If you are looking for a colorful change in the kitchen, the 'Blue Swede' potato variety is the right choice. Here we will tell you why you should often replace the normal potatoes with their blue version.
Colorful varieties such as the 'Blue Swede' often do not find their way onto the supermarket shelves. The purple bowl and the blue grain inside make for a real eye-catcher on every table. In terms of taste, the blue potato can easily keep up with its yellow relatives, which was probably one of the reasons why they were voted Potato of the Year in 2006 became.
contents
- ‘Blue Swede’ potato: characteristics and origin
- Growing Blue Swede potatoes
- care
- Harvesting and use of Blue Swede potatoes
‘Blue Swede’ potato: characteristics and origin
The 'Blue Swede' potato, also known as 'Blue Congo' or 'Idaho Blue', is an old variety whose origins experts disagree. However, 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 are also 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.
notice: There are some other blue or purple potato varieties. You can find out more about this in our special article on purple potatoes.
Growing Blue Swede potatoes
The blue potato variety can be planted in normal beds, raised beds or in flower pots. Here you will find general tips on how to make your plant potatoes, or about how that Potato cultivation in the 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 no seeds are used to grow potatoes. There are numerous suppliers of 'Blue Swede' seed potatoes, including organic ones, so you have a large selection to choose from. A nutrient-rich and potassium-rich soil like ours Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil is a good start when planting the potatoes. Due to the suitability of the soil for both the pot and the bed, it is up to you exactly where 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. However, it is also possible to let them germinate in a warm place from March onwards and only then plant them in the ground. This enables an earlier harvest of the 'Blue Swede'. However, it is important to ensure that the sensitive germs do not break off when they are planted in the ground.
care
Of course, the ‘Blue Swede’ potato must be piled up and checked for pests. More to the right potato cultivationread our dedicated special article.
If you want to boost the yields of your blue potato, you can add fertilizer in June. For example, you can use a primarily organic fertilizer like ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer use. This is suitable for a wide variety of vegetables with a high potassium requirement, especially if the soil is rather sandy and no potting soil was used to improve it.
The 'Blue Swede' is slightly susceptible to potato scab - a Potato Disease, caused by the bacterium Streptomyces scabies is triggered. This needs oxygen to survive and here the resourceful gardener can use a trick that also includes correct watering:
In order to prevent potato scab, it is advantageous to water the potatoes very regularly in small amounts, especially from the beginning of the tuber, i.e. before the flowers appear. The scab-causing bacteria are oxygen-loving 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-ripening varieties such as the 'Blaues Schweden' often suffer from late blight, triggered by the egg agaric Phytophthora infestans. However, by pre-germinating and thus an earlier harvest, you can counteract the fungal infestation, since the late blight only affects the plants more towards the end of the season. A varied crop rotation is also important. That means you shouldn’t plant ‘Blue Swede’ potatoes in the same patch every year, or at all Vegetables from the nightshade family - such as potatoes, tomatoes, physalis or eggplant - plant.
Harvesting and use of Blue Swede potatoes
Harvest time for the 'Blue Swede' potato is usually around August, making the blue potato one of the mid-early varieties to be harvested. After 130 to 150 days, the tubers have reached their harvest size. This can also be recognized by the slightly wilting foliage of the plant. Among the blue potato varieties, the 'Blue Swede' potato has the highest average yield.
The floury to predominantly waxy blue potato can be used as a salad, jacket or boiled potato. The 'Blue Swede' can also convince with its strong taste from the oven as fries or gratin. The strong blue color may fade slightly during preparation, but remains characteristically blue.
If you want to know more about different types of potatoes, take a look at our overview of the 50 best potato varieties past.
