Blue Swedish potato: cultivation & harvest

If you are looking for a colorful change in the kitchen, the ‘Blauer Schwede’ potato is the right choice. We'll tell you here why you should swap the normal potatoes for their blue variant more often.

Often, colorful varieties like the ‘Blaue Schwede’ do not find their way onto the supermarket shelves. The purple shell and the blue grain inside make for a real eye-catcher on every table. In terms of taste, the blue potato can keep up with its yellow relatives without any problems, which was probably one of the reasons why it was voted Potato of the Year in 2006 became.

‘Blue Swede’ potato: special features and origin

The Blauer Schwede ’potato, also called‘ Blue Congo ’or‘ Idaho Blue ’, is an old variety, the origin of which experts do not agree on. The origin of the blue potato is believed to be in South America. The strong blue color depends on the content of the so-called anthocyanins. These are natural coloring agents that can also be found in other red or blue fruits and vegetables. They are also said to have a positive effect on human health as they ward off harmful metabolic products.

Note: There are several other types of blue or purple potatoes. You can find out more about this in our special article purple potatoes.

Growing blue swede potatoes

The blue potato variety can be planted in a normal bed, raised bed or in a flower pot. We have general tips on how to use your Plant potatoes, or about it, like the Potato growing in a flower pot succeed. The ‘Blue Swede’ is placed in the ground from the end of April to the end of May. The planting distance should be 30 to 35 centimeters in the row and 50 to 70 centimeters between the rows.

So-called seed potatoes and not seeds are used for growing potatoes. There are numerous suppliers of ‘Blauer Schwede’ seed potatoes, including organic ones, so that you have a large selection at your disposal. A nutrient-rich and potassium-stressed soil like ours Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil is a good start to planting your potatoes. Because the soil is suitable for both the pot and the bed, it is up to you where exactly you want to plant your Blue Swedes ’. The blue potatoes germinate at a soil temperature of 7 to 8 ° C and can be planted from April. But it is also possible to let these germinate in a warm place as early as March and only then to put them in the ground. This enables the Blue Sweden ’to be harvested earlier. It should be noted, however, that the sensitive germs do not break off when they set in the soil.

care

Of course, the Blauer Schwede ’potato has to be piled up and checked for pests. More about the right one Potato cultivationread in our appropriate special article.

If you want to boost the yields of your blue potato, you can re-fertilize in June. For example, you can use a mainly organic fertilizer like ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer use. This is suitable for a wide variety of vegetables with a high need for potassium, especially if the soil is rather sandy and no potting soil has been used to improve it.

The ‘Blue Swede’ is slightly susceptible to potato scab - one Potato diseasecaused by the bacterium Streptomyces scabies is triggered. This needs oxygen to survive and here the resourceful gardener can use a trick that also includes the right watering:
In order to prevent potato scab, it is an advantage to water the potatoes very regularly in small doses, especially from the point where the tuber begins, i.e. before flowers appear. The scab-causing bacteria love oxygen and the water can fill the air pockets in the soil - the bacterium is inhibited in its development.
In addition, you should only chop a little so as not to bring more air into the soil.
In addition, late to mid- to late-ripening varieties such as ‘Blue Sweden’ often suffer from late blight, triggered by the Egg fungus Phytophthora infestans. However, by pre-germinating and thus an earlier harvest, you can counteract the fungal attack, since late blight only attacks the plants more strongly towards the end of the season. A varied crop rotation is also important. This means that you shouldn't have the Blauer Schwede ’potatoes in the same bed every year or at all Vegetables from the nightshade family - such as potatoes, tomatoes, physalis or eggplants - plants.

Harvest and use of blue Swedish potatoes

The harvest time of the ‘Blue Swede’ potato is usually around August and the blue potato is one of the mid-early varieties to be harvested. The tubers have reached their harvest size after 130 to 150 days. This can also be seen from the plant's slightly wilting foliage. Among the blue potato varieties, the ‘Blue Swede’ potato has the highest average yield.

The floury to predominantly waxy blue potatoes can be used well as salad, jacket or boiled potatoes. The ‘Blue Swede’ can also convince with its strong taste from the oven as fries or gratin. The strong blue color can fade a little during preparation, but still remains characteristically blue.

If you want to know more about different types of potatoes, have a look at our overview of the 50 best potato varieties past.