I realise this is a long shot but does anyone have one or two Sarpo Adam Blue tubers they could spare. Happy to send p&p and/or swap for a couple of interesting types of spuds (well I think they are!) or other tubers, or I have loads of different veg seeds to swap.
jayb
Didn't even know there was a blue sarpo... Jayb :-[
I have some "salad blue" that are blue all through if you are interested... :-\
Yes apparently, they were trailed but I am not sure they got further. They are reported to be a salad type (which I prefer), can't say I've been thrilled with the flavour of the ones I've grown so far, but I do get a crop! Which is why I'm interested cos I'm limited in what I can grow as I tend to get early blight, even in a good year, oh joy!
I do grow some earlies in a tunnel and also a few different varieties in bags inside, but it does take up space I could be using for something else.
Having said all that, thank you for your kind offer, if you fancy swapping one or two SB's for Vitelotte or Burgundy Red, let me know.
Have grown Burgundy red, what can you tell me about Vitelotte (? Violette)
:-\
It will be my first time growing them, not the prettiest to look at but when I scraped a bit of skin the colour was amazing- dark dark violet.
I copied this (hope its ok to)
'French Heirloom Vitelotte or Truffle potato is one of the most unusual heritage varieties you can find. Originally from Peru and Bolivia and is still grown there. Legend states that they are a 200 year old mix of ancient types of Peruvian potatoes. Vitelotte is cultivated in France since 1850 as a gourmet delicacy. In Germany it also known as Truffle Potato. Unusually shaped long oval tubers with dark purple skin and purple flesh keep colour after cooking. Can you imagine purple chips or unusual colour salad? This is very rare, high valued and expensive variety. That type of potatoes is difficult to find even in most prestigious restaurants. Vitelotte tastes as amazing as it looks: a full bodied flavour reminds chestnut. It is perfect for boiling, chips or salads. Vitelotte is late maturing main crop potato. Usually that kind of rarity available only as slip plants and is very expensive. You can divide the tubers yourself to grow more plants'.
Adding to that description.
Vitelotte aka; Black Truffle, Truffle de Chine, blue French, Négresse du Poitou, Violette Lac de Bret, Vitelotte Violette, Vitelotte Noire.
Late maturing main crop first introduced into France in 1815, originates from Peru and Bolivia. Similar texture to the pink fir apple varieties, taste reminiscent of roasted chestnuts, slightly waxy. Appearance very similar to congo but they are genetically different (Solanum Ajanhuiri rather than Solanum Tuberosus). Cylindrical oval average 10cm length tubers, half-sunken eyes distributed over the whole surface of the tuber, violet to almost black skin, violet flesh.
Tubers have a thick skin and store well.
The colour bleeds from the raw tubers in the same way that beetroot do. You need to watch your hands and clothing for stains. When cooked they keep a dark purple colour, if boiled the cooking water turns a very bright green/turquoise colour.
Pain in the backside to find tubers & usually very expensive when you do find them but definitely worth growing.
Sounds very good.... ;D
Thanks for the info Baccy, I like the sound of them even more now. Lots to look forward to, purple hands and and green liquid :-\ (perhaps I can use them as a dye) . Now all I have to do is grow em ;D
Do you know anything about above mentioned Sarpo?
I didn't think Adam Blue were available yet but I believe Deb P mentioned she managed to get some at a potato day so we wil probably find out what they are like later this year.
I'm only growing a few varieties this year as I couldn't get to a potato day to find the more interesting varieties, so I have only got; Congo, Dunbar Rover, Dunluce, Highland Burgundy Red, Maris Piper, Mr Little's Yeltholm Gypsy, Rooster, Salad Blue, Skerry Blue, & Shetland Black.
Thanks again and I look forward to hearing more about them later in the year (I hope)
Sounds a lovely array and not such a few ;D
Someone has a good memory! ;D
I saw Sarpo Blue tubers at the Ryton potato day, and picked up 5 tubers to try. I hadn't seen them before, so coudn't resist them!
They will be planted out next week alongside some other 'trial' rows to see how they do. I'll let you know! ;D
Fab, will be interested to know how they do and taste!
Hi Jayb
I have a couple of spare Sarpo Adams Blue I could give you. I got them a few weeks ago at a potato fair in Kelso (scottish borders).
This is the first year I've atempted to grow potatoes. I have two other varieties - Accent and Sunrise
Think I'll plant them out in the next few days.
Let me know if you would still like the potatoes and I could post them down. Bought way too many of each of them.
starfish
What a STAR! Yes I'd love them please ;D, will pm you.
Welcome to the site Starfish, I'm sure you will enjoy.
Welcome to the site Starfish... ;D
sent you a pm Jayb
really pleased to have found this forum. there's loads of great advice!
starfish ;D
Many thanks Starfish, tubers received yesterday :) Sent you a pm too.