Potato foliage question

[jonahjonah]

Hi all,

I planted a small row of Red Duke of York potatoes. Now that the foliage is showing, I see that a couple have purple in the leaves and the rest are pure, lighter green. Some had more advanced sprouts when they were planted. Is it usual for the foliage to differ?

I'm just curious. As long as there are potatoes under them, I plan to eat them. I searched online, but the results were unrelated.

Thanks!

[Penellype]

Potatoes vary in the colour of the foliage and flowers. Red skinned varieties often have some purple in the leaves and/or stems. I have not grown red Duke of York so I can't give first hand experience of it, but I suspect there is some variation within the variety. Your plants look healthy and that is the main thing.

[Jimny14]

No idea but I'll let you know when mine show if they're purple too. It's the first year I've grown em.

[bikermike]

It doesn't look like a red duke of York to me - did you grow potatoes in the same place last year? I'm getting loads of spuds popping up all over the place in my allotment from the last few years' plantings.

[jonahjonah]

It doesn't look like a red duke of York to me - did you grow potatoes in the same place last year? I'm getting loads of spuds popping up all over the place in my allotment from the last few years' plantings.

I didn't grow potatoes in that same place last year. I planted about eight seed potatoes and they've popped up right where expected. They were from a budget source, though, so I was wondering if they may have been a mixed bag. All red when they went in though!

[Jungle Jane]

I usually grow RDoY the leaves do have a purple tinge,the others look a bit younger maybe they’ll purple up a bit soon,the leaves look really pretty.

BikerMike if you had blight last year on the plot,volunteer potatoes can carry it over to the next year,it’s been a cause in some locations of blight outbursts but they might be alright it’s just a risk,I usually remove any I see plus dig down a bit get the potato out,if you didn’t have blight though they might be alright,it’s funny how potatoes survive under all that winter weather.

[Derbydal]

i'd be thinking about earthing them up ! there's still time to get a hard frost and looking at the clear sky tonight it will be dropping cold later ! and I took my chillis and toms up the allotment today oh dear.
atb Dal.

[Aberdeenplotter]

it's quite normal for spuds to have different foliage and indeed to develop their own characteristics. Indeed Red Doy is a sport of the white variety so even the tubers can change colour. Super spud by the way

[jonahjonah]

I didn't think about earthing up while I was at the allotment and I'm afraid I'm all comfortable at home now...Good luck, Dukes!

I had heard that they were a sport, but I didn't consider it when pondering the foliage. I shall keep my fingers crossed for no frost (or myriad other potential problems) and an interesting harvest

[Jimny14]

Here's a picture of one of my red Duke of York coming through hope this helps

[jonahjonah]

Thanks, Jimny. A couple of mine look like that and a couple are brighter green with no purple. I am hanging on in potato-flavored suspense

[Jimny14]

Yeah I have one that's come through just green too.

[monkeyboy]

I planted my Red Duke of York just over two weeks ago and it's just coming through as purple tinged leaves. It reminded me of this thread so I thought I'd post up:

[WalterWhite]

More than likely the purple leaves is a genetic characteristic. However, purple leaves can be an indicator of phosphorus deficiency. Also, cool temperatures can trigger purple hues in the leaves of some plants.

Anthocyanin is a pigment found in potato varieties with purple skin. Not sure whether they also have purple leaves.

[jonahjonah]

Just an update. I've harvested all of my Red Duke of York (all being a bit grandiose for a rather small, sad harvest). Potatoes just as red from the purple-tinged and bright green plants.