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Potatoes Blue d'Artois

Solanum tuberosum Bleue d'Artois
Potato

4,7/5
9 reviews
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Potatoes of all shapes, they are rather purple, I wonder if it's due to the quality of the soil, it's wonderful for dishes of all colours with Pink Love and other yellow ones, and it's perfect for children.

Lizzy, 14/08/2021

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

Value-for-money
A semi-late heirloom variety with firm flesh. It produces round potatoes with blue-violet skin and flesh. They are suitable for long-term storage. The elongated potatoes have fine and tasty flesh. They are ideal for boiling, steaming, stewing, or frying. Plant the tubers from mid-March to May, depending on the climate, and harvest approximately 120 days later.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
60 cm
Spread at maturity
30 cm
Exposure
Sun
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Best planting time April
Recommended planting time March to May
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Harvest time July to September
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Description

The 'Blue d'Artois' potato is a semi-late heirloom variety with firm flesh. It produces round potatoes with blue-violet skin and flesh. They are suitable for long-term storage. The elongated potatoes have fine and tasty flesh. They are ideal for boiling, steaming, stewing, or frying. Plant the tubers from mid-March to May, depending on the climate, and harvest approximately 120 days later.

 

The potato is a root vegetable that has become essential in both the garden and the kitchen. It is a perennial plant cultivated as an annual, developing tubers as storage organs on its rootstock. Apart from a few varieties like 'Belle de Fontenay', the plants produce small flowers in summer. Each plant will produce several potatoes, which can be stored for several months and cooked in multiple ways. The potato belongs to the Solanaceae family, along with aubergine and tomatoes. Originally cultivated in the Andes Mountains, it was brought to Europe in the 16th century.

There are many different varieties. The tubers, which can be somewhat elongated in shape, generally have yellow flesh, but sometimes they can be red, pink, or purple. Low in calories, potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, iron, and potassium.

There are three categories of potatoes, based on their flesh content:

- Firm-fleshed varieties have good cooking properties. These potatoes, which are usually elongated in shape, have fine and tasty flesh. They are ideal for boiling or steaming, and can also be stewed or pan-fried.

- Floury-fleshed varieties are rich in starch and easily break apart. These fairly large potatoes are perfect for mashing or soups. They also make perfectly crispy fries as they tend to absorb less oil when cooked.

- Waxy-fleshed varieties have a melting texture while still retaining good cooking properties. They can be used in multiple ways: pan-fried, stewed, or roasted.

Harvesting

Depending on the variety and their maturity, potatoes can be harvested from May to October. Gently lift the plants with a garden fork to avoid damaging the tubers. Let the potatoes dry in the sun for a day.

Storage potatoes should be harvested when the foliage turns yellow and withers. Early varieties are harvested 80 to 90 days after planting, mid-early varieties around 110 days, semi-late varieties around 120 days, and late varieties from 120 to over 150 days.

As for new potatoes, which have very thin skin and delicious flesh, they are harvested before maturity, around 70 days after planting. Harvest them just after flowering, around May-June.

Storage

After removing any damaged tubers, store the potatoes in a cool, dry, and dark place. In the presence of light, the tubers turn green and produce a toxic compound called solanine. Early harvested varieties should be consumed quickly. Storage potatoes can be stored for several months. The storage duration varies depending on their maturity: late varieties can be stored the longest.

Gardener's tip

Grow potatoes as part of a crop rotation, as they are often considered a cleansing crop. The hilling process and root development leave the soil clean and loose after harvest. Potatoes also benefit from being grown near legumes such as beans, broad beans, and peas.

Harvest

Harvest time July to September
Type of vegetable Root vegetable
Vegetable colour blue
Size of vegetable Medium
Interest Flavour, Productive
Use Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 60 cm
Spread at maturity 30 cm
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Planting and care

Planting

Potatoes need light, deep, and rich soil. Choose a sunny location. Add well-rotted compost in the previous autumn, by hoeing it into the soil to a depth of 5cm (2in), after loosening the soil. Planting takes place under shelter in February-March for early varieties. For other varieties, plant them from mid-March to May, depending on the climate. Wait until the soil is at least 10°C (50°F). The flowering of lilac is often a sign to start planting. Plant several varieties in your vegetable garden for a varied menu.

Loosen the soil deeply and form rows 10cm (4in) deep, spaced 70cm (28in) apart. Place the tubers, sprout upwards, every 40cm (16in) (or 30cm (12in) for early varieties). Cover with fine soil. When the plants reach 15cm (6in), mound up by bringing fine soil to the base of the stems, to a height of 20cm (8in). Mounding up encourages tuber formation and water drainage. You can mound them up again a month later. Mulch the base of the plants with successive thin layers of grass clippings mixed, if possible, with dead leaves. This protection keeps the soil moist and limits weeding.

Potato cultivation does not require watering, except in case of high temperatures. In this case, water the base without wetting the foliage to prevent the appearance of fungal diseases.

Diseases and pests

Potatoes are susceptible, like tomatoes, to late blight. This is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans. Late blight develops in warm and humid weather. Small spots appear, which are white underneath the leaves and brown on top. As a preventive measure, here are some tips to limit the risk of late blight:

  • do not grow several plants of the Solanaceae family (such as potatoes, tomatoes, aubergine, peppers, and chili peppers) in adjacent rows, as they are susceptible to the same diseases

  • in terms of rotation, wait 4 years before growing a Solanaceae plant in the same location

  • space the plants, both within and between rows, to encourage air circulation and prevent rapid disease spread

  • if you need to water, do not wet the foliage

  • spray preparations such as horsetail decoction or garlic purin

Harvesting can also be hindered by the Colorado potato beetle, an insect of the Coleoptera order. You will recognise it by its yellow head and its yellow and black striped body. The best solution, although a bit time-consuming, is to remove them as they appear. As a preventive measure, sow blue flax seeds between your rows of potatoes. Sow from April to June in shallow furrows. Besides its repellent effect against Colorado potato beetles, flax will brighten up the vegetable garden with its pretty little blue flowers. You can also interplant peas between your rows of potatoes.

Other planting methods

The detailed planting method above is the most common. Other methods exist, such as mulch planting and tower planting.

Mulch planting involves placing the tubers on the ground and covering them with a layer of mulch. This protection is supplemented as the plant grows, with the tubers always being kept away from light.

Tower planting or bag planting is practical for small spaces but requires regular watering. The tower can be built from various materials (wood, wire mesh, tyres). The tubers are placed on a bed of potting soil or compost. As the plant grows, it is covered with more potting soil, leaving only the topmost leaves exposed, until reaching the top of the tower, letting the tubers form throughout the height of the container. Harvesting is done when the foliage has dried up.

 

Cultivation

Best planting time April
Recommended planting time March to May

Care

Soil moisture Tolerant
Disease resistance Good

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden, Greenhouse
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil Light.
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 130
4,7/5
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