Potato variety Miami - characteristics and cultivation rules

It is worth starting the description of the Miami potato variety with its characteristics. Miami is an exotic potato variety that originated in Russia. Many consider this variety to be a GMO product, but it is a traditional root vegetable containing anthocyanins, antioxidants, vitamins and trace elements. The starch content of the root vegetable is quite low (15%), and its tubers are recommended for diabetes mellitus and metabolic disorders.

Characteristics of Miami Potatoes

Miami is a potato variety that belongs to the mid-early variety of root crop, since the fruit ripens completely 60 - 80 days after planting. The keeping quality of the fruit is quite good, and the presentation is preserved by 90%.

The bushes of the plant are quite strong, the length of the stems reaches 60 cm. The productivity of Maimi is high - up to 20 potatoes from one bush. The size of the fruit is medium or large (small root crops are not found).

Distinctive characteristics of Miami:

• The weight of the fruit reaches 100 g;
• Characteristics of potato shape: oval;
• Purple peel;
• Starchy characteristics: reaches 15%;
• Characteristics of the pulp: not watery and has a purple color with a white edging;
• The eyes of the root crop are few.

Miami is a potato variety with excellent taste and crispness. After heat treatment, the root vegetable retains its lilac color. Potatoes can be used for frying, boiling, making salads, as well as for baking and stewing.

A special feature of potatoes is that you can independently collect the seeds (smooth tubers reaching a length of 6 cm) and plant them.

A distinctive characteristic of potatoes is its ability to reduce cardiovascular diseases, reduce atherosclerosis, diabetes, and also help strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve vision.

History of appearance

Several dozen varieties of purple potatoes with purple flesh have been bred. Moreover, they have been known for more than two centuries. The first mention dates back to 1812 - then the Vitelot variety was described. Also, similar crops are mentioned in the agricultural directory of France (the entry dates back to 1817).

Many scientists agree that such plants come from the countries of South America - Bolivia and Peru. Here, purple potatoes are still common today.

For a long time, scientists did not pay attention to this crop, preferring to breed traditional potatoes with white flesh. However, lilac varieties spread to Europe and some Asian countries already in the 19th century.

Gradually, interest in such potatoes increased, demand increased, and prices rose. Breeders set about developing varieties of dark purple potatoes. The basis was taken from wild varieties with the same or different colors. The result was both varieties and hybrids.

In Russia, purple varieties of potatoes began to actively spread in 2007, after the First International Congress was held. Tubers of unusual lilac color were presented by breeders from South Korea (Kangwon National University). This served as an impetus for the development of domestic dietary varieties of potatoes with purple skin.

Pros and cons of the variety

Like other potato varieties, Miami has positive and negative characteristics. One of the key positive characteristics of Miami is the possession of organic lipids that affect the heart and arteries. In addition, potatoes contain many vitamins.

pros

1. The root vegetable is rich in vitamins;
2. Beautiful appearance;
3. High yield Miami;
4. Low percentage of starch contained in potatoes;
5. Rapid fruit ripening;
6. Resistance to late blight;
7. Sweet taste;
8. Excellent productivity;
9. Variety in preparation.

Minuses

1. Needs regular treatment against Colorado potato beetles and potato midges;
2. Photophilous.

Purple potato varieties with photos and descriptions

Quite a few varieties of purple potatoes have been produced. Some of them can be grown in most Russian regions. The main crops with good yields are described below.

Witelot

This variety of purple potato is sometimes also called "Vitalot" or "Negress". Other names are “Chinese truffle” or “Blue French truffle”. The potatoes are small, on average 70 g. The peel is a typical grayish-brown color, the flesh is a rich lilac color.

The starch content is high, so the root vegetables are well cooked. They are great for making purees and side dishes, but are not suitable for frying. Plants are late in maturity, the yield is low, and can only be grown using manual labor.

Purple potatoes are more expensive than many other varieties

All blue

Judging by the name, it is clear that this variety of purple potatoes with purple flesh is all blue in color. At the same time, the subcutaneous layer has lighter shades, and the peel, on the contrary, is darker. The variety is mid-early, the harvest is formed 80 days after mass germination.

At the same time, large tubers weighing 150-200 g have time to form. But they cannot be stored for a long time - you have to eat them immediately or freeze the cut potatoes into pieces or in a vegetable mixture. So far the variety has not become widespread in Russia, although it has been known in Europe for quite some time. It has good taste and dietary qualities.

The color of the tubers is preserved after frying and baking, but is lost after boiling

Explosion

The Explosion variety is characterized by high productivity and produces large potatoes with an elongated round shape. On average, they reach 150-200 g in weight, although some specimens reach 300 and even 500 g. The peel and pulp are blue. This variety of potato has increased immunity and does not require special care.

The Explosion variety gives a harvest in 65-70 days

Important! Potatoes sprout quite quickly and cannot be stored for long periods of time.

Therefore, it is recommended to grow in small quantities in order to use the tubers as quickly as possible.

Lilac

The name of this variety of purple potatoes is associated with the characteristic color - the rich lilac color of the pulp. At the same time, the shade of the peel is normal, dark gray with brownish. This variety of domestic selection was obtained on the basis of VNIIKH. In terms of ripening time, Lilac is classified as mid-season: it takes 95-100 days from the moment of mass shoots to form a crop.

The tubers are small, each weighing 80-100 g. Moreover, each bush produces 10-15 potatoes, so overall the harvest is quite good. The plants are compact and have good immunity to cancer and scab.

Potato tubers Lilac are formed in 3-3.5 months

Red Wonder

The name of this purple potato variety translates as “Red Miracle.” Its flesh is lilac, light purple, and retains its color even after heat treatment. Suitable for all cooking methods - frying, pureeing, baking. Ripens in 80-90 days and is characterized by good yield. The shape of the tubers is oblong-round, weight up to 150 g. They are located compactly in the nest. On the surface the eyes are slightly recessed. The flowers are pinkish, the immunity is average. It lasts a long time and can be stored for months.

The pulp of the Red Wonder variety is a rich red-violet hue.

Amethyst

Amethyst is a mid-early purple potato variety with oblong roots. It boils well, the mass fraction of starch reaches 16%. The tubers are small, weighing 50-70 g. They are formed in 70-80 days. The yield is satisfactory, each bush produces up to 10 tubers. The pulp is tasty and retains its color after cooking.

Grows well on light loams and fertile soils. At the same time, any climate is suitable for cultivation - cultivation is allowed in most regions of Russia.

The Amethyst variety is resistant to late blight, cancer and scab

Peruvian purple

This is an ancient variety of potato that was bred in the highlands of the Andes. Produces elongated tubers weighing approximately 80 g. Ripening time is average - 100-110 days. The yield is low, but the keeping quality is excellent. The tubers are stored until spring and are well transported. The taste of the pulp is very interesting, with hints of walnuts and hazelnuts. Color and aroma are preserved even after heat treatment.

The tubers of the Peruvian violet are elongated, with pronounced eyes

Adirondack blue

A relatively recent variety obtained at Cornell University in the USA. The Adirondack blue variety has medium ripening periods; potatoes appear in 95-100 days. The bushes of the plant are large, the foliage is purple, the flowers are white. The immune system is weak, the crop may suffer from various diseases. The tubers weigh 80-100 g, the dormant period is short, so they are poorly stored. Another drawback is that the pulp becomes pale after heat treatment.

The pulp of this variety does not boil well, so it is suitable for frying and making chips.

Blue Danube

This potato variety has a purple skin and white flesh inside. It grows well in different types of soil and adapts even to unfavorable weather conditions. Resistant to drought, damage and all common diseases.

The harvest is formed quite quickly - 70-80 days pass from germination to the appearance of potatoes. The bushes are low, heavily leafy, the flowers are purple. The stems are quite strong, the foliage is dark green.

The root crops are large, 150-200 g each, each plant produces 8-12 pieces. The shape is elongated, slightly flattened. The yield per bush reaches 2-3 kg. The appearance is good, suitable for commercial cultivation.

Blue Danube is unpretentious and does not require special care

Gypsy

Gypsy is another variety of purple potato with white flesh. According to one version, it occurred due to folk selection based on the Black Prince and Blue Danube varieties (described above). The variety is mid-season, ripens in 70-90 days. There are few leaves, they are small, dark green in color, and the edges are slightly wavy.

Each bush produces from 10 to 14 potatoes weighing 100-130 g. The shape is oval, often elongated, the surface is smooth, there are no depressions or bumps. The peel is thin, the color is violet-blue. The eyes are small, the flesh is creamy when cut. The yield is quite high, reaching 250 kg per hundred square meters. But marketability is low due to the heterogeneity of the tubers.

Gypsy potatoes have a very good taste

Red Wonder

The Red Wonder potato variety has reddish-purple flesh and purple skin. The tubers are round, quite large, oblong in shape, weight up to 100-150 g. The eyes are depressed. Ripening occurs in 80 days. The color remains even after boiling or frying.

Suitable for any heat treatment method

Exotic

Exotic is the most common variety in Russia and neighboring countries, obtained in Holland. Has good disease resistance. Produces large oval tubers. The pulp is very tasty, with an interesting patterned pattern. The color is purple with white streaks.

The pulp is an attractive purple hue with an interesting pattern.

Purple Peliss (Purple Handsome)

Purple Peliss is a variety recently released in the USA. Produces low bushes up to 80 cm, dark green foliage. Resistant to scab and rhizoctonia. The tubers are elongated, oval, the pulp contains a large proportion of water, and is therefore suitable for obtaining juice.

Potato tubers are small, with juicy pulp

Landing Features

Many people mistakenly believe that potatoes, according to their characteristics, are an ordinary crop that does not require special efforts to grow. However, before planting the Miami variety, you should familiarize yourself not only with the characteristics of the root crop, but also with the rules for planting it.

Landing dates

The Miami variety is planted in the spring in the 2nd or 3rd decade of May, when the soil has warmed up a little (ground temperatures should reach 10 degrees Celsius).

Site preparation

Experts believe that growing Miami potatoes is quite easy in temperate zones. The variety produces a large number of fruits even with traditional agricultural practices.

Before planting, it is necessary to saturate the soil with minerals - fertilize the soil. It is necessary to prepare the soil for planting potatoes in the fall.

The land is cleared of weeds and tops. The cleaned soil is saturated with minerals and dug up. With the arrival of spring, it is recommended to dig up the ground again.

Planting scheme

It is necessary to plant potato tubers after vernalization has been carried out in advance. Root germination takes about 20 days. The variety is planted in 6-7 bushes in one row. The acceptable distance between bushes is 30-35 cm, and between rows - up to 60 cm.

How and where to grow purple potatoes

Proper care and compliance with all planting rules are the main factors on which the yield of this variety depends. The planting site should be chosen so that the area receives a lot of sunlight. The best option is the southwest of the garden.

You may be interested in: Dates for planting potatoes in 2022 for central Russia and the Moscow region Dates for planting potatoes in May-June 2022 according to the lunar planting calendar Favorable days for planting potatoes in 2022 according to the lunar calendar

Soil preparation

The soil should be light so that the plant has constant access to oxygen. Water should also not stagnate - its normal outflow must be ensured.

It is the light soil that can cope with this. Therefore, such potatoes will grow best on sod-podzolic, neutral, loamy and floodplain lands.

In order for the plants to take root and the fruits to form correctly, you need to carefully dig up the place for future planting of potatoes. It is better to carry out the first digging before winter.

The fact is that all large lumps of earth, lifted with a shovel, will remain at the top, and as soon as frost “hits”, all harmful larvae and bacteria will die.

Planting and care

Purple potatoes should be planted in the spring, when the soil warms up to at least +5 degrees. First, the soil must be dug up, loosened, holes prepared for the tubers, and wood ash added to them.

Wood ash is not just a storehouse of useful microelements. It is considered an excellent disinfectant that helps prevent a lot of potato diseases.

The holes must be made so that their distance relative to each other is at least 35 cm in a row. Between the beds you need to maintain a distance of at least 65 cm.

If the plants are planted in hard soil, it must first be mixed with river sand. The holes should be 10 cm deep.

It is easy to care for the plants - they need watering every 7 days (if there has been no precipitation). When a crust forms on the ground, it must be thoroughly loosened. If the soil is wet, it can cause the development of various diseases. Therefore, this “parameter” also needs to be monitored.

Of course, this variety of potato also needs systematic feeding, treatment with drugs against late blight and various pests. The procedure is carried out according to the instructions for the substance.

Care

The Miami variety requires regular care: systematic loosening of the beds, watering, hilling the soil, mulching, systematic feeding of the soil, clearing the beds of weeds, as well as constant treatment of the bushes from potato midges and Colorado potato beetles.

Loosening

Loosening of Miami beds is carried out 10 days after the sprouts appear. The following loosening is carried out every 2 weeks (14 days).

It is important to understand that loosening helps get rid of weeds and unwanted soil crust that prevents the sprout from breaking through the ground. In addition, loosening promotes the supply of oxygen to the roots and rapid warming of the land.

Mulching

Mulching of the soil should be carried out in the fall after the land has been cleared of other fruits. During this period, it is recommended to saturate the soil with the necessary minerals.

Hilling

Hilling up of the soil is carried out after applying fertilizer (during the growing season, nitrogen compounds are usually used, and during the budding period, potassium chloride and superphosphate are used as fertilizer. The variety requires only two hilling procedures.

Advice from experienced gardeners and reviews

Summer residents like the unusual color of vegetables, the taste, and the yield of the crop.

Serafima, Stary Oskol : “Last year we planted Vitelot in our dacha. The tubers turned out interesting and attractive. The grandchildren liked the unusual color, and my husband appreciated the nutty taste.”

Sergey, pos. Otradovka: “My wife likes to experiment, and so she suggested planting purple potatoes in the garden. I ordered the Lilac variety. We planted about half a acre and got one and a half bags of potatoes. I watered it twice over the summer. Overall I liked it, it was delicious. I will plant more."

Diseases and parasites

Miami is a variety resistant to many diseases, especially late blight. It is quite rare for Miami to be exposed to any disease. However, if this happens, experts recommend preventive spraying with a solution containing copper elements: Nematicide,

It should be noted that most gardeners growing Miami potatoes encounter the Colorado potato beetle or potato midge. To prevent pests from destroying the plants, it should be sprayed with special chemical solutions: Tsimbush, Dilor, Volaton or Boverin.

Reviews

Alyona

“I have been growing purple potatoes for several years and noticed that I can grow large tubers and a decent harvest after feeding them with chicken manure. First dilute it with water in a ratio of 1 to 15 and leave for 24 hours in a dark place. Water each bush with 1 liter of this solution.”

Yana

“Our whole family loves cauliflower potatoes because of their interesting almond flavor. At first I bought it in the form of seeds, grew seedlings at home, then transplanted them into open ground, but the harvest was meager. I managed to get a lot of large potatoes after I started using tubers as planting material.”

Purple potatoes are one of the rarest and most delicious plant varieties. To ensure a happy harvest at the end of the summer season, plant and care for your potatoes correctly. Before use, study possible contraindications to avoid harm to your health.

Cleaning and storage