Potatoes "Gourmet": variety with lilac pulp

Description of the potato variety Gourmet

History of origin of the variety

The Gourmet variety is a variety of purple-fleshed potato that grows in South America. In Europe it was known as Vitelot back in the 19th century. Alexandre Dumas Jr. considered it the best among the known varieties of this vegetable.

Modern scientists have discovered many beneficial properties of the plant. This made him popular. Russian breeders began creating new varieties of this crop after the 2007 conference. It took place in Moscow, where representatives of South Korea presented purple potatoes.

The Gourmet variety was created recently and therefore has not yet been included in the state register.

Characteristics of tubers

Tubers of the Gourmet variety, oval, elongated shape. Their average weight is 90-100 g. The peel is smooth, dense, dark purple. The pulp is white-violet, unevenly colored.

Taste qualities of potatoes

Gourmand is consumed boiled and raw. When cooked, the potatoes become a little lighter. Roasted vegetables take on a nutty flavor. It is a watery and low calorie variety. The water content can reach 82%. Raw tubers are used in salads and pickled.

Potato yield Gourmet

The variety is high-yielding, 10-15 tubers are formed under each bush. Productivity can reach 400 kg per hundred square meters.

Beneficial features

The variety is rich in natural pigments that color vegetables in bright colors. Pigments promote metabolism and reduce vascular permeability. In terms of their content, Gourmet is equated to bell peppers, spinach, beets, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

The variety contains no more than 13-16% starch, i.e. less than in other crop varieties. It can be consumed by people with pancreatic diseases and diabetes. It contains more vitamins B, E, K, C and microelements than potatoes of other shades.

It is used to prevent cancer and improve vision. The fatty acid content in tubers is higher than that of regular potatoes. They are useful for heart function and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

The flowers of this plant are used in cosmetology, as part of masks.

Gourmet - miracle potatoes on your table

Exotic and very popular variety! In many countries, rejuvenating face masks are made from this potato. Appetizing, plentiful, giving a lot of scope in cooking, potatoes are loved by almost everyone. In addition to their great nutritional value, potatoes are rich in vitamins.

Potatoes have a lot of useful properties. However, despite the enormous importance of potatoes as a product, many people simply refuse potato dishes due to their high content of starch and carbohydrates. Some people protect their figure, while others cannot afford this product due to health conditions.

In this regard, from year to year the direction of agriculture associated with the creation of dietary types of potatoes with multi-colored pulp: purple, reddish, pink and blue is developing more actively. At the moment, such potatoes are considered a curiosity, akin to the best delicacies. Dishes made from colored potatoes are served in restaurants in Europe and America. In some countries, these varieties are actively used by chip factories; their highlight is purple chips without dyes.

Reviews of potatoes Gourmet

Lyudmila, Gomel

Now there are a lot of reviews about potatoes with purple tubers. I decided to buy seeds of the “Gourmet” variety, but they turned out to be expensive. I planted some on the site. To be honest, I'm not a fan, I didn't like the taste. The potatoes lightened a little when cooked. They say it is useful to consume raw for weight loss and even for cosmetic purposes. I hope for a good effect, I'll try it.

Tamara, Sergiev Posad

After reading the forum, I decided to leave my reviews about Gourmet potatoes. So, I have been growing potatoes of this variety for only two years. I am an exotic lover. I like that this is a dietary product. I add it to vegetable salads and eat it in grated form. The taste is unusual, sweetish. After eating there is no feeling of heaviness in the stomach. Even children like my salads.

Irina Fedorovna, Novosibirsk

My cardiologist advised me to use these potatoes. Says it is useful for preventing coronary heart disease. It turned out that it is indicated for everyone who leads a healthy lifestyle. The taste is unusual, but I try to follow the doctor's advice. I feel better, there is no shortness of breath, which I had during long walks.

Planting and caring for Gourmet potatoes

Recommended planting dates for Gourmet potatoes

In terms of ripening time, the Gurman variety is mid-early. Planting time depends on the region where the crop is cultivated. In the central zone, potatoes are planted in late April-early May. You need to pay attention to warming up the soil. At a depth of 10 cm, the earth should warm up to + 10 degrees. The soil should not be dry, compressed into a lump, it does not crumble, but also does not release moisture.

Soil preparation

Potatoes love light, slightly acidic soils. These can be: sandy loam, loam, peaty soils. Areas with sandy soil must be well fertilized with humus. When digging into loamy soils, add sand, rotted leaves and peat. The culture is light-loving, so plant it in a well-lit place. Otherwise, the tops will stretch and break.

Landing rules

For planting, select large, healthy tubers and pre-germinate them. It is advisable to spread the potatoes in 1-2 layers in the light at a temperature of +18-+20 degrees. After 2 weeks the temperature drops to +15 degrees. After a month, the seeds are ready for planting. Seed potatoes are planted with green sprouts 1 cm long. Before planting, it is advisable to keep the seeds to warm up in partial shade for 2-3 days.

There are several ways to plant potatoes. One of them is planting in holes. Dig holes 5-15 cm deep, the distance between them should be 30-40 cm. Place the furrows 50-60 cm from each other. You can find out even more ways to plant potatoes in the article on methods of growing potatoes.

Watering and fertilizing the variety

Watering the crop depends on the soil. On loamy soils, plantings do not need to be watered. With sandy soil, watering is necessary, especially in dry summers. Moisture is required at the time of emergence and during the flowering period.

At the moment of flowering, tubers begin to form; if there is a lack of moisture, they will be small.

Combine watering with fertilizing, or fertilize before rain. Use fertilizers:

• urea,
• superphosphate,
• nitrophoska according to the instructions.

At the time of planting, place a handful of ash in the hole; you can use complex fertilizers or humus. We recommend watching how to properly feed potatoes.

Loosening and weeding

Weeding of plants should be done as weeds appear. If the tops are tall, try not to damage them. Loosen the soil after rain or watering, as a crust will form. Do this carefully so as not to damage their roots. Experienced gardeners advise mulching the soil with grass clippings or seedless weeds. This will retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing.

Hilling

The variety is demanding when it comes to hilling, as this helps strengthen the root system, retain moisture and increase yield. Carry out the first hilling with the appearance of young shoots. If there is a threat of frost, you can completely cover the sprouts with soil. Repeat the procedure just before the plants bloom. Bury the tops up to half the height. Once again you will need to sprinkle soil on the collapsing bushes after the tubers have formed. You can't keep them in the sun for long. The yield depends on the correct hilling of this potato variety, more than other varieties. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rules for hilling potatoes.

Diseases and pests

The Gourmet variety is resistant to scab and potato canker, late blight and fungal diseases, but is sensitive to viruses. They affect the withering of tops, leaves and deformation of tubers.

Disease prevention is needed:

• seed selection;
• treating them with preparations before planting;
• weed control;
• correct crop rotation.

The most common and dangerous potato pests are: Colorado potato beetle, spider mite, aphid, cicada. To protect plants from pests and diseases, before planting, treat the tubers with the drug “Prestige”. During the growing season, other chemicals are used according to the instructions. An article about root crop diseases with photographs, descriptions and treatment methods will help you recognize potato diseases and understand how to treat them.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages are:

• High yield;
• Resistance to various climatic conditions and diseases;
• Possibility of long-term storage, with preservation of the presentation of root crops 85-90%;
• The ability to grow in any area that is suitable for growing potatoes.

The disadvantages include the need to germinate the seed when growing Gourmand in areas with high humidity (western and northwestern regions), since there is a risk that the potatoes may be affected by late blight.

We choose potatoes “Sineglazka”, “Red Scarlet”, “Gourmet”:

Harvesting and storage

Young potatoes can begin to be dug up 40 days after emergence. Full ripening of the tubers occurs after 3 months. It can be stored for storage 110 days after planting.

Green the selected seeds. Keep them in the light for 1.5 weeks, without direct sunlight. Such seeds are better stored and resistant to diseases. Store the harvest in a cool place with good ventilation. This could be: a basement, a cellar, a glazed balcony.

Harvesting

Early harvesting significantly reduces yield, but in most cases it is economically justified.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with potato varieties that have different ripening periods: