Kitchen Garden Forum

Came across a 'black', all be it, dark purple potato variety in a fruit and veg shop in York last year. Kept them over the Winter and am growing them this year.

What is variety likely to be?

They were labelled, I think, with a French name. I should have written it down as I have forgotten it.

Black (or at least, very dark purple) potatoes are known under many different names, usually including the name purple, blue or black: Blue Danube, Purple Viking, All Blue. Chances are, they're all the same 'tater. In my view, they are no better or worse for cropping, eating and disease resistance as other varieties. Under the name Purple Marker, they are used in potato trial grounds, to demarcate boundaries between varieties while eliminating edge and neighbour effects.

There is a variety with a truly black skin, Shetland Black. It has white flesh. It is a pain to harvest in a dark soil: most of them go un-noticed. Very tasty, though, nice and fluffy for mash.

Thanks very much for the information FelixLeiter. Much appreciated.

Benspab12 wrote:Thanks very much for the information FelixLeiter. Much appreciated.

You're welcome. Is that Spurn Point?

Benspab12 wrote:I picked up that you were located in good ole 'East Yorkshire'.[/b]

Yes, you can keep your North Humberside.