Purple Peruvian Potatoes
Purple Peruvian Potatoes
About 8 years ago a former colleague gave us a few handfuls of these obscure looking potatoes that did not look that enticing.
Not thinking much about them, they spent a few seasons in the garden shed before they were finally given a chance to shine in the garden.
The first harvest was not great, got a few, but mostly small, the traditional trench approach to potato growing was used, but to no avail.
Over several seasons of perfecting the technique, it appears that they don’t really like been buried, but to sit on top of our sandy soils and covered with a bit of straw.
The summer 2010/2011 was a trying summer for all vegies as it was a colder than average summer, much much wetter than average and a locust plague dramatically took its toll, however we did get a reasonable crop, however are a tad flowery this year.
The importance of these veggies were highlighted to me in a recent article in the Weekly Times, link below.
Purple veggies take off, rich in anti-oxidants
“The key to these purple plants is they have five times the falcarinols as carrots or potatoes, and global research is well on its way to proving that puts them way out in front as anti-cancer agents.” Dr Hazel MacTavish West
Left: Mashed Purple Peruvian Potato
Right: Purple Peruvian Potato & Leek Soup – Vishiswa
There are many great applications that highlight the great colour of the Purple Peruvian Potato, a bit daunting at first to put it in your mouth, however the nutty flavour will make you a fan, very different to the traditional potatoes.
