Viking purple potatoes are early-maturing potatoes known for their deep purple skin and white flesh. This Viking potato plant is relative to the common potato and produces tubers that are purple on the outside and white on the inside.
These potatoes are a delicious addition next to any meal and add color to your garden plot. Read on for more information about these potatoes.
What Is Viking Purple Potatoes?
Viking purple potatoes is an heirloom variety of nightshade vegetable plants. These potatoes are part of the fingerling potato family, which includes different potato varieties. The purple color of Viking potatoes results from high levels of natural pigment, anthocyanins.
Viking Purple Potato Care
While these potatoes are pretty easy to grow and care for, there are a few things to keep in mind to get desirable results:
– Water Requirements
Purple Viking potatoes still need to be watered regularly despite their drought resistance. You should water them profoundly and evenly so their roots can access their needed moisture. Depending on the weather you live with, and the time of year, you may need to water them once a week or more.
If you’re in an area with high temperatures and low rainfall, you may need to supplement the natural rainfall with irrigation. Potatoes are incredibly thirsty during the growing season. Use a soaker hose or maybe even a drip irrigation system, as this will reduce evaporation and ensure that the water goes directly to the roots of plants.
– Light Requirements
To ensure that your Viking potato plants thrive, they will need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily. If you live in a place with particularly long summer days, you can allow them up to eight or nine hours of sun.
However, during the hottest months, it is essential to ensure that the plants have access to shade during the heat of the day to prevent them from becoming stressed.
– Soil Requirements
To ensure a good yield of these potatoes, growing them in well-drained soil high in organic matter is essential. The ideal pH range for this potato is between 5.0 and 7.0. Sandy loam soils are best for growing potatoes, providing good drainage while retaining moisture and nutrients.
– Temperature Requirements
Purple potato Viking is a variety of potatoes known to be quite cold tolerant. They can even grow and thrive in temperatures as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature makes it ideal for those who live in colder climates or want to grow their potatoes in more excellent conditions.
These potatoes are not particularly fussy when it comes to temperature requirements. They will do well in most soil types and climates as long as they are given enough water. In terms of temperature, they prefer cool to moderate conditions and will go dormant in the winter if the temperatures drop too low.
– Humidity Requirements
This plant requires high humidity to thrive. The ideal range is between 80 and 90 percent, with no lower than 70 percent being acceptable. If the humidity drops below this level, the plant leaves will begin to turn brown and curl up. The flowers will also droop, and the plant may eventually die.
– Fertilizing Requirements
When fertilizing these potatoes, it is vital to use a high-phosphorus fertilizer. This will help the plants to produce large, healthy tubers. Potatoes are a heavy feeder crop, requiring more fertilizer than other vegetables.
It is best to apply fertilizer to the soil before planting and again when the plants are flowering and producing fruit. Over-fertilizing can lead to problems such as leaf burn, so following the manufacturer’s instructions is essential.
Harvesting
Viking purple is a variety of prized potatoes for their distinctive color and flavor. You can harvest these potatoes in the fall after the plant has flowered and the leaves have begun to die back. Below are tips on how to harvest your purple potatoes:
– How to Harvest
The best time to harvest Purple Viking is when the plants are in full bloom and the potatoes are a deep purple. Start by digging around the plant to loosen the soil. Be careful not to damage the roots.
After, you may gently lift the plant out of the ground, careful not to break off any potato tubers. Once the plant is out of the ground, shake off any excess dirt and put it in a bucket or basket.
– How to Store
Next, sort through the potatoes and discard any that are green, soft, or have blemishes. These potatoes will not store well and can cause the others to spoil. Once you have sorted out the good potatoes, brush off any dirt and put them in a cool, dark place.
With proper care, your potatoes should last for several months.
Common Problems
Several common problems can affect these potato plants. These include:
– Poor Drainage
This issue results from the fact that these potatoes have shallow roots. As a result, they are more likely to be affected by waterlogging. This can cause the potato plants to rot and die.
If you have a potato plant that is suffering from a poor drainage problem, there are a few things that you can do to help it. First, you can try to improve the drainage in your garden. You can do this by adding more organic matter to the soil. You can also make sure that there is plenty of air circulation around the plant.
– Pests
If you’re growing these purple potatoes, you may have noticed that your plants are susceptible to several pests and diseases.
One of these potatoes’ key and most common problems is powdery mildew. This fungal disease appears as a white powder on the leaves and stems of the plant. It can spread quickly, so treating it as soon as you notice it is essential. There are many commercial fungicides available that will control powdery mildew.
Another disease that can affect these potatoes is Late Blight which causes dark spots on the leaves and stems of the plant. It can spread quickly, so treating it as soon as you notice it is essential. There are several commercial fungicides available that will control Late Blight.
Viking purple potatoes are also susceptible to some pests. One of the most common is the Colorado potato beetle. This beetle feeds on the plant’s leaves, causing them to turn brown and die. The best way to control Colorado potato beetles is to use a specifically labeled insecticide.
– Frost Damage
When a late frost hits potato plants, the damage can be severe. The leaves of the plant turn black and die, and the tubers may rot. This problem is widespread with these potatoes. To prevent frost damage, growers should plant their seed potatoes in an area that is not prone to late frost.
They should also mulch the plants well to insulate them from the cold. If a late frost does occur, growers can try to save their crops by covering the plants with blankets or sheets.
– Poor Soil Fertility
Many gardeners find that their potato plants do not produce as many tubers as they would like. This is often due to poor soil fertility. These potato plants need a lot of nutrients to produce abundant tubers. If your soil lacks nutrients, your potato plants will not be able to create as many tubers.
You can add some organic matter to your soil. This can be in the form of compost, manure, or other organic materials. Increasing the organic matter to your soil will help it retain moisture and nutrients, making it more fertile. Another option is to use a fertilizer designed for potato plants.
Poor soil fertility can also affect seed potatoes that you grow in your garden. These potato seeds can be brought from organic seed stores and grown in fresh soil that is rich with nutrients for best results.
– Drought Stress
The problem of drought stress with these potato plants is serious. Many farmers have lost their entire crops due to this problem. There are several reasons why this problem occurs.
One reason is that potato plants do not have enough water to survive. Another reason is that the soil is too dry and does not hold enough moisture for the plants to thrive.
You can solve this problem by using irrigation systems. These systems will water the plants evenly and regularly.
This will allow the plants to get the moisture they need to survive. Another solution is to use mulch around the base of the plants. Mulch will help to hold in water and keep the plant roots cooler. This will also help to prevent evaporation from the soil.
Nonetheless, avoiding these common problems can help ensure that your potato plants are healthy and productive.
Conclusion
This potato plant is resilient and can grow in many climates and soil types.
After learning about these purple potatoes, we have come to the following conclusion:
- Potato Viking has a higher content of antioxidants than other potatoes, making them beneficial for human health.
- This potato plant itself is also ornamental, with purple flowers and leaves.
- The plant can withstand frost and even prosper in snowy conditions, making it ideal for farmers in northern regions.
- It is very productive and high yielding than many other types of potatoes.
- Consider this potato plant if you’re looking for a new and unique potato to plant in your garden this year.
This nightshade vegetable will add much more interest and a splash of color to your garden.
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