Potatoes are one of the most versatile and beloved vegetables in the world. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, planting potatoes can be a rewarding experience. With countless varieties available, knowing which ones are best suited for your growing conditions, cooking preferences, and harvest expectations is essential.
Here’s a guide to 31 potato varieties that you can plant this year to ensure a bountiful harvest:
1. Russet Burbank
Arguably the most popular potato variety, Russet Burbanks are perfect for baking, mashing, and frying. Known for their high starch content, they produce large, rough-skinned tubers that have a fluffy texture when cooked.
2. Yukon Gold
This creamy, golden potato is famous for its rich flavor and versatility. It works great for roasting, mashing, and even making potato salad. Yukon Gold potatoes have a waxy texture, which makes them ideal for boiling and steaming.
3. Red Bliss
With smooth, red skin and white flesh, Red Bliss potatoes are perfect for boiling and making potato salads. Their firm texture holds up well during cooking, and they also make excellent roasted potatoes.
4. Fingerling Potatoes
These small, finger-shaped potatoes are rich in flavor and come in various colors, including yellow, red, and purple. Fingerlings are excellent for roasting or adding to salads due to their waxy texture.
5. Purple Majesty
As the name suggests, these potatoes have a vibrant purple skin and flesh. They are rich in antioxidants and have a slightly nutty flavor, making them an attractive and healthy addition to your garden.
6. Kennebec
Kennebec potatoes are large, with white flesh and smooth skin. They are perfect for making French fries and chips due to their excellent frying quality. These potatoes are high in starch and produce a light, fluffy texture when mashed.
7. Chieftain
Chieftain potatoes have smooth, red skin and white flesh. They are ideal for boiling, mashing, and roasting. Their creamy texture makes them perfect for mashed potatoes and soups.
8. New Potatoes
New potatoes are harvested early in the season when the tubers are still small and tender. These potatoes are perfect for boiling, roasting, or adding to salads due to their delicate texture.
9. Blue Belle
Blue Belle potatoes have a striking blue-purple skin and flesh, offering a beautiful and flavorful addition to any dish. They are great for boiling, baking, or mashing.
10. Caribe
Caribe potatoes are a smooth, dark purple variety that is ideal for baking, mashing, and roasting. They are known for their creamy texture and vibrant color, which adds a beautiful touch to any dish.
11. Maris Piper
Popular in the UK, Maris Piper potatoes are often regarded as the best variety for making crispy fries and roast potatoes. Their fluffy texture makes them a favorite among chefs.
12. Charlotte
Charlotte potatoes are small, waxy potatoes with smooth, yellow skin. Their firm texture makes them ideal for boiling and using in salads.
13. Red Pontiac
Red Pontiac potatoes are another red-skinned variety with white flesh. These potatoes are best suited for boiling, roasting, or making mashed potatoes.
14. Adirondack Blue
These striking blue potatoes have a slightly sweet flavor and are rich in antioxidants. Adirondack Blue potatoes can be used in any dish, from baking to mashing.
15. Bintje
Bintje potatoes are a Dutch variety that is well-loved for its smooth texture and versatility. They are great for making fries, chips, and mashed potatoes.
16. King Edward
King Edward potatoes are often used for roasting and baking due to their light, fluffy texture. They have a mild flavor that complements many dishes.
17. Norland
Norland potatoes are early-season potatoes that produce round, smooth tubers with red skin and white flesh. They are perfect for boiling, mashing, and salads.
18. Desiree
Desiree potatoes are oval-shaped, with red skin and yellow flesh. They have a waxy texture that makes them great for boiling, steaming, and adding to salads.
19. Purple Viking
Purple Viking potatoes have a beautiful purple-and-white marbled skin and white flesh. They are perfect for roasting, boiling, or making mashed potatoes.
20. All Blue
These small potatoes have deep blue skin and flesh, making them an eye-catching addition to your garden. They are perfect for roasting, mashing, or adding to salads.
21. Viking Purple
With a rich purple color, Viking Purple potatoes have a slightly nutty flavor and are perfect for roasting or making potato salad. They’re known for their high antioxidant content.
22. Irish Cobbler
Irish Cobbler potatoes have yellowish skin and white flesh. They are a versatile, all-purpose potato variety that’s perfect for boiling, mashing, and roasting.
23. Rose Finn Apple
These fingerling potatoes have pinkish skin and yellow flesh. They are excellent for roasting or boiling, and their waxy texture makes them perfect for salads.
24. Austrian Crescent
Austrian Crescent potatoes are long, waxy potatoes with yellow flesh. They have a slightly sweet flavor and are great for roasting or boiling.
25. Ratte
Ratte potatoes are small, French fingerlings with a buttery, nutty flavor. These potatoes are ideal for roasting, steaming, or using in gourmet potato dishes.
26. Jersey Royal
This British variety is grown on the island of Jersey. These small, waxy potatoes have a distinctive, nutty flavor. They are perfect for boiling or roasting.
27. Russet Norkotah
A smoother, earlier-maturing version of the classic Russet, Russet Norkotah potatoes have a similar texture and flavor and are ideal for baking or mashing.
28. Teewee
Teewee potatoes are a small, red-skinned variety with firm, waxy flesh. These are perfect for salads, roasting, or boiling.
29. La Ratte
La Ratte potatoes have a rich, nutty flavor and are often used in French cuisine. These fingerling potatoes are perfect for roasting, baking, or adding to gourmet dishes.
30. Satina
Satina potatoes have smooth yellow skin and waxy flesh. They are ideal for boiling, mashing, and making potato salad.
31. Belle de Fontenay
This French variety has smooth, red skin and a waxy texture. Belle de Fontenay potatoes are perfect for boiling or steaming, making them a great choice for salads.
Conclusion
No matter your preferences or gardening space, there’s a potato variety that will suit your needs. From the classic Russet to the vibrant Blue Belle, these 31 potato varieties offer a wide range of flavors, textures, and colors. Whether you’re growing them in your backyard or a container garden, planting these potatoes will ensure a delicious and varied harvest.
Planting Tips for Success:
- Soil: Potatoes prefer loose, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Water regularly to encourage strong tuber growth.
- Harvesting: Most potato varieties are ready to harvest 70 to 120 days after planting, depending on the variety.
Happy planting, and enjoy your potato harvest!