How to Grow Purple Viking Potato
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Purple Viking Potato
Solanum tuberosum 'Purple Viking'
vegetablePurple Viking is a mid-season potato variety with distinctive purple skin and white flesh, known for its excellent flavor and versatility in the kitchen. This all-purpose potato variety produces moderate yields and stores well, making it ideal for home gardeners. The plants are moderately vigorous with good disease resistance compared to many heirloom varieties.
When should you plant Purple Viking Potato in your zone?
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Example Purple Viking Potato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Purple Viking 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 Purple Viking Potato
Around Jul 6≈ 80 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Purple Viking Potato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 3-7 are ideal; can be grown in zones 2-8 with adjusted timing
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Get my Purple Viking Potato timeline →Growth Stages
Seed Potato Sprouting
2-3 weeksSeed potatoes develop sprouts or 'eyes' indoors or outdoors before emergence.
Plant seed potatoes 2 weeks before last spring frost. Chit (pre-sprout) indoors 2-3 weeks prior for faster emergence. Use certified disease-free seed potatoes.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksShoots emerge and develop into leafy plants with multiple stems. Foliage is abundant and green with some purple tinting in stems.
Hill soil around plants as they grow to prevent tuber exposure to sunlight. Maintain consistent moisture and provide full sun. Watch for early blight and Colorado potato beetles.
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall clusters of purple or white flowers appear on plant stems. This indicates tuber development is beginning underground.
Continue hilling and consistent watering. Flowers are ornamental but can be left on or removed. Plant health is critical at this stage for tuber quality.
Tuber Development
3-4 weeksUnderground tubers enlarge and develop their characteristic purple skin. Foliage remains green and robust.
Maintain consistent soil moisture without waterlogging. Continue hilling to prevent greening of exposed tubers. Avoid excessive nitrogen to prevent excessive foliage at tuber expense.
Maturity & Harvest
Harvest ready 80-100 days after plantingFoliage begins to yellow and die back as tubers reach full size. Purple skin darkens and skin sets for storage.
Stop watering 2 weeks before harvest to harden tuber skins. Harvest when foliage is 50% dead for storage potatoes, or earlier for new potatoes. Handle carefully to avoid bruising.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick adults and egg clusters daily. Use row covers on young plants. Apply neem oil or spinosad if infestation is severe. Rotate crops yearly.
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Spray with strong water stream to dislodge. Use neem oil or insecticidal soap. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs. Plant resistant varieties nearby.
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Crop rotation away from grains and grass. Remove soil debris. Trench barriers with hardware cloth. Use beneficial nematodes in soil.
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Maintain pH 5.0-6.0 to inhibit disease. Use certified disease-free seed potatoes. Avoid lime applications. Ensure good soil drainage and avoid excessive nitrogen.
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Remove lower leaves as plant grows. Improve air circulation with proper spacing. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Apply copper fungicide or sulfur preventatively in humid conditions.
Uses
Versatile All-Purpose Cooking
CulinaryPurple Viking potatoes are excellent for boiling, mashing, salads, and soups due to their waxy texture and ability to hold shape well. The purple skin and white flesh create attractive presentation in dishes. [source]
Roasting & Grilling
CulinaryTheir firm texture makes them ideal for roasting, grilling, and creating potato wedges or chips while maintaining good structural integrity and developing excellent flavor. [source]
Resistant Starch & Digestive Health
MedicinalWhen cooled after cooking, potatoes develop resistant starch, which functions similarly to dietary fiber and supports digestive health and blood sugar regulation. [source]
Natural Food Storage
HouseholdPurple Viking potatoes have excellent storage capability, lasting 4-5 months in cool, humid conditions without special processing, making them economical for year-round use. [source]
Garden Ecosystem Support
WildlifePotato flowers and foliage provide important food sources for pollinators and beneficial insects while supporting a diverse garden ecosystem during mid-summer. [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 potatoes 60-70 days after planting when plants begin to flower by gently digging alongside plants without uprooting them. For storage potatoes, harvest 80-100 days after planting when foliage dies back. Cut foliage 2 weeks before harvesting to harden skins. Dig carefully with a garden fork to avoid bruising and cutting tubers. Cure harvested potatoes in a cool (50-60°F), dark, humid location for 1-2 weeks before storage. Store at 35-45°F with high humidity for up to 4-5 months.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Purple Viking potatoes derive their color from anthocyanin pigments, the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries and red grapes, making them nutritionally distinct from white potato varieties.
- 🌱 The 'Viking' in the name references the potato's heritage as a mid-season variety developed for northern growing regions with shorter seasons and cooler temperatures.
- 🌱 Potatoes are the world's fourth-largest food crop after rice, wheat, and corn, and Purple Viking remains a favorite heirloom variety among home gardeners for its reliability and exceptional flavor.
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