Potatoes are not only available in the typical yellow, but also in bright purple and blue colors. Here we will show you which varieties provide variety in your kitchen.

Due to their special colour, the potatoes immediately catch the eye

The lilac, violet or blue potatoes are available in pretty much every color nuance. Most purple potato varieties are only grown by a few farmers or special enthusiasts and are also less common in stores. However, there is a rich variety of varieties that are also ideal for the home garden.

Purple Potato Varieties

There are around 100 different purple potato varieties. We have listed the most important ones for you below.

  • Vitelotte: The 'Vitelotte' potato is a late variety with a striking blue and white marbled flesh. It is also often called the truffle potato because of its small, elongated tubers. The purple potato convinces with its spicy, nutty taste.
  • Blue Swede: The 'Blue Swede' potato, also called 'Blue Congo', is a popular waxy variety.
  • Blaue Elise: The 'Blaue Elise' potato, which also bears the name 'Violetta', is a waxy and high-yielding variety that convinces with its strong taste.
  • Blaue Anneliese: The 'Blaue Anneliese' potato is a late, waxy variety. This has only been on the market since 2007. The 'Blaue Anneliese' potato is very productive and only slightly susceptible to late blight.
  • St. Gallen: The ‘St. Galler' potato is a new variety on the market that largely retains its color after cooking. It is predominantly waxy and has an intense taste.
The 'Vitolette' variety has an elongated shape and a particularly marbled interior color

Growing Purple Potatoes

Purple potatoes are often more susceptible to cultivation and have lower yields than the yellow varieties used in industry. Since potatoes only suffer from diseases such as late blight later in the year, since the infestation pressure is greater here, pre-germination of the potatoes in theIn the house, the harvest time is pushed forward by a few weeks and the blight is largely avoided. Cultivation in your own garden is still possible without any problems and ensures a delicious harvest. You can also grow the potatoes in a tub on the balcony with enough space. For this it is important to use soil that covers the high potassium requirements of the potatoes. Our Potassium-rich Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Soil is recommended here. In our article on planting potatoes, we give general tips on how to ensure that the tubers in the garden succeed.

Prepare and use purple potatoes

Purple potatoes do not differ in use from the conventional yellow varieties. The purple potato varieties are also divided into waxy or floury varieties.

The purple potatoes also cut a fine figure in the mix

This is particularly popular in purple potato salads or mashed potatoes. But the purple potato varieties also taste delicious in a casserole, as a soup or simply as baked potatoes or fries. It is best to cook them with the skin on, as this way the color is lost less. Unfortunately, they often don't last as long in storage as the yellow varieties, but purple potatoes can still be stored in a cool, dark place for several weeks after harvest. Check out our special article for tips on how to store and store your potatoes properly.

How do purple potatoes taste?

The taste of the purple potatoes depends very much on the variety, but overall it is more nutty to chestnut-like with the potatoes 'Vitolette', 'Blauer Schwede' or 'Anneliese'.

How he althy are purple potatoes?

The question often arises whether the purple potatoes with their color can be he althy. The color of the purple potato varieties comes from the pigments contained in the tubers, the anthocyanins. These are secondary plant compounds. These protect the plant from free radicals. Free radicals are metabolic products that occur naturally in the body, but they can damage cells. Anthocyanins can also have a beneficial effect on humans, which is why the substances are said to have positive effects on he alth, for example in cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure. The purple potatoes can therefore be a useful and he althy addition to the menu.

When preparing the purple potato, you will find itpurple color not only in the shell

Can you eat blue potatoes with skin on?

Here, too, the purple or blue potatoes do not differ from their yellow representatives. Many also wonder if you can eat the purple potatoes with their skins on. But the same applies here as with the well-known yellow potato varieties: Potatoes from your own garden and those in organic quality can be eaten with their skins. When cultivating in your own garden, please note that you use any type of pesticide - including organic preparations - according to the instructions for use and stick to the specified waiting times. So you can enjoy your purple potatoes without any worries.

Would you like to learn more about other potato varieties? Check out our article on the 50 Best Potato Varieties.

Category:

Vegetables