How to Grow Inca Pink
Wikimedia Commons
Inca Pink
Solanum tuberosum 'Inca Pink'
vegetableInca Pink is a heritage potato variety with distinctive pink-red skin and creamy white flesh with pink marbling. It's a medium-sized, oval-shaped potato that offers excellent flavor and is particularly valued for its attractive appearance and waxy texture. This heirloom cultivar is disease-resistant and well-suited to organic growing methods.
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Example Inca Pink timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Inca Pink
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 Inca Pink
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Inca Pink dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-7; can grow in zone 8 with shade in summer
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Get my Inca Pink timeline →Growth Stages
Sprouting
2-3 weeksSeed potato pieces begin to develop shoots and roots underground; soil remains cool and moist.
Ensure soil temperature is 45°F or higher. Keep soil consistently moist. Protect from rot with well-draining soil.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksStems emerge above ground and develop compound leaves; plants grow to 12-18 inches tall with vigorous foliage.
Hill soil around stems every 2-3 weeks to promote tuber development and prevent greening. Apply mulch to retain moisture and regulate temperature. Monitor for pests.
Flowering
2-3 weeksPlants produce attractive pink or purple flowers; this signals active tuber enlargement underground.
Maintain consistent watering during this critical growth phase. Do not remove flowers. Continue hilling if needed. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizer at this stage.
Tuber Maturation
2-3 weeksFoliage begins to yellow and die back; tubers reach full size and skins set/harden.
Gradually reduce watering as foliage senescence occurs. Stop nitrogen fertilizing. Allow skins to set for better storage.
Harvest
Harvest periodFoliage is mostly dead; tubers are fully mature with hard skins ready for harvest.
Harvest when foliage dies back or after first light frost. Dig carefully to avoid damaging tubers. Cure in cool, dark place for 7-10 days before storage.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick larvae and eggs, use row covers, apply spinosad or neem oil, encourage natural predators
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Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, release ladybugs, plant garlic and chives nearby
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Ensure good air circulation, avoid wetting foliage, use copper fungicide, practice crop rotation, remove infected plants immediately
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Remove lower infected leaves, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply copper or sulfur fungicide, improve air flow
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Practice crop rotation, use beneficial nematodes, trap with wheat or corn kernels buried in soil
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and
Hand-pick at dusk, use copper tape barriers, apply iron phosphate bait, encourage ground beetles
Uses
Boiling and Salads
CulinaryInca Pink potatoes retain their shape and color beautifully when boiled, making them ideal for potato salads, soups, and sides. Their waxy texture and delicate flavor are perfect for showcasing the tuber's natural appeal. [source]
Roasting and Grilling
CulinaryThe distinctive pink skin and white flesh make Inca Pink visually striking when roasted or grilled. Their firm texture holds up well to high-heat cooking methods. [source]
Hash and Breakfast Dishes
CulinaryThe creamy texture and attractive color make these potatoes excellent for hash browns, home fries, and breakfast scrambles. [source]
Heirloom Garden Growing
HouseholdInca Pink is prized by heritage gardeners and seed savers for its disease resistance and adaptability to organic growing practices. Saving seed potatoes from healthy plants perpetuates this valuable variety. [source]
Pollinator-Friendly Flowers
WildlifePotato flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting local ecosystems while the plants develop their underground harvest. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest when foliage has mostly died back (typically 70-90 days after planting). Carefully dig with a garden fork, working outward from the plant base to avoid bruising tubers. For new potatoes, harvest 2-3 weeks earlier when plants are still green. Allow harvested potatoes to cure in a cool (50-60°F), dark place with good air circulation for 7-10 days before storage. Store in cool (35-40°F), humid, dark conditions for several months.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Inca Pink is named after the ancient Inca civilization, which domesticated potatoes in the Andes Mountains over 7,000 years ago.
- 🌱 The pink color in the skin comes from anthocyanin pigments, the same antioxidants found in blueberries and red cabbage.
- 🌱 Inca Pink potatoes are notable for their exceptional disease resistance compared to many modern commercial varieties, making them favored by organic growers.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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