We love purple majesty potatoes. They’re tasty, more nutritious than regular potatoes, and add lovely color to a dish or plate. Just as orange fruits and vegetables contain ample beta carotene, whenever you see fruits and vegetables with dark blues and purple in them, it means they’re high in anthocyanin antioxidants.

We’re growing purple majesty potatoes in a galvanized metal raised garden bed. However, if you’re growing in the ground or grow bags, growing conditions, amendments and plant requirements will be the same. Just how you do some of it will vary depending on your medium.

How to Grow Purple Majesty Potatoes

1. LOCATION – Choose a sunny, well draining location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
2. SOIL – Prepare the soil with amendments such as compost and aged manure. This will help improve the soil structure and provide essential nutrients for the potato plants.
   • Raised beds & grow bags – Add soil, (see more on filling a raised bed garden and growing potatoes in grow bags).
   • In rows – till the soil to at least 6″ deep; add amendments
3. BUY SEED POTATOES: You can find purple majesty seed potatoes at local nurseries or online, or even your local grocery store, (we typically find them at Whole Foods)
4. PLANT: Plant the seed potatoes in early spring, as soon as the soil temperature reaches around 45°F (7°C).
   • Cut or Whole: You can plant cut pieces or whole seed potatoes:
     • if sliced, make sure each piece contains one or two eyes. Let the cut surface dry for a day or two before planting.
     • if planting whole, it can be planted directly. Some say that potato plants planted from a whole potato will produce more potatoes, so that’s what we did.
   • Planting depth: Plant the seed potatoes 4-6 inches deep in the soil, with the eyes facing upward. Space them 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 3 feet apart.
5. WATER: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply once a week, or more frequently during hot, dry weather.
6. FERTILIZER: Fertilize the plants with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Follow the instructions on the label for application rates.
7. HILLING: As the plants grow, mound soil around the stems to keep the developing tubers covered. This process is called “hilling” and helps prevent sunscald and greening of the potatoes.
8. HARVEST: Purple majesty potatoes take between 70-90 days from planting to harvest, depending on your growing zone. The potatoes will let you know when they’re ready because the plants begin to die back and the foliage turns yellow. Dig carefully to avoid damaging the tubers.
9. CURE: Cure potatoes in a cool, dry place for 2-3 weeks before storing.

Planting Purple Majesty Potatoes in a Raised Garden Bed

Here Coleman shares our first planting of purple potatoes in our galvanized metal raised garden bed.

Where to Buy Purple Majesty Potato Seeds

Rather than creating a list here that may change with availability, your best bet is to just search “purple majesty potatoes” in your browser and the search results for where to buy purple majesty potato seeds will be at the top, so you can choose your favorite source.

You can find an entire list of garden seed companies here.

Purple Majesty Potatoes Benefits

You can find some of the benefits and nutrients of purple potatoes here, which includes proven cardiovascular benefits.