Blue Potato: Description and Characteristics

Recently, plant breeders have begun searching for new dietary vegetable crops. These new crops should act in ways that improve health and have a healing effect on the entire body.

A unique feature of this variety is that the color of the tubers ranges from purple to red (both internal and external coloring).

Description and characteristics of purple potatoes

This variety is distinguished not only by its purple skin, but also by its purple flesh. The color ranges from soft pink to deep purple. It was developed without genetic modification; specialists bred the variety according to the rules of classical breeding. The regular potato was crossed with its South American relative.

Distinctions of purple potatoes:

• elongated tubers;
• the pulp does not change its color even after cooking;
• Potatoes contain many useful elements that help boost immunity;
• thick skin allows for long-term storage of the vegetable;
• Cooked purple potatoes have an unusual nutty flavor that also sets them apart from their peers.

What's so appealing about purple potatoes?

First of all, this potato variety allows you to create a variety of new, delicious dishes, which appeals to lovers of exotic cuisine. Boiled potatoes taste no different from regular tubers; the only intimidating thing about them at first is their color, which actually enhances their flavor.

This purple vegetable has attracted the attention of plant breeders due to the presence of anthocyanin pigments, which give it its distinctive color. Anthocyanins possess rich healing properties and have long been used not only in folk medicine but also in traditional medicine. Typical sources of anthocyanins have historically included blueberries, pomegranates, blackberries, black currants, beets, and other violet-blue, red, and purple fruits.

Anthocyanins are glycosidic substances whose color is determined by pH. An acidic environment produces red hues, an alkaline environment produces yellow-green hues, and a neutral environment produces purple hues. Therefore, those who decide to include this vegetable in their diet shouldn't be surprised if the vegetable changes color dramatically when adding acids (vinegar or citric acid). However, heat treatment doesn't destroy these substances, so it can be safely fried, boiled, or baked.

The benefits and harms of purple potatoes

This unique vegetable deserves special attention not only because of its vibrant color. This variety also contains numerous healing and health-promoting substances. For example, eating any food containing purple potatoes lowers blood pressure. Therefore, purple potatoes are harmful to people with low blood pressure and should be avoided. In addition to antioxidants, purple potatoes are also rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids. The color of the potato is the result of crossing equatorial varieties with wild African ones.

Regular consumption of purple potatoes has a beneficial effect on vision and strengthens blood vessel walls. This helps reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, it significantly reduces the risk of certain types of cancer. Eating purple potatoes is recommended for people suffering from:

• diabetes;
• hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• poisoning;
• weak immunity;
• diseases of viral and bacterial etiology.

The presence of antioxidants slows down the aging process, destroys free radicals that cause cancer, and strengthens blood vessels.

People who suffer from intolerance to purple potatoes should also avoid eating them.

Composition and caloric content

Purple potatoes are rich in fatty acids, which are essential for blood vessels and the heart. They also contain macro- and micronutrients found in no other vegetable.

The vitamin situation is a bit worse; it only contains folic acid and ascorbic acid in sufficient quantities. Therefore, vegetables such as beets, cabbage, and carrots would be a good addition to this product.

Growing rules

This potato variety can be planted using two methods: conventional tubers and seeds. To plant seeds, they are germinated immediately, then transplanted into seedlings, which are then transferred outdoors. The seeds are sown in April and planted outdoors towards the end of May. If the seedlings were grown correctly, the potatoes will grow quickly, with uniform sprouts and early tuber formation.

Planting tubers is done in the same way as regular potatoes. When choosing the planting time, it's recommended to consider the weather and climate conditions of the planting site. Wait until all night frosts have passed.

Where is it grown?

This potato variety has recently gained increasing popularity. It is grown in Canada, Scotland, the United States, and South Korea. It is readily available in stores in the aforementioned countries. The purple potato's success was sparked by an exhibition held in 2007.

Koreans have also developed a universal diet using this vegetable. Furthermore, purple potatoes are actively used by cosmetologists worldwide, producing a variety of masks and soaps distinguished by their delicate texture. Americans even produce purple potato chips using this variety. Russians have been enthusiastically cultivating this vegetable since 2011. Cultivation of purple potatoes in our country began in Siberia. In 2007, a research fellow at a Siberian research institute received a unique potato as a gift from Korean breeders.

According to recent news, purple potatoes are also being grown in the Urals, but for private use, not commercial purposes. But very soon, avid gardeners will delight us with the mass cultivation of this vegetable crop.

Preparing a landing site

The soil for planting potatoes should be light and fertile. It should be well-aerated. Neutral sandy loams and sod-podzolic soils are ideal. Before the first frost, it's necessary to carry out an initial tilling of the soil. During the frost, pests that were in the dug-up soil will die. Potato planting can begin when the soil temperature reaches at least 5°C (41°F). Before this, it's necessary to re-till the soil and prepare holes with wood already in place. The optimal distance between rows is approximately 50 cm, and between holes, it should be around 30 cm.

Landing

When planting purple potatoes, you need to ensure that the plants receive enough light and air. This means avoiding planting the vegetables close together to save space; instead, follow the planting recommendations.

Care

If the soil is dry, water it at least three times: once as soon as the first shoots appear, a second time when they begin to flower, and a third time immediately after flowering. If there's been no rain for a long time, water the potatoes at least once a week. If there's too much moisture, the vegetable will become susceptible to fungal diseases, and if there's too little, the fruit will dry out. After the first shoots appear, regularly weed the potatoes. If a crust forms on the soil, be sure to loosen it.

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Reviews

Reviews from people who have already enjoyed this unusual fruit are varied. Some are delighted, while others find it unpalatable. It's quite possible that over time this variety will become more popular in our country, and everyone will be able to appreciate the benefits of purple potatoes.