Adirondack Blue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 'Adirondack Blue' |
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| Genus | Solanum |
| Species | Solanum tuberosum |
| Cultivar | 'Atom' |
| Origin | United States, 2003 |
The Adirondack Blue is a really cool type of potato that stands out because of its amazing blue skin and flesh! It even has a slight purple tint. This unique potato was created by potato experts Robert Plaisted, Ken Paddock, and Walter De Jong at Cornell University in 2003.
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Discovering the Adirondack Blue Potato
This potato is part of a group called the 'Adirondack' varieties, which are known for their purple colors. The skin of these potatoes can sometimes look a little bit like a net.
What Makes it Special?
One interesting thing about the Adirondack Blue is that its "tuber dormancy" is short. This means the potato doesn't stay "asleep" for very long before it starts to sprout.
You can use these potatoes to make potato chips, but there's a trick: you can't make chips from them if they've been stored in a cold place. They need to be a bit warmer to make good chips!
Keeping the Potato Healthy
Unlike many other potato types developed at Cornell, the Adirondack Blue can sometimes get sick more easily. It's not very good at fighting off common potato problems like "pink rot," tiny insects called leafhoppers, common potato viruses, the Colorado potato beetle, and other plant diseases like Fusarium. It can also have issues with its "seed pieces" (the parts of the potato planted to grow new ones) decaying.
Where You Might See It
The alumni association (a group of former students) from Penn State even sells potato chips made from the 'Adirondack Blue'. They use these chips to show off their school colors, which are blue and white!
