Blue potatoes: benefits and harms. How to grow purple potatoes in your backyard

Purple potatoes are a variety of potatoes with purple skin and flesh. They have a medium starchy texture and a milder, nuttier flavor than regular white potatoes. As scientists have found, such potatoes contain more antioxidant compounds that regular potatoes cannot compete with.

As you know, the essence of even an unusual vegetable does not actually change. Therefore, you don’t even need to avoid purple potatoes. After all, it will bring a non-standard look to familiar dishes, fill them with original taste and, in addition, leave a positive mark on human health. For example, it has been found to help lower blood pressure, accelerate weight loss, and prevent depression.

These potatoes can be fried, boiled, baked, mashed, added to soups and other dishes. Let's take a closer look at such an unusual potato and find out how it is useful for the human body, what beneficial properties it has and whether there are contraindications to its use.

Purple potato variety description

Among the wide variety of vegetable crops, it is worth noting the purple potato, which is new to domestic consumers. It belongs to the bindweed family and the nightshade genus.

It was first bred in South America, so it is most common in Peru. True, since 2007, gardeners in Tomsk and the Urals have also been planting blue potatoes. Therefore, you should not be afraid of its appearance on the shelves of markets and shops.

No one objects that this plant is the result of selective genetic work. But it will not bring any harm, because the classical method was used in the selection work.

The main distinctive characteristics of this vegetable crop are:

• Oblong shape of tubers;
• No loss of purple color even after prolonged heat treatment;
• The presence of a thick peel;
• Long-term storage of the product.

It is worth noting that today the most popular varieties of purple potatoes are:

• French truffle potatoes;
• Chinese truffle;
• Black woman;
• Gourmet;
• Witelotte;
• Russian black potatoes.

What are the benefits of purple potatoes?

Despite its “exotic” appearance, such potatoes are characterized by the presence of many substances necessary and important for human health.

Thus, this potato contains:

The total calorie content of 100 grams of purple potatoes is 72 kilocalories. As for its nutritional value, 100 grams contains:

15 grams of carbohydrates;

1 gram of fiber;

2 grams of protein.

Purple Potatoes Health Benefits

The nutritional value of purple potatoes is similar to regular potatoes. But there is one significant difference: antioxidant content. It contains 4 times more of them than the white potatoes we are used to.

Anthocyanins, which are antioxidant compounds, give the entire tuber its purple color.

It contains quite a lot of potassium, which brings certain benefits to people suffering from high blood pressure. Plus, more antioxidants.

Research conducted by the US Department of Agriculture has shown that eating six golf ball-sized tubers every day for a month can reduce blood pressure by an average of 4 percent. Agree, this is not so little.

In addition, thanks to the same antioxidants, it helps strengthen the immune system and can prevent and reduce the risk of heart disease and oncology.

In addition to potassium, which helps regulate cell fluid, and antioxidants, blue potatoes contain ample amounts of vitamin C. They are low in fat and have no cholesterol.

Although not by much, the content of starchy substances in it is still less than that of ordinary potatoes. This fact should be noticed by people watching their weight and dieting.

Purple potatoes benefits

Due to its characteristics, it is blue potatoes (microelements do not disappear after freezing or prolonged heat treatment) that can “boast” maximum benefits for the human body.

As a result, eating purple potatoes helps:

• Bind toxins and waste;
• Remove feces quickly;
• Normalize intestinal motility;
• Relieve inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes of the digestive system;
• Prevent bowel dysfunction;
• Prevent constipation and diarrhea;
• Relieve symptoms of flatulence and associated abdominal pain;
• Protect the gastric mucosa (potatoes seem to envelop it);
• Reduce body weight (by cleansing the body of waste and toxins);
• Accelerate metabolic processes;
• Improve vision;
• Prevent the development of glaucoma and cataracts;
• Reduce the risk of myopia;
• Reduce fatigue and stress when working at a computer monitor;
• Clear the walls of blood vessels from various negative deposits;
• Prevent the formation of blood clots;
• Remove “bad” cholesterol;
• Prevent the formation of cholesterol plaques;
• Reduce the risk of myocardial infarction;
• Prevent the development of atherosclerosis;
• Reduce high blood pressure;
• Strengthen vascular walls;
• Improve general vascular microcirculation and blood flow;
• Restore heart rhythm;
• Improve the functioning of the heart muscle;
• Prevent stroke;
• Accelerate and improve the body's absorption of iron;
• Prevent the occurrence of anemia (by promoting the rapid formation of red blood cells);
• Increase the activity of the immune system in the fight against viruses (that is, strengthen the immune system);
• Rejuvenate the body (thanks to natural antioxidants-polyphenols);
• Protect cells from the negative effects of free radicals (that is, cancer is prevented);
• Remove salts that are deposited in joints;
• Reduce elevated temperature;
• Remove the manifestations of tuberculosis and prevent the occurrence of this disease.

Purple potatoes used in cooking

Cooking classifies blue potatoes as an unusual category, but uses them as a common vegetable. Purple potatoes have a medium starchy texture, making them versatile and suitable for most recipes that call for potatoes.

Therefore, similar potatoes with a nutty taste are boiled, stewed, baked, casseroles and even potato pancakes are made from them. And all this happens without loss of available minerals and vitamins.

Use in salads will add brightness to a dull-looking dish, it retains its shape when baked and purees well when pureed.

To maximize nutrients and minimize calories, simply boil, puree, or bake it instead of frying it.

Simply boil the tubers (preferably with the peel), sprinkle with olive oil and sprinkle with finely chopped onion and crushed garlic.

It will be delicious baked with paprika and cut into slices, lightly seasoned with salt.

Here are some more ideas on how to cook purple potatoes.

Mix diced potatoes with shallots. Season with a little pepper and olive oil. Place in the oven. When half cooked, remove the lid, add the leeks and cook until finished. Sprinkle the finished dish with rosemary, parsley, and dill.

To prepare mashed potatoes, boil them and mash them. Use almond milk instead of butter and milk. Season the finished puree with fried garlic.

Bake whole, without peeling, in the oven or microwave, lightly drizzling with olive oil. Season the finished potatoes with Greek yogurt, fresh onions and herbs.

For potato salad, cut it into cubes. Mix mayonnaise with mustard, Greek yogurt and dress the salad.

Purple potatoes harm and contraindications

Some believe that the purple variety of potatoes is not much different from the usual ones. On the one hand, this is a correct judgment. But the consumption of such a food product should also be treated with caution. After all, blue potatoes, despite their lower starch content, are not recommended:

• Pregnant women (bloating often occurs);
• Elderly people and children (there are not enough enzymes for digestion);
• In case of obesity (due to increased caloric content, high carbohydrate content, promoting the accumulation of fats in the body, slowing down the processes of cleansing the latter from slagging);
• If you have diabetes mellitus (such potatoes contain a large amount of mono- and disaccharides, sucrose, fructose, glucose);
• If you have constipation (in this case, you can only consume puree to avoid irritation of the intestinal mucosa and provoking exacerbations);
• For gastritis (fried and baked potatoes are completely prohibited, only mashed potatoes and boiled potatoes in soup are allowed);
• For low blood pressure or hypotension (due to the product's ability to lower blood pressure).

These are the purple potatoes that are still unusual for many. In addition to its nutritional value, health benefits, it can add bright color to your dishes and decorate the table.

What are purple potatoes, how are they useful, find out from the video of the “Dacha TV” program

On the plots of some summer residents you can meet potato, which not everyone knows about. We are talking about black potatoes. The reason for such an unusual name for the tuber is the dark peel. One of the obvious advantages of this is that it almost does not shrink, the downside is that the tubers are very attractive to people. When cleaning, where the tail of the tuber is, there are green spots or stains. These are places where poisonous solanine accumulates. Almost black takes longer to cook than regular tubers. Many novice gardeners are interested in whether dark fruit is harmful and what its features are. Let's try to answer this question together.

From year to year, the popularity of black varieties is only growing. There are several reasons for this dynamics, and one of them is passion and the desire to grow something exotic and unusual in your garden. And in this regard, black has no equal. Originality is good. But this factor motivating summer residents to plant dark varieties of potatoes is not the only one. The reason for the increase in demand in our case is also explained by the composition of the vegetable.

Most experts say that black came to us from South America. There, even today, this variety of root crop is cultivated more actively than anywhere else.

Varieties of interest to Russian and Belarusian dacha owners:

1. “Chinese truffle.”
2. "Negress."
3. “Purple Peruvian.”
4. "Black Prince".
5. "Purple Viking."

Each of this variety has its own pros and cons. At the same time, they have a similar appearance and composition.

What unites white and dark? The light aboveground part of plants. True, in the second case, the plant can be identified by the dark purple stems of the tops.

The extreme variants of dark colors are almost black and purple. Regardless of color, the skin of the tubers is thick, which is positively associated with shelf life. The inside of the tubers is most often bright purple, with white streaks. Their average length is ten centimeters, and their weight is seventy grams.

If you are planning to grow dark varieties of tuber crops, you should know that they do not shine in terms of yields compared to light potatoes. This is the main disadvantage of the bed dweller we are considering. Although, this drawback does not stop summer residents who love to experiment and surprise their neighbors, their friends and loved ones with dishes made from such an unusual vegetable.

This one cooks faster than usual. Due to their original taste, dark varieties are also popular among gourmets. By the way, dishes prepared from dark fruit have notes of nuts.

It is impossible not to note the enormous benefits of the vegetable. It contains a lot of useful minerals and vitamins, antioxidants, phenolic acids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. Including dark foods in your daily diet helps:

Slow down aging
. improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract,
. restoration of vision.

Unfortunately, dark vegetables also contain harmful substances, including solanine. However, here you need to pay attention to two very important points:

1. This natural poison can be found in small quantities in absolutely any product. Its content increases with improper storage, when root crops begin to sprout and become covered with green spots. Therefore, in order to minimize possible harm to the body, it is recommended to cut off these green areas.

2. A high concentration of solanine, which can cause any damage to health, is found only in the above-ground part of the plant, which includes stems, leaves, and berries formed after flowering. In the tubers themselves, it can only be found in the peel and sprouts. And since we usually do not consume any of these components as food, the risk of poisoning is extremely low.

Thus, we can safely say that the harm of black is no more than that of its traditional counterpart.

Important point: Violation of the storage conditions of tubers leads to a deterioration in the quality of potatoes, the use of which as food can negatively affect health.

A guide to the experience of experienced gardeners

If you remove the sprouts from the tubers in time, they will be stored longer and will not turn green.

Regarding the stability of black

Multi-colored potatoes, in particular purple ones, are such a curiosity for our compatriots, while abroad colored varieties can often be found in everyday food. While in Russia they are just getting used to vegetables of unusual colors, in the world there are already several dozen different varieties that differ from each other in growth qualities, adaptability and taste.

Origin

There are many versions of how exactly purple potatoes came to be. Many researchers are inclined to believe that dark purple wild potatoes originally originated in South America, in particular in Peru. Throughout its history, this unusually colored vegetable has been called differently: “negress”, “Chinese truffle”, “French truffle potato”.

Modern potatoes with purple flesh are the result of painstaking long-term selection. The first varieties were developed by Colorado scientists, who for decades tried to cultivate wild fruits growing in the American Mountains, which can not only satiate the stomach, but also improve health. It is not without reason that it has always been believed that the Peruvians and other tribes living in the southern hemisphere rarely got sick and were distinguished by an enviable longevity.

Cultivation was carried out within the framework of classical selection: the starting materials were wild potatoes and our regular ones. Finally they succeeded, but purple potatoes never became “their own” among the many thousands of modern varieties of this crop. Its amazing taste and range of beneficial properties were not enough in the pursuit of ease of care and abundance of harvest.

Note! Many believe that the unusual color of potatoes was obtained through genetic modification. This opinion is incorrect: its color is the result of hybridization of wild African and equatorial varieties.

In our country, colored potatoes are grown mainly for the sake of interest in the unusual fruit, but it is impossible to feed a family with them, since purple potatoes do not produce well. The foreigner misses either the rarefied air of the Andes highlands or the southern tropical climate, but our land is not to his taste, no matter how hard the agronomists try.

Currently, scientists have obtained several dozen varieties of different colors. But work to improve the quality of purple potato varieties continues. This gives reason to believe that purple potatoes will soon catch up with the most well-known varieties in terms of their characteristics and will then boldly spread throughout Russia.

Main crop varieties:

• Purple Peruvian;
• French purple truffle;
• Chinese truffle;
• Witelotte;
• Gourmet;
• Russian black.

Interesting: Due to its low prevalence, this potato is considered elite. Particularly popular in the USA, Asia and South America.

Type characteristic

Purple potatoes belongs to the Bindweed family. The fruits have an interesting oblong shape (uneven), dark purple color, due to the high content of anthocyanins.

Root vegetables reach 10 centimeters in diameter and weigh up to 80 grams. Ripens late, towards the end of September. One bush produces on average 5-7 fruits. There are many medium-depth ocelli on the surface. The peel is thick and rough. The flesh of the fruit is practically the same in color as the peel and is covered with a network of dark purple “veins.”

The taste of the purple fruit is slightly different from the usual “potato”: there is a slight nutty aftertaste, which adds piquancy to the dish.

The advantages of this type:

• exotic color allows you to prepare interesting dishes;
• interesting taste qualities;
• contains a huge amount of useful vitamins and microelements;
• excellent keeping quality.

• ripens very late;
• low yield;
• picky, demanding of care;
• susceptible to disease;
• expensive seed material.

Purple potatoes are mainly used by chefs to prepare unusual dishes. It is unpretentious in cooking, retains its appearance and color perfectly, unlike traditional varieties. Suitable for absolutely any dishes, including dietary ones.

Advice: The color does not change if you cook the potatoes in salt water.

The main differences between purple potatoes and regular potatoes:

1. The color of the peel, pulp and the plant itself is dark purple, almost black.
2. The root vegetables are clumsy and ugly in shape.
3. Indicated for various serious diseases.
4. Thick skins allow potatoes to last longer.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of the purple fruit lie in its unusual color. Purple pigment is rich in anthocyanins, which are beneficial for absolutely everyone. Potatoes are not only healthy, but also healing!

This type of potato contains vitamin A - a 150 gram tuber contains more than 500% of the daily value of this vitamin. The root vegetable also contains vitamins B - B6, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, folic acid, vitamins C and E, minerals calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus.

Eating purple potatoes helps lower blood pressure in humans. Adding a small amount of potatoes to main dishes has a beneficial effect on heart function and acts as a preventive measure for the development of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.

Purple potatoes are able to remove toxins from the body due to their high content of carotenoids and phenolic acid. Thanks to antioxidants, harmful substances are not retained, and therefore the risk of developing, for example, an ulcer or gastritis is reduced. Purple potatoes are fibrous, which helps improve digestion.

Interesting: Some studies have shown that purple potatoes can slow down the aging process.

Calorie content

Purple potatoes are very high in calories; per 100 grams there are 72 kcal.

Composition per 100 grams:

• Proteins - 2.0 g;
• Fats - 0.4 g;
• Carbohydrates - 16.0 g;
• Organic acids - 0.1 g;
• Dietary fiber - 1.6 g;
• Water - 80.1 g;
• Ash - 1.4 g.

A little more about useful qualities:

• the variety is useful for diabetics due to its high starch and insulin content;
• if you bake or boil potatoes (that is, do not use additional fats when cooking), you can reduce the calorie content of the product;
• perfectly improves immunity;
• This miracle potato has the ability to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Eating vegetables can reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis.
• It is known that colored fruits retain their beneficial properties even after heat treatment. But not all types of it are as useful as baking. Baked potatoes will bring a maximum of plant-based pigments and antioxidants to a person. It also retains potassium, ascorbic acid and fiber.

Note: People with low blood pressure should avoid eating this vegetable.

Growing features

Growing purple potatoes requires a lot of attention, patience and effort from the gardener. The vegetable is very picky about environmental conditions, temperature and precipitation. However, if you try and follow all the necessary rules for growing this difficult plant, you can expect a decent harvest in the fall.

Where is it grown?

While in Russia this type of potato is still viewed with caution, purple tubers are very popular all over the world. Farmers in Canada, Scotland, the USA, and South Korea quite successfully cultivate it for sale.

In Korea, the vegetable is used as a staple in diets. The rejuvenating properties of potatoes have also shown themselves in cosmetology: various masks and cosmetics are quite popular in Asia.

Americans have become interested in making unusual, colorful chips. Now you can find bags of crispy purple slices in stores everywhere.

In the Russian Federation, the first harvest of colored potatoes was obtained only in 2007. Planting material was delivered from South Korea. Since 2011, it has been grown by Tomsk agronomists. However, while the cultivation of the purple variety is purely for informational purposes, it is not being planted on a large scale.

Soil preparation

To harvest a lot of potatoes in the fall, they need to be planted correctly in the spring. Compliance with the rules of agricultural technology will allow the seeds to germinate better, large bushes to grow and numerous tubers to form.

Purple potatoes should grow in calm conditions, not burdened by close proximity to other crops. For best growth, potato bushes need long daylight hours. It is advisable to arrange potato beds in the southern or southwestern parts of the garden.

The best soil for colored potatoes is sandy loam, sod-podzolic, loamy and floodplain soils with a neutral pH level. Light, loose soil will provide the root system with an abundance of air; moisture will not stagnate, which means the risk of developing fungus and rot will be minimal.

Fertilizers are applied to the soil per 1 square meter - 30 g of superphosphate and 15 grams of potassium salt. Be sure to ferment the soil with humus, thanks to which the tubers will develop.

In the spring, the garden needs to be dug up again in order to “shake up” the soil, saturate it with nutrients, and prepare it for work. Drained soil will help the sprouts quickly strengthen in new conditions and begin to grow.

Landing Rules

Early potatoes are sown at the end of April, but only if warm weather sets in, since colored potatoes react quite sharply to temperature changes and frosts.

Seed potatoes are usually germinated before planting. To do this, the tubers are laid out in a warm place (the temperature should be at least 10 degrees) about a month before the planting procedure. In the warmth, the life processes of the potato will give rise to new sprouts. As soon as shoots appear, the temperature in the room is lowered to 5-7 degrees. To prevent new shoots from growing too long, the tubers provide plenty of sunlight. This will help curb uncontrolled germination.

Planting material must be soaked in fungicide to minimize the risk of plant damage by fungus.

The holes are placed further than when planting ordinary potatoes, since the bushes of this type of potato grow quite large and branchy. Plant the seeds to a depth of 8-10 centimeters. The distance between bushes should be at least 50 centimeters. The row spacing is made even larger - 60 centimeters wide. If the soil is dense, then add a little sand to the ground.

Growing purple potatoes is not easy. You need to be prepared for the fact that not all the potatoes will sprout, and usually no more than 7 potatoes are harvested from a bush, albeit very large ones.

Fact: If you propagate purple potatoes using “eyes”, the tubers quickly become smaller, turning into a wild-growing form.

Care

Caring for purple potatoes is required in the same way as when growing any other variety of this crop.

Basic rules of care:

Diseases and pests

Colored potato varieties get sick more often than other types of this crop. With proper care, white and yellow varieties can easily avoid fungal and bacterial diseases, while purple potatoes are more likely to suffer from disease. Therefore, seed potatoes and subsequently bushes must be sprayed with all kinds of chemicals that help reduce the development of diseases, and also carefully follow all the rules of agricultural technology. If measures are not taken in time, then even the most aggressive infection can infect the entire field in a matter of days.

Purple potato tubers are most susceptible to scab and late blight. That’s why it’s so important to add ash and lime to the soil – these components inhibit the development of diseases.

Disease prevention measures:

• plant purple potato varieties away from other crops;
• Potato beds need to be made in different places every year;
• treat tubers with antifungal drugs before planting;
• place potato plantings far from other nightshade crops;
• hill up bushes, loosen the ground, not allowing moisture to stagnate;
• when the bushes grow enough, they need to be treated with copper sulfate, adding 1 g of the substance per 1 liter of water.

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:

1. The color of the pulp remains the same even after processing.
2. The shape of the vegetable is elongated-oblong.
3. High content of nutrients in the tubers.
4. 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. fats.

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?

1. Reduced pressure. Good for those who suffer from hypertension and bad for those with hypotension.
2. Antioxidants. Their presence in large quantities slows down the aging process.
3. Of the many vitamins found in purple potatoes, E and C are the most important for humans.
4. Strengthening vision. Useful for nearsighted people. Slows down the development of cataracts and glaucoma.
5. Digestive system. Helps remove toxins from the body. Normalizes stool, relieves abdominal pain.
6. 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.
7. 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:

1. Susceptibility to late blight and scab.
2. Insect pest attacks. The purple potato variety is more susceptible to attacks by Colorado potato beetles than others.
3. 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.

Landing 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 taste. 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.

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 type of potato 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.

Black woman Chinese truffle Potatoes French purple truffle Vitelotte Russian black Gourmet

There is no talk yet about volumes sufficient for industrial cultivation, but stores are happy to present to the attention of 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.

Landing 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, with a weight of 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 to 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 here 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.

fb.ru

purple potato

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