If you’re looking for a potato that’s as beautiful as it is tasty, you need to meet the Purple Majesty potato. This richly colored and flavorful tuber is a fantastic choice for any home garden and kitchen. Its deep purple skin and flesh make any dish visually stunning. And the flavor is robust and earthy, perfect for a variety of recipes.
Growing them is very rewarding. They offer something truly special compared to common white or yellow varieties. Let’s look at how you can grow, harvest, and enjoy these unique spuds in your own garden.
Purple Majesty Potato
This variety is an all-purpose potato with a striking color that goes all the way through. It was developed to be high in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins. These are the same compounds found in blueberries and red cabbage. The color holds up well during cooking, though it may fade slightly with intense heat.
Why Grow Purple Majesty Potatoes?
There are several great reasons to give these potatoes a try:
- Visual Impact: They add a wow factor to salads, mashes, and sides.
- Excellent nutritional profile with higher antioxidant levels than standard potatoes.
- Flavor: They have a distinct, nutty, and earthy taste that many people prefer.
- They are typically grown from certified disease-free seed potatoes, which can lead to a healthier crop.
- They store well under the right conditions, just like other potato types.
Getting Started: Planting Your Purple Majesty Potatoes
You begin with seed potatoes. It’s best to use certified seed from a garden center, not grocery store potatoes. Grocery spuds are often treated to prevent sprouting and can carry disease. Here’s how to get your crop started.
Chitting (Pre-Sprouting)
About 3-4 weeks before your last spring frost date, place your seed potatoes in a cool, bright place. This encourages them to grow short, sturdy green sprouts. This step gives them a head start, leading to a stronger plant and often a better yield. Not every gardener does this, but it’s generally recommended.
Preparing the Soil
Potatoes need loose, well-draining soil. They thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. Work in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Avoid using fresh manure, as it can promote scab disease. A sunny location is essential for good growth.
The Planting Process
- Once sprouts are about an inch long, you can plant whole small seed potatoes or cut larger ones into pieces. Each piece should have at least 1-2 strong sprouts.
- Let the cut pieces dry for a day or two to form a callus over the cut surface. This helps prevent rot in the ground.
- Dig trenches about 4 inches deep and 2-3 feet apart.
- Place the seed pieces cut-side down, about 12 inches apart within the row.
- Cover with 3-4 inches of soil.
Caring for Your Growing Plants
Consistent care is key to a good harvest of these richly colored and flavorful potatoes. The process is similar to other potato varieties but worth reviewing.
Hilling
When the plants grow to about 6-8 inches tall, it’s time to hill them. Use a hoe or your hands to mound soil around the base of the plant, covering the stems about halfway. This protects developing tubers from sunlight, which turns them green and toxic. It also encourages more potatoes to form along the buried stem. Repeat hilling every few weeks as the plants grow.
Watering and Feeding
Potatoes need consistent moisture, especially once they start forming tubers. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, then flooding it, as this can cause misshapen tubers. A balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer applied at planting and mid-season is usually sufficient if your soil is prepared well.
Pest and Disease Watch
Keep an eye out for common potato problems. Colorado potato beetles can be picked off by hand. Blight is a fungal disease that appears as dark spots on leaves; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering to prevent it. Crop rotation is crucial—don’t plant potatoes in the same spot more than once every three years.
Harvesting and Storing Your Crop
Knowing when and how to harvest ensures your potatoes store for months.
When to Harvest
You can harvest “new” Purple Majesty potatoes about 2-3 weeks after the plants finish flowering. Gently dig around the plant to steal a few tender, small tubers. For mature, storage-sized potatoes, wait until the plant’s foliage has completely died back. This allows the skins to thicken up for proper storage.
How to Harvest
- Use a digging fork, inserting it well away from the plant’s center to avoid spearing tubers.
- Lift the plant gently and sift through the soil with your hands to find every potato.
- Brush off excess soil, but do not wash them. Washing can introduce moisture and cause rot during storage.
Curing and Storage
Place your unwashed harvest in a dark, well-ventilated, and humid place (like a garage or basement) for 10-14 days. This curing process helps minor scratches heal and the skins toughen up. After curing, store them in a cool (38-40°F), dark, and dry place. Use cardboard boxes, paper bags, or breathable baskets. Check them periodically and remove any that are going soft.
Cooking with Purple Majesty Potatoes
The richly colored and flavorful flesh of these potatoes is versatile. Their color does best with roasting, baking, steaming, or using in cold salads. Boiling can cause some color leeching into the water, so it’s not the ideal method if you want maximum vibrancy.
- Roasted: Toss with oil and herbs. The edges become crispy while the inside stays vibrantly purple and fluffy.
- Mashed: Create a stunning purple mash. For the best color, steam them instead of boiling.
- Salads: They hold their shape well and make a potato salad unforgettable.
- Fries or Chips: Homemade purple fries are a surefire hit with both kids and adults.
Remember, the anthocyanins are sensitive to pH. Adding an acid like lemon juice or vinegar can help stabilize the color, turning it a brighter red-purple. Alkalis (like baking soda) may turn them more blue-gray.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are purple potatoes the same as Purple Majesty?
No, “purple potato” is a general term. Purple Majesty is a specific, patented variety known for its deep color and good yield. There are other varieties like Purple Peruvian or All Blue.
Is the purple color natural?
Yes, absolutely. The color comes completely from natural anthocyanin pigments developed through traditional plant breeding.
Do they taste different from regular potatoes?
They do. Many people describe the flavor as more earthy, nutty, and robust than a standard Russet or Yukon Gold potato. It’s a flavor that can stand up to strong herbs and spices.
Can I save my own seed potatoes for next year?
You can, but it carries risk. Potatoes can accumulate viral diseases from one season to the next. Using certified seed potatoes each year is the safest way to ensure a healthy, vigorous crop. If you do save your own, choose tubers from your healthiest plants.
Why did my purple potatoes turn green?
Green skin means the tuber was exposed to light. The green parts contain solanine, a mild toxin. Always hill your plants properly to cover tubers, and store harvested potatoes in complete darkness. You can cut away small green spots before cooking, but discard any potato that is largely green.
How long do they take to grow?
Purple Majesty is a mid-season variety. It typically takes about 90 to 120 days from planting to full maturity, depending on your climate and growing conditions.
Adding the Purple Majesty potato to your garden plan is a wonderful decision. It provides a reliable harvest of stunning, tasty tubers that will impress anyone you share them with. The process from planting to plate is straightforward and deeply satisfying. With the right soil, a little care, and proper storage, you’ll be enjoying your own homegrown purple potatoes for many meals to come. Give them a try this season and see the difference for yourself.