Despite the name, Salad Blue potatoes are not great for salads as they’re a tad on the floury side and crumble when boiled. However, they do make great chips and mash. And blue ones at that! Bred by the Victorians in Scotland in the early 1900’s, they could be seen, as they were then, as a novelty potato. But the blue colouring is said to contain all-important antioxidants, so surely, this is a super veg!
We’re going to have a go at growing these tubers in growbags for our veg growing project this year and if I can find a spare patch of grass, I’ll continue my ‘no dig’ experiments too.
It’s still bitter outside, so I’ll chit these tubers in a cool and bright room until milder temperatures return. And planted at the end of March or the beginning of April, these groovy spuds should be ready (weather permitting) to harvest in August and September.
Salad Blue seed potatoes can be bought from Carroll’s Heritage Potatoes and Pennard Plants.
Out of my shed 
Often wondered about having a go at these, but my early potato obsessed co-grower is quietly conservative about such things. I will be interested to see their progress. I have many egg boxes full of chitting early and second earlies; prob fav Lady Christl. This year’s experiment is BF15
Hi ALW, I sort of agree with your co-grower about not growing main crop varieties (as I don’t have much spare space), but last year digging up different varieties of heritage coloured potatoes was just so enjoyable that I’ve broken all my own rules. Plus I love Pink Fir apples for Salads in September. Hope BF15 is a tasty crop (although prefer its forerunner’s name, Belle De Fontenay!)
Such a wonderful colour, another variety that I would like to try!
Hi Karen, Yes, they are a great colour. I really do enjoy heritage potatoes as they’re so exciting to dig up and really fun to cook with.
Blue chips ! Well I never – what will they think of next ?
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Des, You sound like someone from the fifties! These spuds have around been for over a century and I look forward to cooking you up some blue chips and mash!
They truly are groovy! I reckon my 5 year old daughter, a fan of purple beans and peas, would love these.
Hi Andrea, I think your daughter will love these too. Who could resist!
Ah brilliant- will be able to compare notes with you- ive got 3 new types of potato to try this year each with a different colour: Vitelotte (which is Blue), Purple Majesty (Purple) and Highland Burgundy Red (red obviously!). Will see which one performs the best this year! See you tomorrow!
Hi Owen, Would love to compare our heritage varieties. I also bought Arran Victory again. It has purple skin, but a white interior and made the most delicious roast potatoes last year. See you later!!
Wow, those blue potatoes are amazing! I’ve read through all your linked posts too and am amazed at the success you’ve had with no dig! I do a bit of no digging here and there and just yesterday while weeding I was wondering how you would plant potatoes with a no dig method…and now I know! I’m so intrigued. I just love growing spuds more than anything. Digging up the first few is like digging for gold. Blue gold in your case! Really enjoyable and interesting post. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Anna, Just wish I had more space for growing more potatoes and I can’t recommend ‘no dig’ highly enough. It just makes potato growing so easy (and rewarding!) and I had no rotten tubers in cold wet clay soil, and no blight either.Win, win, win!!
Now those are amazing – I’ve grown a blue-skinned spud before (very difficult to distinguish from stones when digging up), but not been brave enough to go for blue flesh. I must admit I’m still not sure, but I’d love to experiment….
Hi Kate, I’m not really into novelty veg, but these potatoes do taste as good as they look! Worth trying out once I reckon……..
‘Vitelotte’ is a good, blue salad potato with the flavour and shape of ‘Pink Fir Apple’. Unlike most blue potatoes, it retains its colour when boiled. Thompson & Morgan supplies it as mini tubers – sweet little things the size of quail eggs.
Hi Dixter Babe, Vitelotte sounds intriguing and now on the list for next year. Think Owen (above) is growing it too so will be good to hear how they grow from both of you.Just wish I had more space for more potatoes!
They look fantastic! I’m growing some purple carrots this year but was firmly told to stick to British Queens and Kerr Pinks on the potato front. Nothing wrong with them but I would like to experiment like you have. Maybe next year!
Hi Hannah, I see your potato guru likes a floury spud! I was looking for a very floury seed potato at the recent potato day at the Garden Museum and was advised that Witchill, an 1881 Heritage variety, was a good one to try too.
Thanks, I’ll tentatively suggest it to the boss woman!
Very nice!! I’ve got soft spot for potatoes, mashed, baked, or fried. I would love to see these on my plate, they’re such a pretty colour!
Hi Adele, there’s so many great modern and heritage potatoes to choose from when your planning what you’re going to enjoy eating! Hope you find the potato of your culinary dreams!
Purple hash browns…might go well with green eggs and ham 🙂
Indeed it might!
Gosh they could have fun on Master Chef with those beauties. I can imagine a bright orange scallop or a strip of pink salmon sitting on a bed of purple mash.
Hi Sue, What with these potatoes and the rainbow carrots we’re growing this year, the gourmands in our street should be delighted!
Wasn’t there a fantastic range to choose from! Like Owen, above, I also resisted these in favour of Vitelotte as I’ve grown Blue Danube in the past, another purple-skinned potato that practically dissolved on cooking. I’m pleased to read that you found Arran Victory tasty as that’s another of my choices. But the one I’m really excited about growing is Cherie, a rose pink salad potato … We’ll have to compare notes later in the year!
Look forward to comparing potatoes later in the year Caro. Still hardly feels warm enough to get planting though!
What a great looking Potatoe! Had a great sweet potato season last year and am hoping to have another. Might have to try these but not sure if they grow in Zone 5 climate. Thanks for your post lots of good info on your site!
Rodney
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Hi Rodney, Not sure when it’s safe to start planting in zone 5. Some years I would have planted my potatoes by now, but it’s snowing in London today, so holding off for another couple of weeks. Where’s spring? Should be here by now! This is a late season potato, so will need a fairly long growing season. First or second earlies might be better if your growing season is shorter….Sweet potatoes sound great!
I have grown these for six years now, from a single potato kept back each year and just left in the veg compartment of the fridge until eyes start in early/middle March. Chit and cut up into chunks each with a shoot. I dust with sulphur and plant in clean, new soil/compost. They grow vigourously and flower June. Prone to none-spoiling scab if grown in same place for the next year…and you need a good clean’un for next year’s crop.
Boil, mash and freeze if over cropped. Excellent chips if twice cooked from cold oil start. Best way.
Oiginally bought from House of Bruar in the orders. What a good buy.
Oh, though they are iodine purple when raw, they go sky blue once cooked.
Tom Kirby
Are these the same “salad blue” potatoes grown by rebsie fairholm of england that has white flowers with dark brown anthers?
Hi Keen 101, No, I think I bought these from Carroll’s Heritage Potatoes(as above in my post), although have just looked at Rebsie’s blog and I love all the experimentation she does with potatoes and tomatoes.