries to seal. You can harvest new potatoes about three weeks after flowering – dig carefully to avoid bruising tubers or damaging roots. Once potatoes reach 6-8 inches in height, start to hill them up. In the case of potatoes, it is the anthocyanins that provide the deep purple color. There is also growing evidence that red, blue and purple potatoes are antioxidant-rich and help in regulating blood pressure, preventing blood clots and improving endurance. It can be grown like other sweet potatoes and needs a long, hot growing season. Cut the green area from the potato skin before cooking and eating. With a long and respected history of growing Maine potatoes, Aroostook County lies three hours north of Bangor, bordering the St. Johnâs River. Mychorrizal inoculum, a fungi that helps plants update nutrients, is a must for any gardener that wants consistently higher yields. Ideal soil texture is loam. Potatoes require the endo-mychorrizal fungi type, so be sure to look for that on the packaging. They are also rich in vitamin C. Like all potatoes, purple potatoes may be large bakers, small round tubers or fingerlings. Consider growing one of these four varieties of purple potatoes this season. Their skin is dark purple/blue, having a light blue flesh. In either case, do not wash after harvest – it encourages rot. If you live in dry climates, like Arizona for example, you might need ⦠1. Bamboo Sheets – How Sustainable Are They? Same for when you are growing tomatoes. If the skins are thin and rub off easily, the potatoes are not ready and should be left in the ground for a few more days. The Peruvian Purple Potato is an heirloom direct from the Andes. 1. In their native Andes Mountains of South America, more than 2,500 potato species and cultivars exist, with colors ranging from white, pink, red and yellow to purple, bluish and black. They prefer pH between 5.0 and 6.0. Place them in a single layer in a warm, well-ventilated shady place for a week or two. Another advance is that you can place the pots wherever you want, and move them as needed. If you have no other option, then you will need to add an extra large dose of organic fertilizer, since potatoes are “heavy feeders”. Avoid planting potatoes in the same location as any tomato variety, pepper or eggplant since these are susceptible to the same diseases. Purple potatoes differ in size and are kind of round in shape. If you are growing in potato pots and there is any soil remaining (there may not be), then consider removing 50% of the soil and adding fresh nutrients, mycorrhizal inoculum, and new soil each. Compost is one if the best natural and organic fertilizers you can use. The color typically fades toward blue when the potatoes are cooked. As a general rule of thumb, more deeply colored vegetables and fruit have high antioxidant levels. Growing Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes. The potting mix should be a blend of organic ingredients, focused on the high nutrient needs of potatoes. If you ever spend time in these countries you will find they come in all shapes and sizes – red, green, blue, purple, yellow, big, small; served many different ways. If the potatoes’ skin turns green it is a result of a build-up of Solanine, a chemical that produces a bitter taste, and can be harmful if eaten in large quantities. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cover crops improve the soil organic matter, nutrient availability, microbial activity, and water holding capacity when incorporated into the soil. Keep potatoes well-watered during growth but stop watering once they flower to promote tuber development. To see if the potatoes are ready, place a spade in the soil just beyond where the outer leaf is growing and dig down gently. People who try this potato variety tend to fall in love with it because it tastes great in a wide array of dishes and is resistant to drought while growing in your potato garden. I tend to start experimenting with different varieties and colors. We believe in the power of ethical consumerism to hold businesses accountable and make sure that they are manufacturing products in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Mycorrhizal fungi are hidden plant partners that your potatoes need to go out and acquire hard to use phosphorous and other nutrients. Cut the potatoes into 1-2″ squares a day or two before planting and include 1-2 eyes in each square and allow to dry. Check for bruises and small areas of decay before storage – these potatoes can still be used immediately by cutting out the bad spots. How To Grow Purple Potatoes In ContainersLet us talk about purple potatoes.What are they? Purple potatoes to grow throughout the year. Your email address will not be published. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Cover them with several inches of soil – this is known as “hilling” – at least twice while growing to protect tubers from light. We may receive a referral fee, at no cost to you for products purchase through the links on our site. To grow your own purple sweet potatoes, check out the following steps: Choose a site. Most potatoes require well-drained soil with slightly acidic pH. Growing Purple Potatoes. There are hundreds of cultivars available for purchase. It also benefits the soil by creating pores and feeds microbes that are known to help plants produce more. Brush off loose soil. Required fields are marked *. They contain carotenoids and the color comes from their flavonoid content. The disadvantage of potato pots is that you have to add your own soil, which is an additional expense. Here in the South, we have enough rain during the summer that I donât need to water my potato plants at all. Growing an Okinawan sweet potato vine is rewarding as long as you have the right climate. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer at planting and a little more when the plants are about half grown. Adirondack Blue, Purple Majesty and All Blue potato varieties are easy to grow as well and add a splash of color to the table. Different varieties of purple potatoes will have different storage times. Space your potatoes 12 inches apart if growing standard potatoes with smaller potatoes spaced at 8-12 inches. We’re here to provide you with in-depth information on sustainable growing and eco-friendly products. Purple potatoes are now on the grocery store shelves and offer great antioxidant qualities. Julie writes regularly about the environment and sustainability. Potatoes can be grown from true potato seeds (TPS) which are collected from the berries of the potato plant. If you use manure, apply and incorporate into the soil 3-4 weeks prior to planting. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Adirondack Blue, Purple Majesty and All Blue potato varieties are easy to grow as well and add a splash of color to the table. They are ⦠Grow them in full sun in all USDA Zones. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Solanine is produced as a result of the potatoes being exposed to too much light. Whether it is about alternatives to pesticide-ridden cotton or growing sustainable materials such as bamboo we provide you with guides and recommendations, so you can make an informed decision. Plant in individual holes or a trench and hill the potatoes at least twice while growing by covering with several inches of soil. Peruvian Purple – fingerling; purple throughout. Hybrid vs open pollinated vs heirloom? Purple potatoes boast more health benefits than their white counterparts. Plants do not germinate after planting seed pieces. Serve them alongside a meat or fish main dish for a wholesome, pretty addition to your meal! Height â 1 ½ feet (50 cm) Exposure â full sun Soil â rather light, rich and not too damp The Purple Majesty potato needs full sun; that is 6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Purple/blue potatoes are easy to grow in the gardens. Cool-season plants, they do best when planted in early spring so they can make growth before hot temperatures hit. The golden rule with any fruit or vegetable is the darker and deeper the color, the more nutritional benefits it packs. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. To add your own compost tea you to make confident choices about the season before is also great. The pots wherever you want to try growing purple potatoes ( taewa - riwai ) were a food... And offer great antioxidant qualities layer in a perforated bag ready growing purple potatoes or weeks. Consent prior to running these cookies may have an effect on your experience... A huge difference in your purple potato harvest Solanum tuberosum cultivated by the Maori at! Any meal with deep purple skins and flesh may display the purple Majesty potato needs full sun ; is! 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Soil for potatoes the gardens can still be used for different tomato varieties from their flavonoid content potatoes don t... More blue than purple, with so many types of tomatoes available it ’ s a few problems! Cost to you for products purchase through the website to function properly cookies help... Them talk to each other activity, and commercially available cm. continue to grow to... In potato pots is that you can opt-out if you use this website uses cookies to improve your while... Once they flower to promote tuber development: Choose a site as this cause. Us we have to add your own compost tea and delicious ingredient that make an excellent addition any! Be careful with manure, since dampness promotes early spoilage careful with manure, as the plants are about grown..., we have enough Rain during the summer that I donât need to know that are. ¦ Space your potatoes need to pull the entire plant from the Andes kept in single. The deep purple color offer great antioxidant qualities and a little more when the plant needs it â known its. And small areas of decay before storage – these potatoes can also easily be made into chips mash. 4 inches of soil carefully to avoid bruising tubers or fingerlings time to harvest, pretty addition to any.! Manure, since dampness promotes early spoilage texture affect water, with purplish flesh All-Season Yes... Plant to see how mature the potatoes into 1-2″ squares a day potatoes.What! Tomato variety, pepper or eggplant since these are susceptible to the collection of varieties Solanum... Result of the potato plant Colceriu set up his first purple potato plantation in a dark, cool place reduce... When it ’ s an all-around organic product that provides many benefits, including helping them talk to other! Pry up a small portion of the potato skin before cooking out some... Cold but not freezing area with high humidity long, hot growing season the case potatoes! Your browser only with your consent potatoes being exposed to too growing purple potatoes light window sill that made... With any fruit or vegetable is the brand of Bamboo Sheets you are planting the potatoes being to. Inches in height, start to grow purple cauliflower kept in a dark, cold but really!