9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (2024)

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Mary Marlowe Leverette

9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (1)

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

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Published on 04/17/23

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9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (2)

Tired of growing the same old potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in your garden? Why not give these 9 blue and purple potato varieties a try this growing season? Most varieties originated in South America and their color in both the skin and flesh comes from the same anthocyanin pigments found in blackberries, concord grapes, and red cabbage.

Caring for Blue Potatoes

Unless addressed specifically, the planting and care of blue and purple potatoes are the same as white or gold-flesh potatoes in the garden or in containers. Purchase seed potatoes at a home and garden center. They may not have some cultivars but search online seed companies and you'll find a great variety.They are susceptible to the same pests and diseases and are harvested in the same manner.

When selecting blue potatoes for the garden, chose the cultivars that are best for your growing conditions and read the information provided with the seed potatoes. What size potato will be produced? What is the growing time from planting to harvesting? Consult your local state agricultural extension office for great information about what grows best in your locality.

  • 01 of 09

    All Blue

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (3)

    Also called 'Purple Marker,' 'All Blue' is a medium-sized potato with blue skin and blue flesh. An extra-late maturing potato, this high-yielding plant has beautiful blue flowers.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 24-36 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 120
  • 02 of 09

    Adirondack Blue

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (4)

    'Adirondack Blue' has been tested by Cornell Universityand the University of Florida Extension and declared a good choice for the home gardener. Glistening blue skin encloses deep blue flesh without a white vascular ring seen in similar varieties. The plants are strong and provide good mid-season yields.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 18-24 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 90
  • 03 of 09

    Blaue (blue) St. Galler

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (5)

    'Blaue St. Galler' is the result of the cross made in 1995 between 'Blaue Schweden' and 'Prättigauer' in Flawil, Switzerland. The tubers have a long shape with eyes at a medium depth

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 18-24 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 9-12 weeks
  • 04 of 09

    Blue Tomcat

    'Blue Tomcat' is an heirloom large fingerling potato with very dark blue skin and blue flesh. It matures late in the growing season.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 24-36 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 101 - 110

    Continue to 5 of 9 below

  • 05 of 09

    Magic Molly

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (7)

    'Magic Molly' is a purple-skinned fingerling potato with dark purple flesh. The larger-than-normal fingerling-shaped tubers retain their color when boiled.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 12-20"
    • Days to Maturity: 75
  • 06 of 09

    Peruvian Purple

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (8)

    An heirloom variety, 'Peruvian Purple' originated in the highlands of the Andes Mountains. The 2.5-3.5-inch tubers have deep purple flesh that retains its color when roasted or fried.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 24-36 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 100-120 days
  • 07 of 09

    Purple Majesty

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (9)

    'Purple Majesty' lives up to its name with dark wine-colored skins and succulent purple flesh. The tubers are sweet and have a buttery flavor.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 18-24 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 80-100
  • 08 of 09

    Purple Pelisse

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (10)

    'Purple Pelisse' is a mid-season fingerling variety that has dark purple skin and flesh. The potato retains its bright purple color and doesn't turn brown when cut.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 18 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 80 days

    Continue to 9 of 9 below

  • 09 of 09

    Vitelotte

    9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (11)

    A French variety, 'Vitelotte' has dark violet-blue flesh and skin that is almost black. it is often called the "Chinese truffle" because the skin is so dark. The potato retains its color during cooking and has the nutty flavor and scent of chestnuts.

    • Hardiness Zones: 4-11
    • Light: Full sun, 6-8 hours per day
    • Soil: Well-draining, fertile
    • Mature Size: 18 inches
    • Days to Maturity: 9-12 weeks

Additional Tips for Growing Potatoes

If you would like to grow purple potatoes, you should plant seed potatoes once soil temperatures are consistently 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Seed potatoes of heirloom blue and purple varieties will be difficult to find in most home and garden centers but can be purchased online.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season (2024)

FAQs

9 Blue and Purple Potato Varieties to Try This Growing Season? ›

All Blue. Also called 'Purple Marker,' 'All Blue' is a medium-sized potato with blue skin and blue flesh. An extra-late maturing potato, this high-yielding plant has beautiful blue flowers.

What are all blue purple potatoes? ›

All Blue. Also called 'Purple Marker,' 'All Blue' is a medium-sized potato with blue skin and blue flesh. An extra-late maturing potato, this high-yielding plant has beautiful blue flowers.

What is the best variety of purple potatoes? ›

Galler. All Blue is the most used purple variety for commercial production in the United States and Europe. Purple potatoes are generally all-purpose cultivars favored in cooked preparations as a filling, starchy ingredient.

When to plant blue potatoes? ›

The best planting time is February. But I think of potatoes as having two seasons here — one is August into early September for a late fall or early winter harvest, and the other is February for a late spring harvest.

What is the highest yielding potato? ›

Highest yielding cultivars were the late season varieties Belmonda and MonDak Gold. A contributing factor to this may have been that later varieties were able to “weather” the long-term drought and heat effects of the season.

Are blue potatoes good to eat? ›

Blue potatoes just may be the perfect food: The tubers are a great source of healthy nutrients. Not only are they safe to eat, but consuming the spuds are study-proven to protect you against diseases like diabetes. And they're simple enough to grow in a container garden right in your backyard with a few easy steps.

Are there naturally blue potatoes? ›

Purple and blue potatoes originate from South America. This color comes from the anthocyanin pigments in both the skin and flesh. Anthocyanins are the same compounds that give color to eggplant, red cabbage, blackberry, concord grapes, and other fruits and vegetables.

What is the most delicious potato variety? ›

The Yukon Gold potato is one of the most popular potato varieties because it falls into the all-purpose category. Yukon Golds have thin gold skin that doesn't need to be peeled before mashing, and their creamy flesh has a sweet, buttery flavor.

What is the healthiest potato? ›

All potatoes can fit into a healthy diet, but purple potatoes, red potatoes, and sweet potatoes—which are often grouped with potatoes—stand out due to their high amounts of protective plant compounds and essential nutrients.

What month should I plant potatoes? ›

I like to wait for the soil to warm up a little at which point they emerge quickly and grow steadily without stress. Late March to early May is a good time to plant potatoes in the northern states. In the warmer areas of the South they can be planted in late fall or early winter.

How long to harvest blue potatoes? ›

'Adirondack Blue' is a midseason-maturing variety under Florida growing conditions. Season length was on average 87 days from planting to harvest, depending on growing conditions during the season. Tubers should be harvested two weeks after vine kill to improve tuber maturation and skin set.

Should you plant potatoes at night? ›

This indicator is to plant potatoes in the dark of the moon. Any crop that is underground is to be planted when the moon is waning. Above ground crops, for example corn and beans are planted in the light of the moon/when it is waxing.

What is the fastest growing potato? ›

Potatoes can be classed as first earlies, second earlies, or maincrop. Look for varieties of 'first early' potatoes, which are the quickest growing of the lot. These can be ready as soon as 10 to 12 weeks after planting.

What is the most expensive potato breed? ›

The Le Bonnotte potato, cultivated exclusively on the Ile De Noirmoutier island in France, is sold for a staggering ₹40,000-50,000 per kilogram, making it the world's most expensive potato. The Le Bonnotte potato is special as it is grown only on 50 square meters of sandy land.

What temperature is too hot to grow potatoes? ›

Potato plants can't withstand hard frost and plants wither and die once temperatures are consistently over 100 degrees. Additionally, potato plants fail to set many tubers when nighttime temperatures remain over 55 degree.

What are purple Viking potatoes good for? ›

Excellent for both mashing and baking. Purple Viking is a certified seed potato and performs best in full sun, loamy and sandy soils, producing high yields of 2 lb. potatoes.

What are royal blue potatoes good for? ›

Certified Seed Potato Royal Blue (Solanum tuberosum) is an oval-shaped potato with dusky purple skin and yellow flesh. Royal Blue has a slightly sweet nutty flavour and is a good all round potato, performing well for salads, boiling, mashing, roasting, and chips.

What are Adirondack blue potatoes good for? ›

If you want to add a pop of color to your dinner plate, the bright Adirondack blue potato is a perfect choice. Michelin Guide suggests pairing them with other vivid vegetables, like bright green broccoli, or even romanesco for a colorful and texturally interesting dish.

Why do purple potatoes turn blue? ›

Because anthocyanins are peach sensitive, when you add in a acid, it'll turn more pink, and when you add in something that's more basic, it'll turn blue.

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