Growing Pommes Violette...can we make this work?

[CotswoldLass]

Hi All,

Have been so long (3yrs to do law degree) away from serious gardening I feel I have lost the knowledge and the knack! All help appreciated on this one......

Dining at a lovely restaurant while on holiday in France last week, we tasted these delicious purple potatoes called pommes violette (unsurprisingly!). As a parting gift the waiter gave us a little bag of potatoes to use as seed potatoes.

But it's only August! Is there any way we can make this work?

CLx

[CotswoldLass]

[saddad]

If you can keep the tops frost free you could plant them in a tub and see what happens... or keep a few in an egg box (open) in the bottom of the fridge and plant in Spring...  :-\

[1066]

worth a try! I'd think the best bet would be to store them somewhere cool and dark till the new year/spring and then start chitting them?

1066

[Robert_Brenchley]

My neighbour leaves them in the sun till they turn green (he says it delays sprouting), and then keeps them in buckets of sand in his greenhouse.

[CotswoldLass]

Thanks guys! We've put them in the apple store (cool and dark) for now but am thinking we should try Robert's neighbour's suggestion.......what to do?

Haven't got that many but maybe try both ways? Key thing is to delay sprouting isn't it, really?

[Tinkie_Bear]

How come the spuds that you miss one year will produce a nice crop the next if you let them?  Does mother nature delay the sprouting of missed spuds until the time and conditions are right? I don't supose you'd want to risk planting one and finding out, you'd have to mark the area well though.

Helen x

[saddad]

Most tubers have a period of "natural dormancy" tuber formation usually being a way to avoid a period of adverse weather eg dry or cold periods...  :)

[CotswoldLass]

Saddad, so  what's your view then on the way to go here?

[saddad]

If greening helps... I don't know I haven't tried it...
otherwise stick three in a big tub and see what happens..  :-\

[Digeroo]

You are known as Cotswold Lass are you in the Cotswolds.  Dundries Nureries in Cheltenham sell a huge range of potatoes and Vitelotte is one of them.  So if you loose your supply suggest you buy some more.   

[CotswoldLass]

Thanks Digeroo but despite my Cotswold background, we moved to Hampshire a few years ago!

[Tulipa]

Hello CL, lovely to see you posting on here again, I can't help with your query but just wanted to say hi and welcome back, have missed you.

Take care

T.

[CotswoldLass]

Well I'm so glad you did post here T! Thank you! Lovely to catch up. I am gradually getting back to the garden, slow process.

Hope all's well with you! Speak soon I hope,

CLx