It is very difficult to surprise with anything unusual today. Purple potatoes are an exception. This is justified by the fact that after heat treatment, the color of its pulp does not change.
This species was obtained by crossing a common potato variety with an “American relative”. Don't worry about it being modified. It appeared first in America, then in Russia.
The Siberian Research Institute of Russia was also involved in breeding potatoes with purple flesh. There are several variations, the color of which ranges from pink to dark purple. Sometimes there are lilac shades
Basic Views
The characteristics of potatoes are slightly different from ordinary varieties with standard colors. In addition, different varieties have different properties from each other. The distinctive features common to all are:
- The color of the pulp remains the same even after processing.
- The shape of the vegetable is elongated-oblong.
- High content of nutrients in the tubers.
- Due to the thick skin, it can be stored for a very long time.
Two potato tubers contain as much vitamin C as 1 lemon.
Root composition
As the description shows, potatoes are rich in components:
- Vitamins: A, B, C, E, H, PP and others.
- Macroelements: Potassium, Chlorine, Phosphorus, Calcium, Magnesium and others.
- Microelements: Iodine, Lithium, Fluorine, Chromium and many others.
- Starch.
- Sucrose.
- Glucose.
- Fructose.
- Acids.
- Amino acids.
For 100 gr. Potato varieties account for: 2 gr. proteins, 16 gr. carbohydrates, 0.4 g. fat
Varieties
The intermediate result is about 120 potato samples. The main varieties widespread everywhere are:
- "All blue." Its flesh is not blue, but more blue-violet. The skin and pulp are separated by a white ring. Reaches full maturity in 80 days. The tuber weighs 200 grams. Basically, heat treatment preserves the color. It only becomes paler when boiled.
- "Explosion". The color of the pulp and peel is completely the same and has a blue tint. The tubers of the variety are considered early ripening. Potato weight 120 g. Very productive and immune to diseases.
- "Lilac". Ready to eat in 95 days. The weight of the tubers is approximately 80 grams, they store well. The flesh and skin are the same shade. Lilac miracle of selection.
- "Peruvian purple" Breeders worked on its breeding for 200 years. Considered a late species. Maturity occurs in 100–110 days. Weight 80 gr.
- "Adirondack Blue." Potatoes weigh 100 grams and ripen in 95 days.
- "Vitelot". Very popular among many summer residents, it has a second name “Negress”. The average weight of one tuber is 70–100 grams. Color with a hint of blue and purple. Ripening period is 110 days. Keeps for a long time.
Summer residents call all varieties simply like blue potatoes. To make it clear what we are talking about. The beneficial properties of tubers are not disputed by anyone, but on the contrary, they are only praised.
Who is indicated and contraindicated for its use?
- Reduced pressure. Good for those who suffer from hypertension and bad for those with hypotension.
- Antioxidants. Their presence in large quantities slows down the aging process.
- Of the many vitamins found in purple potatoes, E and C are the most important for humans.
- Strengthening vision. Useful for nearsighted people. Slows down the development of cataracts and glaucoma.
- Digestive system. Helps remove toxins from the body. Normalizes stool, relieves abdominal pain.
- Vessels and heart. By clearing toxins, potatoes reduce the risk of blood clots. Accordingly, it reduces the possibility of developing a heart attack and stroke.
- Immune support. Helps absorb iron and, thanks to folic acid, increases hemoglobin.
- High sugar.
- Constipation.
- Obesity.
- Low pressure.
- Gastritis.
For each person, the benefits and harms are calculated individually, depending on the state of health. In any case, you can eat purple potatoes, but at the same time carefully monitor your well-being.
Growing Potatoes
Potatoes with purple flesh are more difficult to grow yourself than regular varieties. The main problems encountered during the growing process:
- Susceptibility to late blight and scab.
- Insect pest attacks. The purple potato variety is more susceptible to attacks by Colorado potato beetles.
- It is better not to propagate with eyes. Because the tubers are getting smaller.
Otherwise, everything is the same as with ordinary types of culture. Timely watering, fertilizing, hilling and pest control.
How to prepare the soil for planting
First you need to choose a place for the garden bed. Purple potatoes love light; it is best to choose a site on the south side. It is demanding on the composition of the soil; the following types of soil are suitable:
- Floodplain.
- Soddy-podzolic.
- Light loamy.
- Neutral sandy loams.
In order for the potatoes to take root and develop correctly in the future, the soil must be dug very deeply in the fall. You can immediately add fertilizers, potassium salt (KS), superphosphate (S.) and humus (P).
- KS–15 gr.
- C–30 gr.
- P–0.5 kg.
It is better to leave the earth in clods; this will not give pests the opportunity to hide in the depths. They will freeze.
After the soil warms up to + 5 ⁰C, you can re-dig and loosen the bed.
Planting and care
Before planting potatoes, pour a little wood ash into the holes. The distance between the holes is 30 cm, their depth is 10 cm, row spacing is 60 cm.
If you want to get an early harvest, purple potatoes are left to germinate in a warm room. The temperature must be at least +15⁰С. This must be done 3 weeks before planting in the ground. You can cover it with film and remove it only when the sprouts are about 10 cm.
Watering is required, abundant and frequent, mandatory periods:
- After germination.
- During bud setting.
- After the flowers fall.
It is recommended to monitor the flow of moisture to the roots. Its excess contributes to the development of rot, and its deficiency leads to the death of the plant variety itself. The resulting crust must be loosened, the roots must breathe.
Weeding and treatment against insects and diseases must be carried out in a timely manner; the crop is sensitive to their development and attacks. The bushes may die. If there is no rain for a long time, it is recommended to irrigate the plantings.
Opinion of people who tried to grow purple potatoes
Having studied the reviews of summer residents, you can understand what is special about growing potatoes, and whether it is worth spending time on planting them at all.
- Irina. I experienced strange feelings when I simply held the tuber in my hands. I peeled it, but the color of the pulp did not change. Later I found out that there was no need to clean it. Overall, I was amazed by the color of the finished dish.
- Faith. The first potato harvest has been harvested. It turned out to be a bucket with 4 bushes. He considers this a good result. Since the planting material was small. We tried baking it in the microwave. The taste is ordinary, practically no different from the usual potato. Blooms white, but stems are purple. He recommends planting purple potatoes less frequently than the regular variety, approximately 70*70.
Growing exotics on the site is not uncommon. But if it is also a useful product, then its importance increases several times.
Purple potatoes appeared on store shelves not long ago, but have already gained popularity. The vegetable differs in the color of the peel and the tubers themselves - deep purple, in some cases reaching black. The culture was developed in South America.
The culture belongs to the bindweed family. Purple potatoes have several other names: “French blue truffle potatoes”, “negress”, “Chinese truffle”. The length of the tubers is approximately 10 centimeters. Weight reaches 70 grams.
The main varieties of the crop are Purple Peruvian, Purple Majesty, Purple Viking.
Beneficial features
There is one rule that says that darker colored fruits are the most valuable. Purple potatoes are no exception. It contains a huge amount of antioxidants. Anthocyanins have anti-cancer properties and are excellent for improving immunity. Among other things, they are responsible for the integrity of the DNA structure.
Since purple potatoes are high in antioxidants, they help slow down the aging process in the body. The high content of ascorbic acid helps strengthen the functions of the entire body, especially during infectious diseases.
In the course of research, it was revealed that the purple vegetable of the described type perfectly reduces high blood pressure. The thing is that potatoes have a beneficial effect on blood vessels, including capillaries. Potatoes also contain chlorogenic acid, which is responsible for blood pressure in mice.
It is important to remember that purple potatoes are quite high in calories due to their high starch content. Its taste is reminiscent of regular potatoes, but the texture is creamy and has a subtle nutty flavor.
Many useful substances are found in potato peels - these are polyphenols, vitamin C and potassium.
Clinical studies show that consistent consumption of purple vegetables can improve vision. Among other things, the risk of atherosclerosis is reduced several times. The walls of blood vessels become stronger and more elastic, and the incidence of a number of cancer diseases decreases.
Features of the view
What is the difference between purple potatoes and regular potatoes?
- Its tubers are oblong in shape, the pulp is purple, and the peel is dark purple. Even after boiling or frying, the fruit does not lose its unusual color.
- The beneficial characteristics that purple varieties have make it possible to use them in folk medicine to prevent stroke and reduce blood pressure. Medicinal properties appeared due to the content of starch, anthocyanins, potassium, carotenoids, calcium, and phenolic acids.
- Since the variety is distinguished by the presence of a thick peel, it can be stored for a long time. The scope of use of unusual potatoes is very extensive: they are boiled, fried, baked, used as an ingredient for salads, stews and casseroles.
Contraindications
Those who suffer from hypotension – low blood pressure – should not eat purple potatoes. Among other things, people with individual intolerance to the product should refuse the tuber. It is worth monitoring how many potatoes you consume per day - you should not overdo it.
Rules for planting and care
First, you should get some seeds. They are germinated. You can find out by reading the corresponding article on our website. Be prepared that about half will rise. Seeds are planted in April. They are placed in open ground only in May.
It is necessary to carry out hilling. Lawn grass or pre-weeded weeds are laid out between the bushes. When it comes to fertilizing, preference should be given to vermicompost.
Use only high-quality soil for seedlings and monitor watering, otherwise mold will form and you will have to treat with special preparations.
The harvest begins at the end of August. At the same time, the weather should be good.
Where is it currently grown?
Recently, non-standard colored potatoes have become increasingly popular. It is grown in Canada, Scotland, USA, South Korea. Moreover, tubers in these countries can be easily found on store shelves. The success of the vegetable is due to the exhibition that was held in 2007.
In Korea, a special diet was even developed based on the vegetable. The culture is also actively used in the field of cosmetology. It is used to produce anti-aging masks and soaps with a delicate texture. In America, purple potatoes were used to produce chips.
In Russia, the presented potatoes have been grown in Tomsk since 2011. In 2007, one of the employees of the Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture received original tubers as a gift from breeders from South Korea, who came to Russia for an exhibition where amazing varieties were presented. At the same time, not only purple, but also orange and pink varieties were put on display. However, the more intense the color, the healthier the vegetable, which is why Russian scientists gave preference to purple potatoes.
It is known that the presented variety was also bred in the Urals. But so far it is not on sale and is not actively grown. You can also see amazing tubers in private gardens. This means that in just a couple of years, healthy vegetables may appear on store shelves and become commonplace.
There are several varieties of purple potatoes. All of them are very healthy and have the original color of the peel and pulp. The homeland of this exotic vegetable is South America, but at the moment you can find tubers in many Western and Asian countries and in Russia. The hardest part about growing potatoes is germinating the seeds. Otherwise, care is exactly the same as for ordinary standard varieties of the usual color.
Not long ago, an exotic vegetable appeared on store shelves - purple potatoes. At first, consumers were wary of it, but when the beneficial properties became known, the situation immediately changed. In addition, the exotic color of the pulp allows chefs to create culinary masterpieces that have an original appearance. True, this variety of potatoes is not yet grown on an industrial scale in our country, but for your own summer cottage you can easily order seed from an online store.
A characteristic feature of this potato is not only the exotic color of the skin, but also the pulp. The shades range from soft pink to dark purple. This unusual plant was obtained without the use of genetic modification methods: specialists used exclusively classical selection methods. They crossed the familiar potato with its wild relative from South America.
Purple potato varieties include those that have an intense color not only of the peel, but also of the pulp.
General differences between purple-fleshed varieties include the following:
- the tubers have an oblong shape;
- the pulp does not lose its color even after heat treatment;
- there are a large number of useful microelements that help improve immunity;
- Keeps very well due to the thick skin.
After cooking, the pulp has a characteristic nutty flavor, which also makes these varieties stand out and expands the possibilities of use in cooking.
Breeders have become seriously interested in breeding varieties with purple flesh, so now there are quite a lot of them. But domestic gardeners very often call this variety much simpler: blue potatoes. However, this does not change the essence.
Potatoes with purple flesh are still at the stage of breeding development, but now you can purchase some varieties with different color intensities for your summer cottage. The most popular include:
- French purple truffle;
- Black woman;
- Chinese truffle;
- Witelotte;
- Gourmet;
- Russian black.
There is no talk yet about volumes sufficient for industrial cultivation, but stores are happy to present to their customers the indicated varieties for growing in garden beds.
Purple potatoes deserve attention not only due to their unusual appearance and bright color. It has a lot of useful and healing properties. For example, if you prepare a dish from it in any way, you can easily reduce blood pressure in the human body. At the same time, this potato can be harmful to people suffering from low blood pressure and should be avoided in the menu of colored potato dishes.
In addition to antioxidants, the unusually colored purple tubers contain large amounts of vitamin C. Thanks to the presence of antioxidants, purple potatoes can slow down the aging process. It contains a large amount of vitamins C, E and carotenoids. The product is not genetically modified, and its unusual color is the result of crossing with wild African and equatorial varieties.
Regular consumption of colored potatoes improves vision and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. This reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. It also reduces the risk of developing certain types of cancer.
In practice, the same dishes are prepared from purple potatoes as from white or cream ones. At the same time, they differ in their original appearance.
Fried purple potatoes Tasters note that they have a characteristic nutty flavor, but this does not spoil the impression of the dish.
Colored potatoes are used in dietary nutrition because they not only contain a huge amount of vitamins and microelements, but also, with a high level of starch content, do not lead to obesity. This is achieved through the metabolic activity of other substances.
Planting is carried out in two ways: traditional (tubers) and seeds. For the second option, you first need to germinate the seeds, then grow seedlings at home, and then transplant them into open ground. Seeds are planted in April, and seedlings are transplanted into open ground no earlier than in mid-May.
Properly germinated planting material of purple potatoes will ensure fast, uniform germination and early setting of tubers When planting tubers, the planting period is the same as for regular potatoes.
When choosing planting dates, the climatic and weather characteristics of the region are taken into account. You should definitely wait until the threat of night frosts has passed.
They try to choose light soil for planting purple potatoes. Oxygen should easily penetrate into it and excess moisture should not stagnate. An excellent option would be neutral sandy loam, as well as floodplain and soddy-podzolic soils. Before the onset of the first frost, a rough initial digging of the selected area is carried out. During frosts, the pest larvae that were in the turned-out soil will die.
The area for colored potatoes should be dug up in the fall with the addition of potassium fertilizers and superphosphate With the onset of warmth, when the minimum soil temperature reaches 5°C, planting begins. First, the soil is dug up again and holes are prepared with the addition of wood ash. The distance between rows should be at least half a meter, and between holes it should be maintained at 30 centimeters. The planting depth reaches 10 centimeters.
Planting and care
If the soil in the selected area is dry, then watering should be carried out at least three times: immediately after emergence, during flowering and immediately after it. In conditions where there is no rain, plants need to be irrigated at least once a week. If there is a lot of moisture, fungal diseases will develop, and if there is not enough moisture, the plantings may dry out.
During planting, care should be taken to ensure that the plants have good access to air and light. To do this, you should not save space and plant bushes very close to each other, but maintain the recommended distances.
After purple potatoes sprout, they need to be regularly weeded and weeds removed. When a crust appears on the soil, you should loosen it. The beds are regularly treated with preparations against the Colorado potato beetle, late blight and other common pests and diseases.
Loosening the soil and hilling potato beds For now, purple potatoes are classified as delicacies. But thanks to the hard work of domestic breeders, it is quite possible that it will soon become available to any category of the population, as it brings benefits to the human body. This would be wonderful, since the beneficial properties of this product make us seriously think about the industrial scale of growing colored potatoes in our country.
profermu.com
Purple potatoes - characteristics of this unusual variety of root vegetables with photos
Purple potatoes are a plant of the Convolvulaceae family. This vegetable is also called “negress”, “Chinese truffle” or “blue French truffle potato”. The tubers of this potato are covered with a dark purple skin, which sometimes reaches almost black color. Beneath it there is pulp of almost the same color (see photo). The oblong tubers reach an average length of about 10 cm and weigh about 70 g. The tubers retain their color even after heat treatment.
It is still unknown how exactly this variety appeared. Many believe that its homeland is South America, where it is still grown in large quantities. Purple potatoes, due to their thicker skin, can be stored for quite a long time. These root vegetables have a light nutty flavor.
Beneficial features
The medicinal and beneficial properties of purple potatoes are due to the presence of minerals, vitamins, as well as anthocyanins, carotenoids and phenolic acids. Thanks to this, it reduces the risk of possible chronic inflammation, which is directly related to heart disease. Since root vegetables contain quite a lot of antioxidants, the rate of aging processes in the body decreases. The content of ascorbic acid allows you to strengthen your immune system with regular consumption of root vegetables. This is especially useful during the period of active action of viruses and infections.
Purple potatoes contain beneficial pigments, by the way, just like other vegetables of the same color. Thanks to them, the functioning of the cardiovascular system improves. Purple potatoes also contain polyphenols that have antioxidant activity. These substances increase the body's defense against free radicals, which have the ability to damage cells and increase the risk of heart and vascular diseases.
Purple potatoes contain dietary fiber, which improves the function of the digestive system and prevents constipation. Thanks to this, you can get rid of several kilograms, which is generally confirmed by many positive reviews.
Use in cooking
Purple potatoes can be eaten similarly to the more familiar version. Since this vegetable contains a large amount of starch, the tubers are ideal for making purees. In this case, the dish will turn out not only tasty, but also unusual. In addition, root vegetables are baked in the oven, boiled, fried, etc. Purple potatoes add flavor and garnish a variety of salads. It also makes delicious stews, casseroles and first courses.
The benefits of purple potatoes determine its use in folk medicine. It is used as a remedy that helps reduce blood pressure and is an excellent prevention of strokes.
The possible treatment of certain diseases with purple potatoes has been proven through numerous clinical studies. Thus, it has been proven that daily consumption of purple tubers improves vision. In addition, the walls of blood vessels are strengthened. By consuming purple potatoes, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis. There is also a decrease in the level of formation of certain types of cancer.
Harm of purple potatoes and contraindications
Purple potatoes can be harmful to people who suffer from hypotension. People with individual intolerance to the product should avoid eating root vegetables. It is also worth controlling the amount of vegetables you eat so as not to cause serious problems.
xcook.info
Unusually healthy purple potatoes
Potatoes are a simple, everyday food for many people, and it’s hard to surprise them. The variety of varieties is great, but they differ from each other mainly in growth qualities and adaptability.
Variety of varieties
Conventionally, all potatoes can be divided according to the color of the peel or the color of the pulp. There are white, yellow, pink, red and lilac potatoes. Also, the eyes may differ in color from the peel and be pink or lilac. Potato flesh is usually yellow or white. But there is also a rather unusual variety of potato with purple flesh.
It is found only on the shelves of exotic stores, although in Europe it can also be found in markets. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver often uses this potato variety in his dishes. In England there is a real boom in the use of this amazing root vegetable.
Purple potatoes attract with their unusualness. What is its composition - like white or are there any special features? The answer is simple. The unusual color contains useful substances. The purple color of potatoes, blueberries, blackberries, dark grapes, eggplant, basil and many other plants is due to anthocyanins. It is not without reason that people have noticed their beneficial properties since ancient times. Everyone can eat purple potatoes. These substances have no contraindications.
An unusual vegetable can reduce blood pressure. At the same time, the purple variety of potatoes does not contribute to weight loss. A group of 18 volunteers with high blood pressure and overweight has already been studied. By eating 6-8 potatoes a day, the test subjects reduced their average blood pressure reading by about 4%.
Potatoes with purple flesh were selectively bred. Scientists from the University of Colorado set out to achieve this goal while trying to zone and domesticate wild potatoes from the Andean highlands. Other names were previously known: “negress”, “vitalot”, “Chinese truffle” and “truffle potato”. The “purple French truffle potato” variety has long been prepared in the best restaurants in Paris. This speaks, first of all, about the good taste of potatoes with bluish flesh. So the origin of the miracle potato is absolutely legal, and it does not contain any foreign genes. Indian tribes in the Chilean Andes are distinguished by their extraordinary health and longevity. From this we can conclude about the beneficial properties of such an unusual plant.
Potatoes are purple. Description of the variety
The purple potatoes themselves are not large. It is the size of a small goose egg and weighs about 70 grams. The color of the pulp is due to the large amount of anthocyanins - substances that block free radicals. The properties of these unusual substances, contained in many purple vegetables and fruits, have long been confirmed by science.
Anthocyanins help slow down the aging of the body, they fight a wide variety of diseases and help prevent cancer. Both the pulp and the peel have great benefits, so purple potatoes are cooked in the oven without peeling. After heat treatment, the pulp retains its color, and therefore all its benefits. The calorie content of such potatoes is only 110 kcal per hundred grams of product. The product is quite crumbly.
Distribution in Russia
Purple potatoes quickly conquered Scotland and adapted perfectly to its soils. Soon it will appear in Russia too. In Tomsk, scientific developments are already underway to adapt the variety to Siberian soil. There are already first successes.
By consuming such potatoes daily instead of regular ones, you will be able to improve your well-being and do without many medications and cosmetic procedures. Besides, it is very tasty. For now, you can safely order purple potato seeds. Just keep in mind that tubers will appear only in the second year. At first you will only get a handful of seed potatoes. It is extremely important to take care of the preparation of planting material, to prevent it from becoming infected with diseases, and to protect it from pests.
Eating
Jamie Oliver advises preparing cold salads and snacks from unusual potatoes. Radishes, herbs, tomatoes and peppers, and asparagus go well with this miracle vegetable. The experimental cook even adds peeled grapefruit to his potato dishes. It is best to season this unusual salad with olive oil. This will not affect your figure in any way.
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Potatoes purple
Purple potatoes are one of the potato varieties. It has long been known also under the names “vitalot”, “negress”, “Chinese truffle”, “blue French truffle potato”. It is believed that the birthplace of purple potatoes is South America.
Purple potato tubers have an oblong shape, a dark purple peel, and a purple flesh (calorizer). The unusual color of the vegetable is preserved even during heat treatment.
Compared to some varieties of regular potatoes, purple potatoes have a longer shelf life due to their thick skin.
Calorie content of purple potatoes
The calorie content of purple potatoes is 72 kcal per 100 grams of product.
Composition of purple potatoes
The composition of purple potatoes is rich in anthocyanins, carotenoids and phenolic acids. It contains a lot of calcium, potassium, starch, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, C, E and K.
The benefits and harms of purple potatoes
The beneficial and medicinal properties of purple potatoes are due to their rich vitamin and mineral composition. Thanks to the substances included in the product, the risk of possible chronic inflammation, which is directly related to heart disease, is reduced. Due to the high content of antioxidants, the rate of aging processes in the human body decreases. The content of ascorbic acid allows you to strengthen your immune system with regular consumption of root vegetables. This is especially useful during the period of active action of viruses and infections.
Purple potatoes contain beneficial pigments, which improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
The product contains dietary fiber, which improves the function of the digestive system and prevents constipation. Thanks to this, you can get rid of several kilograms, which is generally confirmed by many positive reviews.
Purple potatoes are used as a remedy that helps reduce blood pressure and is an excellent prevention of strokes.
With daily use of the product, vision improves, the walls of blood vessels are strengthened, the risk of developing atherosclerosis is significantly reduced, and the level of formation of certain types of cancer also decreases.
People with individual intolerance to the product, as well as those suffering from hypotension (calorizator), should avoid eating purple potatoes. It is also worth controlling the amount of vegetables you eat to avoid serious problems.
Purple potatoes in cooking
Purple potatoes are widely used in cooking: they are baked in the oven, boiled, fried, added to salads, first courses, casseroles and stews.
Purple potato tubers are ideal for making mashed potatoes. In this case, the dish will turn out not only tasty, but also unusual.
www.calorizator.ru
Potatoes of the Violet variety appeared on our markets relatively recently. But, it is already very popular among the population, as it attracts attention with its unusual coloring. Let's take a closer look at it.
Description of the variety and characteristics
At the University of Colorado in the USA, breeders worked for a long time to develop a “cultivated” potato variety with blue-violet flesh.
Origin of the variety
The homeland of the Purple potato is South America, or more precisely, a village in the Andes mountains. It is noteworthy that this potato was bred without any genetic intervention. After some time, the variety “reached” Europe.
In Russia, the first attempts to breed Purple Potatoes were made in Siberia. It was here that potatoes of various colors were bred. But the “mission” was crowned with success only in 2011 in Tomsk. The materials used were brought from Korea.
Today you can find many varieties of purple potatoes. The most popular of them include: Vitelotte, Negro, Gypsy, French violet. They differ only in color saturation.
They have one thing in common - all these varieties are very healthy, and contain much more various nutrients than ordinary potatoes.
Composition and calorie content
Main characteristics of the variety:
- The average size of tubers is 90-14 g;
- Shape – round, slightly oval;
- Tubers are smooth, glossy;
- The peel is thin, purple in color;
- The pulp also has a purple color of less intensity;
- Starch content is about 13%;
- Contains proteins, iodine, a lot of vitamins, and other useful substances.
Important! Purple potatoes are a very high-calorie product. The taste is reminiscent of regular potatoes, but the texture of the fruit is creamy, and you often come across potatoes with a nutty flavor.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Like all other potato varieties, Purple has its pros and cons. Let's take a closer look at them.
Positive qualities of purple potatoes
Firstly, Purple Potatoes are an opportunity to decorate the table as beautifully as possible. With its help you can create a wide variety of “compositions” of dishes.
Secondly, boiled Purple potatoes have a blue tint, and their taste is almost always the same as regular ones. So, the dish turns out to be very attractive in appearance, but its taste properties do not change.
The most important thing is that this potato variety contains anthocyanins, which give it its color. It was this fact that interested breeders so much. After all, these substances have practically healing properties.
Main sources of anthocyanins:
- Pomegranate;
- Currant;
- Mulberry;
- Blackberry;
- All other fruits are purple.
Anthocyanins are glycosidic substances, and their color is due to the fact that they are in a pH environment. The latter contributes to the color of the fruit becoming reddish. And, if you add vinegar or lemon juice to purple potatoes, it will change its color.
Contraindications for purple potatoes
Purple potatoes have absolutely no contraindications. Quite the contrary - it is recommended to add it to the diet of those people who suffer from:
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Hypertension;
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- Intoxication of the body;
- Reduced immunity;
- Any inflammatory pathologies.
How and where to grow purple potatoes
Proper care and compliance with all planting rules are the main factors on which the yield of this variety depends. The planting site should be chosen so that the area receives a lot of sunlight. The best option is the southwest of the garden.
Soil preparation
The soil should be light so that the plant has constant access to oxygen. Water should also not stagnate - its normal outflow must be ensured.
It is the light soil that can cope with this. Therefore, such potatoes will grow best on sod-podzolic, neutral, loamy and floodplain lands.
In order for the plants to take root and the fruits to form correctly, you need to carefully dig up the place for future planting of potatoes. It is better to carry out the first digging before winter.
The fact is that all large lumps of earth, lifted with a shovel, will remain at the top, and as soon as frost “hits”, all harmful larvae and bacteria will die.
Planting and care
Purple potatoes should be planted in the spring, when the soil warms up to at least +5 degrees. First, the soil must be dug up, loosened, holes prepared for the tubers, and wood ash added to them.
Wood ash is not just a storehouse of useful microelements. It is considered an excellent disinfectant that helps prevent a lot of potato diseases.
The holes must be made so that their distance relative to each other is at least 35 cm in a row. Between the beds you need to maintain a distance of at least 65 cm.
If the plants are planted in hard soil, it must first be mixed with river sand. The holes should be 10 cm deep.
It is easy to care for the plants - they need watering every 7 days (if there has been no precipitation). When a crust forms on the ground, it must be thoroughly loosened. If the soil is wet, it can cause the development of various diseases. Therefore, this “parameter” also needs to be monitored.
Of course, this variety of potato also needs systematic feeding, treatment with drugs against late blight and various pests. The procedure is carried out according to the instructions for the substance.
Diseases
The purple potato variety is immune to the most common crop diseases: cancer, rot, scab. Shows average resistance to late blight. Also, treatment for pest beetles may be necessary.
As a preventive measure, before planting potatoes, you need to treat the planting material with potassium permanganate. It is also important to change the planting location every few years and alternate the crop with legumes, cabbage, and phacelia.
Click beetles and Colorado potato beetles are the main enemies of this variety. They spoil the tops, reduce yields, and negatively affect the keeping quality of potatoes and their appearance. Therefore, you need to get rid of them with the help of insecticides.
There are a number of things that have been used by people in everyday life for many centuries, and during this time they have not changed at all. One could hardly expect anything new, for example, from potatoes. However, today this root vegetable can be very surprising, because a new variety has appeared - purple potatoes. We are not talking about potatoes with soft pink skin and white flesh, but about a vegetable that has a purple color both outside and inside, and in cross-section more closely resembles beets.
Peculiarities
The first thing that comes to mind when you see such a vegetable is a chemical laboratory and people in scrubs who are diligently genetically modifying ordinary potatoes, injecting them with beet genes (at best) or something more unconventional. In fact, purple potatoes are a product of ordinary selection.
Today it is difficult to say where this miracle came from on our shelves, but the most reliable option is this: most likely, purple potatoes were imported from South America. Residents of Peru and Bolivia have been eating it for a very long time. Additionally, some scientists believe that purple potatoes are the ancestor of white potatoes. In ancient times, when potatoes were still a wild plant, they were all purple, but in the process of cultivation and selection, most of the varieties lost their color and became white, while some retained their previous appearance.
Today there are about 120 varieties of such potatoes, most of them grow well in the Russian climate.
The main characteristic that distinguishes varieties from each other is the shade of the pulp; it can range from soft pink to dark purple and even blue. There are also varieties with white skin but colored flesh. Growing such vegetables is more difficult than ordinary potatoes: their ripening period is much longer, and their yield is much lower, so such varieties are not in demand in industrial cultivation. Among small farmers and household plots, on the contrary, there are more and more fans of this vegetable.
Purple potatoes taste a little sweeter and have a pleasant nutty flavor, but this does not spoil them at all and makes them more attractive to cooks and gourmets.
Beneficial properties and harm
There is no food that does not bring at least some benefit to the human body, but sometimes it happens that the harm from a product significantly outweighs the benefits. Therefore, before consuming this new, exotic product, it is important to weigh the pros and cons.
Benefit
Purple potatoes contain a large amount of antioxidants, which are necessary to boost immunity and help fight colds and viral infections.
- These potatoes contain much less sugar and starch, so they are easier to digest and are a more dietary product than regular ones.
- With regular use, the antioxidant anthocyanin will help slow down skin aging and prolong youth.
- The high content of vitamin A has a beneficial effect on vision, reduces the risk of diseases of the vascular system and the development of cancer.
- Moderate starch content normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, protects against peptic ulcers and gastritis.
- Removes toxins and heavy metals from the body, which significantly improves blood flow.
- Normalizes metabolism, which can significantly alleviate the plight of people suffering from diarrhea, flatulence or constipation.
- Has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- 100 grams of purple potatoes contain only 75 kcal, so they can be considered a dietary product, similar in calorie content to white fish or mussels.
- Prevents heart attacks, heart failure and atherosclerosis.
- Improves blood, saturating it with minerals.
- Blocks the development of diseases of the visual organs, such as cataracts, glaucoma, myopia. Thiamine, contained in large quantities in this potato, slows down the aging of the retina and the clouding of the lens of the eye.
- It contains many vitamins and microelements: folic acid, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, potassium, calcium, magnesium, fluorine, iodine, selenium, iron and much more. Nutritionists recommend this product for use when losing weight, but they recommend diluting it with other dietary vegetables to further increase the amount of vitamins.
Harm
The only, but very significant, harm that can be caused by eating purple potatoes is a decrease in blood pressure.
This vegetable is undesirable in the diet of people who suffer from hypotension, because their blood pressure is often below normal; an even greater decline can lead to serious health problems and even coma.
However, this does not mean that healthy people can consume it excessively. It is worth remembering that this is still an exotic product, since our gastrointestinal tract has only “met” a distant relative of this product - it may not immediately begin to secrete all the necessary enzymes. This will lead to heaviness in the stomach.
The best varieties
Choosing the best variety - this question most often worries gardeners who want to get a good harvest that is as healthy and tasty to eat as possible, and at the same time easy to grow. In order to understand which variety is best suited for home cultivation, it is worth studying the descriptions of several of the most popular varieties in our area.
"Vitalot"
The most common purple potato variety in Russia. There is a legend that Alexander Dumas loved this particular variety of potato so much that he mentioned it in one of his books. This variety was imported from France. Potato tubers grow very large: from 500 grams or more, oval in shape, elongated. The flesh is bright purple, occasionally with small white dots. This variety is late-ripening and must be harvested almost in October, but it is most suitable for long-term storage.
Chips made from this potato variety will be very attractive, and the pattern of small white dots will create the illusion of space in each slice.
"Amethyst"
This variety was bred through selective breeding by Russian scientists. It is resistant to the unfavorable climatic conditions of the North and can be grown in the Urals. Resistant to late blight, blackleg, leaf curl, scab and potato cancer. “Amethyst” is a mid-season, high-yielding variety, suitable for long-term storage. Harvesting can be done 65-80 days after germination. The color of the peel and tubers is dark purple, uniform, without inclusions. The weight of tubers can reach 400 grams.
"Violet"
An early high-yielding potato variety is quite popular among lovers of “colored” potatoes. This is perhaps the only variety suitable for frying, since it contains a large amount of starch, which prevents the product from being soaked in oil. Despite the precocity, the tubers can reach 500 grams, the color of the peel is bright purple, the flesh is white-violet, marbled. The variety is resistant to late blight, scab and viral diseases.
"Explosion"
The earliest of all popular varieties of purple potatoes. It got its name for its fast and productive fruiting. Despite the small weight of the tubers, which rarely exceeds 150 grams, this variety is characterized by high yield. From one bush you can harvest up to 3-4 kilograms of potatoes. The color of the tubers is blue-violet. Full ripening occurs already on the 65th day after germination.
"All Blue"
This variety differs from others in its unusual bright blue color. The tubers of this variety grow relatively small, on average about 200 grams. The color of the peel is dark blue, while the flesh shimmers from blue to bright blue. The “All Blue” variety is ready for harvesting 70-80 days after germination; it is considered medium-late. The fruits are stored quite well in cellar conditions.
"Red Wonder" (red miracle)
Based on the name of this variety, it is logical to assume that the color of its pulp is red, but this is not entirely true. The flesh of this root vegetable is rather pink, sometimes it can be coral in color, and the peel is light purple. This is also a mid-late variety, it is most adapted for cultivation in central Russia, it is resistant to aphids and fungal diseases, and is not afraid of droughts and floods. Its fruits are round and reach a weight of 150-200 grams.
How to cook it correctly?
Today, purple potatoes are still considered a delicacy and not available to everyone. Therefore, well-founded doubts arise about its preparation. In the world of haute cuisine, on the contrary, this vegetable has been around for a long time and does not surprise anyone. Many famous chefs have long used it to prepare their masterpieces and are happy to share their experience of preparing this wonderful root vegetable.
Famous TV cook Hector Jimenez Bravo recommends baking purple potatoes. To do this, you need to select small tubers, wash them thoroughly, make punctures with a fork in several places, rub the potatoes with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. It should be baked in an oven preheated to 200 degrees for 40 minutes to 1 hour. The finished potatoes need to be cut into halves and some of the pulp should be selected from the middle so as to form boats. The selected pulp needs to be ground into puree, add chopped cheese, ham and herbs, mix everything. Place the resulting mass into prepared boats, place a small piece of butter on top and bake for another 10 minutes.
The most famous modern cook, Gordon Ramsay, advises using purple potatoes to make salads. To do this, you need to boil the potatoes in their jackets. To ensure that the color of the product remains unchanged during the cooking process, it must be boiled only in salted water and for no more than 20 minutes. You can combine such potatoes with cheese, fish, meat, sausages, smoked meats; legumes complement it wonderfully.
It is best to dress this salad with natural vegetable oil with a drop of lemon or balsam juice.
Mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, and vegetable pancakes will look great. This miracle vegetable can be used to decorate any soup. But purple potato chips will look most impressive. These chips should be prepared using the “dry” method. The simplest of them is cooking in the microwave. Potatoes must be thoroughly washed, dried and cut into very thin circles. Dry the resulting pieces again or blot them with paper towels, place them in one layer on a wooden microwave tray and bake for 3 minutes at 600 W.
You should not fry such potatoes, nor should you make French fries or chips in oil. During the frying process, it absorbs a large amount of oil, acquiring an unpleasant texture and the taste of a “stale” dish. Reviews of fried purple potatoes are quite negative.
Purple potatoes need to be planted at a great distance from other crops.
The distance between the holes should also be at least 50 centimeters in all directions. During the growing season, purple potatoes grow into unusually tall bushes, the trunks of which are quite thick and rough. The first leaves on the trunks may have a grayish color or a purple tint, but later they will become as green as regular potatoes. The greenery of this root crop spreads very widely to the sides, which can harm neighboring crops.
Planting can begin simultaneously with planting ordinary potatoes, and it is better to postpone harvesting until mid-September. Purple potato tubers can grow up to 1 kilogram, and up to 15 such tubers can be harvested from one bush. They are not recommended for replanting. Experienced gardeners have come to the conclusion that the harvest from last year's tubers will be noticeably smaller. For planting next year, it is better to purchase seeds in specialized stores. A large number of domestic scientists and breeders are working to solve this problem, and it is likely that it will be resolved soon.
To learn how to make unusual purple potato gnocchi, watch the video below.