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How to Grow Loddon Blue

Loddon Blue

Solanum tuberosum 'Loddon Blue'

vegetable

Loddon Blue is a heritage potato variety known for its striking blue-purple skin and creamy white flesh with purple streaks. This medium-sized, oval-shaped potato offers a nutty, earthy flavor and excellent texture, making it popular for both culinary use and ornamental garden appeal. The plant produces vigorous foliage and reliable yields of uniquely colored tubers.

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Example Loddon Blue timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Loddon Blue

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Loddon Blue

    Around Jun 26

    ≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Loddon Blue dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; prefers 8+ hours for maximum yields
💧
Water: Consistent moisture; provide 1-1.5 inches per week through rainfall or irrigation. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering slightly after flowering to prevent tuber rot.
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Spacing: 12-15 inches between seed potatoes; 24-36 inches between rows inches
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Days to maturity: 70-90 days
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Planting depth: Plant seed potatoes 4-6 inches deep; hill soil up around plants as they grow

Soil

Type: Well-draining, loose, fertile loamy or sandy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 5.5-7.0
Amendments:
Compost Well-rotted manure Peat moss or coconut coir Sulfur (if pH too high) Lime (if pH too low)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-8; prefers cooler climates with moderate summers

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a

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Growth Stages

1

Seed Piece/Sprouting

2-3 weeks

Seed potatoes develop sprouts (eyes) and early root growth underground; first shoots emerge above soil.

Ensure soil temperature is 45°F or above before planting. Use certified seed potatoes to prevent disease. Keep soil consistently moist.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Vigorous green foliage emerges and expands; plants grow bushy with multiple stems. Tuber initiation begins underground.

Hill soil around growing plants every 2-3 weeks to encourage tuber development and prevent greening. Water regularly and evenly. Apply mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Plants produce purple or white flowers; foliage reaches maximum size and vigor.

Flowers indicate tuber bulking is well underway. Continue regular watering and maintain consistent moisture. Do not let soil dry out during this critical period.

4

Tuber Bulking

3-4 weeks

Underground tubers enlarge rapidly; foliage remains full and green but growth slows.

Ensure adequate moisture but avoid waterlogging. Continue hilling if soil erodes. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to prevent oversized tubers with poor storage.

5

Maturation/Harvest Ready

1-2 weeks

Foliage yellows, wilts, and dies back; tuber skins fully harden and mature; skin becomes firm and resistant to damage.

Stop watering 1-2 weeks before harvest to allow skins to thicken and cure. Harvest when foliage is completely dead. Handle tubers gently to avoid bruising.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Borage Calendula Chamomile Garlic Onions Peas Spinach Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Tomatoes Peppers Eggplant Apricots Raspberries

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick beetles and eggs; use row covers on young plants; apply neem oil or spinosad; encourage natural predators like ladybugs and parasitic wasps.

  • Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; reflective mulches deter aphids; encourage beneficial insects; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer.

  • Use reflective row covers; remove infested plants; control solanaceous weeds; insecticidal soap on undersides of leaves.

  • Use resistant varieties when possible; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove affected foliage; apply copper fungicide at first signs; plant in well-draining soil.

  • Remove lower leaves as plants grow; ensure good air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper or sulfur-based fungicides; avoid overhead watering.

  • Maintain soil pH below 6.5; ensure adequate soil moisture during tuber development; avoid fresh manure; choose resistant varieties; rotate crops.

Uses

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Gourmet Cooking & Visual Appeal

Culinary

Loddon Blue's striking blue-purple color and creamy texture make it ideal for upscale dishes, salads, and mashed potatoes. The nutty, earthy flavor pairs well with herbs, butter, and cream, and the visual impact adds sophistication to plated dishes. [source]

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Traditional British Cuisine

Culinary

A heritage variety long associated with British gardening and cooking traditions, Loddon Blue is prized for traditional dishes and authentic heritage recipes. Its historical significance makes it popular among heritage food enthusiasts and traditional cooking practitioners. [source]

💊

Antioxidant Content

Medicinal

The vibrant blue pigmentation indicates high levels of anthocyanins and other polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. These compounds may support cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation, making colored potatoes like Loddon Blue a nutritionally dense food choice. [source]

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Natural Dye Source

Household

The deep blue-purple skins can be used to create natural dyes for fabric and fiber arts. Home crafters and sustainable living enthusiasts use potato varieties with intense pigments for eco-friendly dyeing projects. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Garden Addition

Wildlife

Loddon Blue potato plants produce attractive flowers that provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Growing potatoes in diverse garden settings supports beneficial insect populations and overall garden ecosystem health. [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 70-90 days after planting when foliage dies back completely. Gently dig with a spading fork to avoid bruising the distinctive blue tubers. For storage potatoes, cure tubers for 1-2 weeks in a cool (50-60°F), dark place with high humidity (90-95%) to thicken skins. Store in cool (45-50°F), dark, humid conditions; can keep 4-6 months. Handle carefully to avoid damaging the decorative blue skin.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Loddon Blue is a true heritage variety with roots in British gardening, developed and popularized in the 19th century. Its striking color remained relatively unknown to modern gardeners until the heritage vegetable revival of recent decades.
  • 🌱 The blue pigmentation comes from anthocyanins, the same compounds that make blueberries and purple cabbage blue—making potatoes a unique source of these antioxidants in the starch-based food category.
  • 🌱 Despite its decorative appearance, Loddon Blue is not a novelty potato; it's a reliable, productive variety with excellent flavor and culinary properties that make it suitable for both ornamental kitchen gardens and serious potato production.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Mulch
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