rosebud
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Post by rosebud on Mar 7, 2023 11:34:58 GMT 10
These are my Purple Congo Potatoes. This bunch has a bit of white in them. I guess they've crossed with another variety. They are super easy to grow and hardier than any other potato I've grown. In fact, I've got them throughout my garden where I've missed a few small ones, but they are easy to pull up if one pops up where it's not wanted. I live in a mediterranean climate, with temperatures in summer up to 42C (106F) and in winter -1C (30F). Annual rainfall averages 545mm (21.5") They have a firm texture and are best for baking, boiling (they don't fall apart) for potato salad, mashing with extra moisture because they are dry. I like using sour cream with them. I also slice and fry them with olive oil in the air fryer. They are healthier than other potatoes because of their purple flesh and they contain plenty of anti-oxidants. I think purple potatoes are a good survival food because they are so hardy and also because a lot of people would not recognise them as food if they try to rob your garden.
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Post by Stealth on Mar 9, 2023 15:17:26 GMT 10
They look amazing! I'm going to to have to look into those, our climate is pretty similar and I'd love something that fun looking. Might even convince my youngest sprout to eat more potatoes.
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rosebud
Senior Member
Posts: 141
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Post by rosebud on Mar 10, 2023 12:34:03 GMT 10
They look amazing! I'm going to to have to look into those, our climate is pretty similar and I'd love something that fun looking. Might even convince my youngest sprout to eat more potatoes. Depending on what state you are in, I might be able to send you some.
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Post by Stealth on Mar 10, 2023 12:55:04 GMT 10
I'm in WA, so like, biosecurity lockdown supreme state *cries in I miss my produce swaps!* Hahaha.
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rosebud
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Post by rosebud on Mar 10, 2023 16:23:34 GMT 10
i originally got mine from a supermarket but i haven't seen any there for quite some time. Maybe you can track some down in WA.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Mar 11, 2023 16:28:31 GMT 10
We grew a small batch of purple potatoes one year.. No idea where the seed potatoes came from, or what variety they were.. They grew to about half the size of the ones in the picture... About a third of a 20 liter bucket full harvested.. Remember this is zone 2, with a 55 day average season...
They were unique looking.. Stained things badly, and not that different taste wise as I recall...
Fun experiment, but not useful enough to us to try again..
If they work well for you, enjoy...
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rosebud
Senior Member
Posts: 141
Likes: 164
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Post by rosebud on Mar 11, 2023 20:46:18 GMT 10
The thing I like about them is that they seem bullet proof to grow them here. They are not the kind of food that a garden raider would recognise as food, or even be able to find in the garden in low light because they are hard to see against the soil. They seem to survive with less care than ordinary potatoes. Good survival food.
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