How to Grow New Blue Potato
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New Blue Potato
Solanum tuberosum 'New Blue'
vegetableNew Blue is a mid-season potato variety known for its distinctive deep blue or purple skin and flesh. This heirloom cultivar produces medium-sized tubers with excellent flavor and nutritional content, including high levels of anthocyanins. It's popular among gardeners seeking colorful, disease-resistant potatoes for both culinary and ornamental purposes.
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Example New Blue Potato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant New Blue Potato
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 New Blue Potato
Around Jul 16≈ 90 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact New Blue Potato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8, with best performance in cooler climates (zones 3-6)
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Seed Piece Preparation
1 weekSeed potatoes are cut into 1.5-2 oz pieces, each containing at least 1-2 eyes. Pieces are allowed to heal for 2-3 days before planting.
Use certified seed potatoes to avoid disease. Cut pieces cleanly with a sterile knife. Allow cut surfaces to callus over before planting.
Sprout & Root Development
3-4 weeksSeed pieces develop roots and sprouts; shoots emerge through the soil surface.
Plant in loose, warm soil (50-60°F minimum). Keep soil consistently moist. Hill soil over emerging shoots when 3-4 inches tall.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlants develop lush foliage with dark green leaves. Underground, stolons form and tuber initiation begins.
Continue hilling soil around plants every 2-3 weeks to cover developing tubers. Water regularly. Apply mulch to maintain moisture and prevent greening of tubers.
Flowering & Tuber Bulking
4-5 weeksPlants produce delicate blue or lavender flowers. Tubers swell rapidly underground as energy shifts from foliage to storage.
Maintain consistent watering; this is the critical period for tuber development. Continue hilling if needed. Remove any flowers if you want all energy directed to tubers.
Maturity & Harvest
1-2 weeksFoliage yellows and begins to die back. Tuber skins firm up and mature. Plant is ready for harvest.
Reduce watering 2 weeks before harvest to allow skins to harden. Harvest after foliage has mostly died back. Cure tubers in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks before storage.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick adults and egg clusters. Use spinosad or neem oil. Deploy row covers early in season. Encourage beneficial insects.
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Use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Reflective mulches deter aphids. Release ladybugs and parasitic wasps.
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Yellow sticky traps. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Encourage beneficial predators.
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Plant resistant varieties when possible. Ensure good air circulation. Remove infected leaves immediately. Use copper or sulfur fungicides preventatively in humid conditions.
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Maintain soil pH below 6.5. Avoid excessive lime. Improve drainage. Use resistant varieties.
Uses
Gourmet Cooking & Display
CulinaryNew Blue potatoes are prized for their striking deep purple color, making them visually stunning in salads, gratins, and side dishes. Their firm texture and waxy consistency make them excellent for boiling, roasting, and potato salads where you want tubers to hold their shape. [source]
Antioxidant-Rich Superfood
MedicinalThe deep blue pigmentation indicates high anthocyanin content, powerful antioxidants linked to reduced inflammation and cardiovascular health. Regular consumption of blue potatoes may support heart health and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. [source]
Mashed & Specialty Dishes
CulinaryWhen cooked, New Blue potatoes develop a unique bluish-gray color in mashed form, creating an intriguing and elegant presentation. They work beautifully in creamed soups, purées, and gourmet restaurant-style presentations. [source]
Natural Food Coloring
HouseholdThe pigments in New Blue potatoes can be extracted and used as a natural food dye for pasta, baked goods, and other culinary creations, offering an alternative to artificial colorants. [source]
Garden Biodiversity
WildlifePotato flowers, especially the attractive blue-purple blooms of New Blue, attract pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden. Growing potatoes encourages soil microbiota and supports 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 New Blue potatoes 90-110 days after planting, once foliage has mostly yellowed and died back. Dig carefully with a fork to avoid bruising the delicate tubers. For new potatoes, harvest 2-3 weeks earlier when plants are still flowering. Cure harvested potatoes in a cool (50-60°F), dark, well-ventilated location for 10-14 days to harden skins before storage. Store in darkness at 45-50°F with high humidity (90-95%) for up to 4-5 months.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 New Blue is an heirloom potato variety that has been cultivated since the 1800s, prized by gardeners for its combination of striking appearance and excellent disease resistance compared to modern white varieties.
- 🌱 The deep blue color comes from anthocyanins, the same beneficial compounds found in blueberries and red wine, making these potatoes one of the few vegetables naturally rich in this powerful antioxidant.
- 🌱 Despite their unusual appearance when cooked, New Blue potatoes are completely safe to eat and actually taste sweeter and creamier than russet varieties, with an earthy, slightly nutty flavor that pairs well with herbs like rosemary and sage.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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