I was recently told that Congo and Vitelotte appear to be slightly different strains of the same variety. I found this:
http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Purple_Congo.html
That's Purple Congo, there are other varieties of Congo including one just called Congo.... there are several supposed varieties of Vitelotte too, I guess it's a problem with a lot of heirlooom varieties of almost anything, the old seedsmen were nicking stuff, calling it something different and selling it on the one hand or were finding something similar to something someone else had and giving it a similar name to try and hitch a ride. Didn't just happen in spuds either, squashes, peas and beans seem to suffer from it too. Plus you get the same thing sold under different names in different countries, which I guess is the most likely problem with anything where there's a British heirloom and a French one... back in Victorian times the Napoleonic Wars were things your grandparents told you about and the Duke of Wellington was still Commander in Chief until 1852 so the two countries didn't exactly get on even though they'd been on the same side in the Crimea, you woudln't have been doing your marketing any favours trying to sell a optato with a french name in the UK or vice versa....
I'm groing Congo this year (minitubers from Alan Roman) so I'd love a chance to compare against Vitelotte, would be happy to swap a tuber for a Vitelotte if anyone has them ..... I'd then be growing four coloured-flesh potatoes (I've got Salad Blue and Highland Burgundy Red too)
chrisc
I could probably let you have a couple of mine, but they're from the Bull Ring and the person on the stall didn't have a name for them, so I'm not 100% certain. I unearthed a couple of other people who bought black potatoes from shops this year, and they both had them down as Vitelotte.
I f anyone locally is interested, it's the veg stall indoors near the butchers.
Ah Robert!! that link has solved a mystery for me. I have a French black potato variety which I was told was 'Negresse'. Your link says this is an alternative name for Vitelotte. That is the only record of it I have ever seen.
However, I think it is a slight variation. My tubers seem much squarer in shape than Vitelotte. I've got loads to spare if anyone wants any in a swap. They are very good tasting, though slow to mature.
I'd be grateful for some, so I could compare the two. Doubtless there are different strains.
Ian and Robert,
I'd be happy to swap a Congo each for one of each of the Vitelotte and Negresse, can you PM me addresses and I'll get them out. Given that it's known that Congo is a late main I'd suggest we go for pot-growing so as to be able to bring the plants in towards the end of the season. I'm planning on planting out the weekend after Easter (cos it's early this year and I'm away over it)
At the moment it's heading into a toss up as to whether I'm growing more varieties of spuds or squashes :-)... last I looked squashes was still ahead, but spuds are creeping up fast.... four named varieties (even if some of them are similar/same) of blue/black/purple fleshed, a red-fleshed, four first earlies, four second earlies and about a half-dozen mains..... OK some of them will only be one or two tubers as experiments but I'm going to need to start taking notes :D
chrisc
Chris and Robert
Happy to send you some. I'm PMing you both.
I have plenty more if anyone else can tempt me with a swap (not for other potatoes though - I have no space).
Intresting article, thanks for the link.
I grew some 'Vitelotte' last year, in bags, not the largest crop but tasty. the colour is stunning.
The ones in the picture were harvested fairly early hence the size, the other purple/blue potato in the first picture is Blue Danube.
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I've kept a few to grow again this year. Be intrested to know your outcome later on.
Wow nice pictures, amazing colours. ;)