More recently, breeders have been searching for new dietary vegetable crops. New cultures must act in such a way that their health improves, and they have a healing effect on the whole body.
The unique distinction of the variety is that the colors of the tubers range from purple to red (both internal and external colors).
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Description and characteristics of purple potatoes
This one is notable for its violet peel, but also purple flesh. The shade of the vegetable is both pale pink and dark purple. They got it without gene modification, the variety was developed by specialists according to the rules of classical selection. Ordinary potatoes were crossed with a South American relative.
Differences of purple potatoes:
- elongated tubers;
- the flesh does not change its color, and at the end of cooking;
- in potatoes there are many useful elements that enhance immunity;
- thick peel contributes to long-term storage of the vegetable;
- cooked purple potatoes have an unusual nutty flavor, which also distinguishes it from the counterparts.
What attracts purple potatoes
First of all, using this variety of potatoes, you can create a variety of new delicious dishes that attract lovers of exotic dishes. The taste of boiled potatoes is no different from ordinary tubers, for the first time only the color scares, from which the taste properties only benefit.
The purple vegetable has become interesting to breeders, due to the presence of anthocyanins pigments in it, which give such an original color. Anthocyanins are rich in healing properties that have long been used not only in traditional medicine, but also in conventional traditional medicine. As a rule, the source of anthocyanins previously was blueberries, pomegranates, blackberries, black currants, beets, and other violet-blue, red, and purple fruits.
Anthocyanins are substances of glycoside origin, their color determines the pH of the medium. The acidic medium stains them in red shades, the alkaline medium stains in yellow-green shades, the neutral medium stains them in violet shades. Therefore, those who decided to introduce this vegetable into their food should not be surprised if, during the addition of some acids (vinegar or citric acid), the vegetable changes color dramatically. At the same time, heat treatment does not destroy all these substances in any way, so you can safely fry, cook and bake the vegetable.
The benefits and harms of purple potatoes
This unique vegetable deserves special attention not only because of its bright color. This variety also has many healing and healthy substances. For example, after eating any meal that includes purple potatoes, it lowers blood pressure. Because such potatoes harm people suffering from low blood pressure, so it must be avoided in your diet. In addition to the presence of antioxidants in purple potatoes, there are many vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids. The color of the potato is obtained by crossing equatorial varieties and wild African varieties.
The constant use of purple potato in food has a beneficial effect on vision, and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. And this helps to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. In addition, the risk of developing certain types of oncology is significantly reduced.The use of purple potatoes is recommended for people suffering from:
- diabetes
- hypertension
- atherosclerosis;
- poisoning;
- weak immunity;
- diseases of viral and bacterial etiology.
The presence of antioxidants slows down the aging process, destroys free radicals that cause cancer, strengthen blood vessels.
Refusing to consume purple potatoes is also worth it to people who suffer from intolerance to it.
Composition and calorie content
Purple potatoes are rich in fatty acids, which are necessary for blood vessels and the heart. In addition, it is rich in macro-microelements, which are no longer in any other vegetable.
With vitamins, things are a little worse, in it in sufficient quantities there is only folic acid and ascorbic acid. Therefore, in addition to this product will be vegetables such as beets, cabbage, carrots.
Growing rules
You can plant this variety of potatoes in the following ways: ordinary planting with tubers and planting with seeds. For planting seeds, they are germinated immediately, then seedlings are planted, and seedlings are already being transferred to the street. Seeds are planted in April, in open ground near the end of May. If the seedlings were grown correctly, then the potatoes will grow quickly with uniform shoots and early setting of tubers.
Tubers are planted in the same way as potatoes are familiar to us. When choosing a landing date, it is recommended to take into account the weather and climatic characteristics of the landing site. You need to wait until the night frost stops.
Where is grown
Recently, this variety of potatoes is gaining more and more popularity. It is grown in Canada, and in Scotland, and in the United States, and in South Korea. This variety is freely available at points of sale of the above countries. The success of the violet potato was brought by an exhibition arranged in 2007.
Koreans have developed a universal diet using this vegetable. In addition, purple potatoes are also actively used by world cosmetologists. They produce a variety of masks and soaps, which are distinguished by a delicate structure. Americans also produce purple chips using this variety. Russians have been fascinated by planting this vegetable since 2011. The beginning of cultivation in our country takes purple potatoes in Siberia. In 2007, one of the employees of the Siberian Research Institute received a unique potato as a gift from Korean breeders.
According to the latest news, purple potatoes are also grown in our Urals, but for personal purposes, without commerce. But very soon, inveterate gardeners will please us with the mass cultivation of this garden culture.
Preparing the landing site
The soil for planting potatoes should be chosen light and fertile. She must be well fed with oxygen. The most optimal option is neutral sandy loam, sod-podzolic soils. Before the first frosts, it is necessary to conduct an initial digging of the earth. During the onset of frost, the pests that were in the dug up earth will die. Potato planting can begin at a soil temperature of at least 5 degrees. Before this, it is necessary to re-dig the soil, prepare the holes in which the wood is already filled. The optimal distance between the rows should be approximately 50 cm, and between the holes it should be in the region of 30 cm.
Landing
When planting purple potatoes, you need to make sure that the plants receive enough light and air, which means you do not need to plant the vegetable next to each other to save space, you need to follow the planting recommendations.
Care
If the selected soil is dry, then it must be watered at least three times: the first time, as soon as the first shoots appear, the second time when it begins to bloom, the third time immediately after flowering. If there is no rain for a long time, then you need to water the potatoes at least once a week. If there is a lot of moisture, the vegetable begins to “hurt” fungal diseases, and if the moisture is low, the fruit will dry out. After the first shoots appear, potatoes are recommended in regular weeding from weeds. If a crust appears on the soil, it must necessarily be loosened.
Reviews
Reviews of people who have already managed to enjoy such an unusual fruit are diverse. Someone is delighted, someone does not like it. It may well be that over time this variety will become more popular in our country, and everyone will be able to appreciate the benefits of purple potatoes.
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