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Potatoes 'Blue Belle'

Potatoes 'Blue Belle'

Product number: 407170.1
Origin: Europe
Latin: Solanum tuberosum

(2007) Carla (an Irish bicolor) x Sylvia (Brittany). The funny purple markings around the eyes make this a cheerful sight: they seem to be smiling! The dry matter content of 19% gives this potato a wide range of applications, and the color remains good even after longer storage. This special French variety is breaking through in both England and Italy, where it is called “Pepita coi Baffi”: a potato with a mustache! The other characteristics at a glance: elongated oval tubers with yellow flesh, long shelf life, large harvest, mid-season harvestable. Grégoire Pascal (from Germicopa) is the breeder.

MAIN CROP VARIETY FOR GOURMETS.
A main crop variety means it can be harvested from September. Early planting can advance the harvest by a few weeks. Planting time is from mid-April, when the soil has sufficient warmth. Pre-sprouting in light or in a large pot can be done earlier. Do not plant them in too wet a spot, but in full sun. Main crop varieties can suffer from the dreaded potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). Some preventive measures are: plant widely, fertilize with patentkali, do not spray water over the plant, and possibly spray organically with sulfur or silinal. The average planting distance is 70x40 cm, we recommend maintaining 80x40 cm to prevent diseases.

Names:
Latin: Solanum tuberosum
Dutch: Aardappel
Also known as: Pepita coi Baffi
English: Potato

Planting time:

April
May

Soil type:

All soil types

Location:

Flower colour: Blue flowers with yellow stamens
Average growth height: 60 to 90 cm
Bulb / tuber size: 28/35
Attractive to insects: N/A
Annual or perennial: Perennial
Winter hardy: Not frost hardy
Origin: Europe
Ease of cultivation: Moderate

Latin: Solanum tuberosum
Dutch: Potato
Also known as: Pepita with a Moustache
English: Potato

“These potatoes aren't what they used to be...” Do you recognise that sigh? Perhaps you lived (and tasted!) more intensely in the past, but when it comes to those old forgotten varieties, we have good news for you: they are back, those spuds of yesteryear! Old varieties from before 1950 with special flavours, unique colours, unfamiliar shapes. How wonderful it would be if all these historic varieties were available on a special shelf at the greengrocer's... but for now, you will have to grow them yourself (or have them grown) for this “new” culinary journey of discovery. Just a culinary tip: because of their special colour or shape, don't peel them, but clean them thoroughly and cook them whole; often the colour is retained after cooking, and presentation matters, doesn't it? In the English tradition, harvested potatoes are neatly cleaned and displayed in baskets. You could further develop this harvest presentation with unique cucumbers, multi-coloured chard, pumpkins, red kale, blue corn: browse our seed guides for all those special (old but now trendy) vegetables. Potatoes that you have displayed for a while will slowly turn green and are then no longer edible. For the grower, it is important to know that these old varieties are more susceptible to disease: plant them with ample space and keep a close eye on them. A fun tip: just plant at least 5 varieties; they are packaged in small portions (1 kg), and put a clear sign next to each type. Cook and taste them separately, and make it a “Van Gogh Potato Eaters Feast”... Do you know a “forgotten” variety: let us know. All that remains is to wish you a very good harvest and (for later): enjoy your meal!