Rosalind
Deeply Rooted
Just dug the very last of the potatoes, and I can heartily recommend the Peruvian All Blue potato.
Last year, I wasn't sure how the weather would go and did sorta-raised beds (raised 6-8") for the potatoes. We had horrific drought all through August, we barely got an inch of rain, outdoor watering was prohibited everywhere, and I thought for sure the whole garden was going to be useless. The Peruvian All Blue made about 30-40% more potatoes than German Butterball, Viking Purple or Cranberry Red, that is to say it made hmm, perhaps 8-10 lbs. potatoes when I only planted 2 lbs. So, OK, the All Blues are good in drought.
This year, preparing for a summer drought, I didn't raise the beds but put down layers of mulch on everything, layering more mulch on the potatoes through the spring/early summer. This year, we had bloody FLOODS and there were maybe three sunny days in any given summer week. We got, easily, 2-3 inches of rain per week. Things I planted got about six inches tall and then rotted from all the rain. I had to pick everything green, lest it get moldy before it got ripe, it was that bad. We've got mad worms like you wouldn't believe, AND we have the shrews and mice that eat worms (and potatoes...). I lost every single German Butterball and Cranberry Red that I planted to shrews and things eating them. And still, the Peruvian All Blues did OK! Not great, not even as well as last year, but still OK! I have, hmm, maybe 5 lbs. after planting 2 lbs. seed taters. This is after torrential rains and rodent predation.
Apparently it's just a very robust potato that takes all sorts of abuse. Next year I'll get my husband to plant them, and I'll let you guys know if it survives a brown thumb!:weight
They are excellent eating potatoes, too, as long as you don't mind your mashed taters being a lovely shade of lavender...
Last year, I wasn't sure how the weather would go and did sorta-raised beds (raised 6-8") for the potatoes. We had horrific drought all through August, we barely got an inch of rain, outdoor watering was prohibited everywhere, and I thought for sure the whole garden was going to be useless. The Peruvian All Blue made about 30-40% more potatoes than German Butterball, Viking Purple or Cranberry Red, that is to say it made hmm, perhaps 8-10 lbs. potatoes when I only planted 2 lbs. So, OK, the All Blues are good in drought.
This year, preparing for a summer drought, I didn't raise the beds but put down layers of mulch on everything, layering more mulch on the potatoes through the spring/early summer. This year, we had bloody FLOODS and there were maybe three sunny days in any given summer week. We got, easily, 2-3 inches of rain per week. Things I planted got about six inches tall and then rotted from all the rain. I had to pick everything green, lest it get moldy before it got ripe, it was that bad. We've got mad worms like you wouldn't believe, AND we have the shrews and mice that eat worms (and potatoes...). I lost every single German Butterball and Cranberry Red that I planted to shrews and things eating them. And still, the Peruvian All Blues did OK! Not great, not even as well as last year, but still OK! I have, hmm, maybe 5 lbs. after planting 2 lbs. seed taters. This is after torrential rains and rodent predation.
Apparently it's just a very robust potato that takes all sorts of abuse. Next year I'll get my husband to plant them, and I'll let you guys know if it survives a brown thumb!:weight
They are excellent eating potatoes, too, as long as you don't mind your mashed taters being a lovely shade of lavender...
