Potatoes "Black Prince" - a tuber with purple-blue skinned. It contains a large amount of antioxidants. It is not too demanding variety, but it is not suitable for cultivation by industrial enterprises and novice gardeners. The following discussion focuses on the features of its cultivation.
Breeding history
There is no consensus on how the “Black Prince” appeared. According to some information, this dark fruit is the result of the selection of Dutch and Israeli scientists. Others think that such a name is carried at the same time by several different varieties.
It is interesting to read about the beneficial properties of purple potatoes.
But in the State Register "Black Prince" is not included today. This is not a widespread variety - rather exotic among the usual garden crops. His homeland is considered to be South America. 
Description of tubers
Tubers of potatoes "Black Prince" are not quite familiar oval-elongated shape. Their length is no more than 12 cm. As a rule, they are even and neat. The peel is smooth, purple-blue. The eyes on the tubers are present, but they are very small in size. The average weight of the fetus - 150 g.
Inside the potato is beige, a slightly pink shade is visible on the cut. The pulp of moderate density, does not boil soft, in the process of cooking it becomes tender and soft. Tubers do not darken when cleaning.
Important! The level of starch in potato varieties "Black Prince" - 12-16%.
The taste of the potato is bright, balanced, without any hint of wateriness. The fragrance is delicate and subtle. Tubers are suitable for mashed potatoes, frying, stuffing, stewing and roasting.
Characteristic variety
In addition to excellent taste, tubers are quite transportable and can be stored for a long period of time. The variety does not give a huge harvest, but is resistant to a number of diseases, heat and drought. 
Disease resistance
Among the diseases to which the Black Prince has immunity are the following:
- potato cancer;
- golden nematode;
- common scab;
- late blight;
- root rot;
- black leg and other viruses.
Despite this, the plant needs preventive treatments.
Precocity
Variety refers to medium early. Maturing terms - 70-75 days.
Medium early ripening periods are characteristic for the varieties "Adretta", "Sante", "Ilyinsky", "Rodrigo", "Colombo", "Courage".
Yield
Under each bush up to 7 tubers are formed. With 1 square meter of plantings can be collected only 1 kg of crop.
Growing regions
"Black Prince" easily tolerates arid climatic conditions, therefore, suitable for growing in almost any region. He loves sandy soil and responds well to fertilizer. 
Landing rules
Growing this potato variety at home is not so difficult, if you properly prepare the soil and planting material, as well as adhere to the rules of plant care.
Optimal timing
Planting srednerannyh varieties, as a rule, carried out in the second half of April or in the first half of May. But it is better to focus on the temperature of the soil: at the time of planting it should warm up to at least + 7 ° C.
Choosing a place
"Black Prince" prefers sandy soils, but you can plant potatoes on sandy, loamy and other soils. When planting the soil structure should be loose. It is desirable that the groundwater is not located near the root system in order to prevent its rotting. By the way, lighting does not play a special role, as the variety is resistant to drought. But still planting under the trees is undesirable because of their developed root system.
Learn more about the basic properties and composition of the soil, the types and fertility of the soil, fertilizers for different soils.
Good and bad predecessors
Bad precursors for potatoes are:
- tomatoes;
- peppers;
- other solanaceous crops.
The best option - planting after cabbage, cucumbers, pumpkins, legumes and cruciferous crops.
Sowing potatoes in the same place annually can, if previously disinfected, clean the soil - for example, you can sow the land with oats.
Beneficial effect on potatoes and other siderats: sweet clover, lupine, alfalfa, rapeseed, mustard, fatseliya, rye, buckwheat.
Soil preparation
By the autumn, the land needs to be dug up and put in 10 kg of manure per 1 square meter. m and 1 liter of ash. In the spring, you can also fertilize the soil with mineral mixtures, ash or dolomite flour (40 g per 1 sq. M).
Important! Each well during planting must be filled with humus with wood ash to obtain a good harvest.
Preparation of planting material
Planting material should be of high quality: medium-sized potatoes with a smooth, healthy skin. 1 month before planting, the tubers are treated means against pests and diseases, and growth stimulants. Such drugs can be "Corado", "Prestige", "Commander", "Taboo", etc. It is recommended to germinate the tubers in the light or in wet sawdust.
Scheme and depth of landing
When planting potatoes should be considered characteristics of the location of the plantings:
- For loamy and chernozem soil suitable planting in the traditional way - by well. The distance between them should be 30 cm, depth - 10 cm.
- Suitable for sandy soil trench landing method.
- In well-lit areas, plant a crop better with a distance between the bushes of 50 cm, depth - 10 cm.
- Overmoistened soils need ridge method.
How to care
Caring for the "Black Prince" is not much different from any other variety.
Watering
Of course, the Black Prince potato variety needs timely and abundant watering. The best option is drip irrigation with sprinkling.
Learn more about drip irrigation: the advantages of using how to make automatic drip irrigation, drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands.
Top dressing
Potatoes respond positively to fertilization in the soil. During the whole season, feeding is carried out at least two times:
- 14 days after the appearance of the first shoots - liquid cow dung or urea;
- after flowering - with potassium sulfate (1 tbsp per bucket of water) 0.5 l of solution per bush.
If basal dressing is carried out, superphosphate is used. The best time for such manipulation is 10 days before harvesting.
Weeding and loosening the soil
Weeding is carried out as neededto get rid of weedy plants that clog up cultural plantings. Loosening the soil contributes to improved throughput in the access of air and watering - it is especially necessary in drought. A similar procedure can be carried out before the emergence of shoots, without too much delving into it. Next, you need to loosen when a dense earth crust is formed. 
Hilling
Hilling is carried out in order to improve soil aeration and protection from pests. For the first time it becomes necessary when the bush reaches 20 cm in height. Further, as needed, another 1-2 hilings are performed.
Read the rules of hilling potatoes.
Harvesting and storage
Harvest can be already after 2-2.5 months after planting. 7-10 days before it is recommended to remove dried tops. Before placing the potatoes for storage in a specially prepared place it must be dried in the sun for 1-2 hours. The harvest can not be sorted - the tubers, as a rule, about the same size, the "little things" do not happen. Next, the potatoes are laid out in boxes and put them in a dry, dark room. You can sprinkle it with sawdust on top in order to protect it from excessive moisture.
Did you know? Potato berries contain toxin - solanine. It is enough to eat only 3 pieces to get seriously poisoned.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the variety are:
- excellent taste and pleasant delicate aroma;
- the ability for a long time to maintain the presentation;
- universality of use;
- resistance to arid climate and various diseases.
Among deficiencies It is worth noting the low level of yield, the need for regular watering, hilling and fertilizing.
Did you know? The most expensive potato variety is La Bonnotte. 1 kg of such a vegetable will cost you 500 euros.
Reviews of potatoes "Black Prince"
Potatoes "Black Prince" - an unusually beautiful tuber. Blue-violet tubers can be roasted, boiled, baked, etc. It is easy to care for plants, but because of the low yield level, it is recommended to plant them as a supplement to more productive and habitual varieties, a certain "wonder." If you choose the right place and prepare the planting material, and also pay due attention to the care of the culture, you will succeed.
