How to Grow Belarina Pink Shades
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Belarina Pink Shades
Solanum tuberosum 'Belarina Pink Shades'
vegetableBelarina Pink Shades is a decorative potato variety with distinctive pink-red skin and unique creamy interior with pink eyes, bred specifically for ornamental container gardening while producing edible tubers. It combines ornamental potato plant foliage with productive yields in a compact, bushy growth habit. The tubers are small to medium, making them ideal for specialty culinary presentations and garnishes.
When should you plant Belarina Pink Shades in your zone?
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Example Belarina Pink Shades timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Belarina Pink Shades
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Belarina Pink Shades
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Belarina Pink Shades dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 4-8; performs well in cooler climates with adequate moisture
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Seed Potato Preparation
2-3 days pre-plantingSeed potatoes are cut into 1-2 oz pieces, each containing at least one eye/sprout point, then allowed to callus for 1-2 days before planting
Use certified disease-free seed potatoes; cut with clean knife; dust with sulfur or fungicide to prevent rot; store in cool location until planting
Emergence & Early Growth
3-4 weeksSprouts emerge through soil surface with compound leaves developing; plant appears as low bushy growth with ornamental foliage and small flowering buds
Keep soil evenly moist; provide full sun exposure; begin 'hilling' or adding soil/mulch around stems when 6 inches tall; maintain moderate temperature (50-70°F preferred)
Vegetative Growth & Flowering
4-6 weeksPlant reaches peak ornamental value with lush green foliage, delicate pink/white/purple flowers appearing in clusters, and continued stem elongation
Continue hilling soil around stems to protect developing tubers; maintain consistent watering; apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks; deadhead flowers if desired to redirect energy to tuber production
Tuber Development & Maturation
4-6 weeksFlowers fade, foliage remains vibrant green, tubers enlarge underground; soil surface may crack slightly as tubers expand
Maintain steady moisture levels; avoid overwatering which causes splits; reduce nitrogen fertilization; monitor for pests; keep foliage healthy as it feeds underground tubers
Harvest Readiness
At 70-90 days from plantingFoliage begins to yellow and decline; tubers reach full size with papery, thin skin characteristic of Belarina; plant enters dormancy
Stop watering 1-2 weeks before harvest to allow soil to dry slightly; harvest when foliage is mostly dead; handle tubers gently to avoid bruising; cure in cool, dark location for 1-2 weeks before storage
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick beetles and orange egg clusters; use row covers early season; apply spinosad or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap; release ladybugs or lacewings; neem oil application
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Use reflective mulch; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; maintain plant vigor; remove affected leaves
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Yellow sticky traps; neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; reflective mulch; remove heavily infested leaves
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Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide or sulfur-based products; remove infected foliage; plant resistant varieties
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Remove lower infected leaves; mulch around plants; apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicides; improve air circulation; water at soil level only
Uses
Specialty Cooking & Presentation
CulinaryBelarina Pink Shades' distinctive pink-red exterior and creamy interior with pink eyes make these small tubers ideal for upscale plating, gourmet potato salads, and specialty dishes. Their waxy texture holds shape well when boiled or steamed. [source]
Fingerling Potato Alternative
CulinarySimilar in size and use to fingerling potatoes, these tubers work well for roasting, pan-frying, or boiling whole. The pink coloring creates visually appealing side dishes. [source]
Container & Patio Decoration
OrnamentalBelarina Pink Shades is specifically bred as a dual-purpose ornamental, with attractive pink flowers and bushy foliage perfect for decorative containers on patios, decks, or entryways while still producing edible tubers. [source]
Edible Landscape Integration
HouseholdThe attractive foliage and flowers make this variety suitable for front gardens, flower borders, or decorative vegetable beds where both aesthetics and food production are desired. [source]
Nutritious Potato Source
MedicinalLike all potatoes, Belarina Pink Shades contains vitamin B6, potassium, and manganese. The pink coloring indicates anthocyanin antioxidants. Potatoes provide resistant starch when cooled after cooking. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest when foliage has mostly died back (typically 70-90 days after planting), indicating tubers are mature. Gently dig around plant and carefully remove tubers from soil by hand or with small fork, being careful not to bruise the delicate skin. Belarina tubers have thin, papery skin, so handle with extra care. Cure harvested tubers in a cool (50-60°F), dark location with 90% humidity for 1-2 weeks to harden skin for storage. Remove soil gently with dry brush rather than washing if possible. Store in cool, dark location (35-40°F) with high humidity for 3-4 months.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Belarina Pink Shades was specifically developed by breeders to combine ornamental appeal with edible productivity, making it one of the few potato varieties sold explicitly as both a decorative plant and food crop.
- 🌱 The pink coloring in these potatoes comes from anthocyanins, the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries and red wine, making them more nutritionally rich than standard white or yellow potatoes.
- 🌱 Potatoes were first domesticated in the Andes Mountains of South America over 7,000 years ago, and today are the world's fourth-largest food crop by production volume, after rice, wheat, and corn.
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