Crops › Gourmet Potato › Purple Viking
Purple Viking
Gourmet Potato in the US
With its deep purple skin and contrasting pure white flesh, this variety is a real head-turner on the plate. It's versatile for mashing or roasting, adding a touch of drama to any meal.
Sow window for Gourmet Potato generally, zone 6.
Buy Purple Viking seeds
Partner retailers. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission. It never costs you more.
How to grow it
Before planting, I always "chit" my seed potatoes – just let them sprout in a cool, bright spot. Once your last frost date has passed, and the soil is workable, usually from January in Zone 9 right through to May in Zone 3, you can plant them directly. Aim for a spot with rich, loose soil, then dig a trench about 4 inches (10 cm) deep and space your seed potatoes about 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) apart, with rows 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) apart. Cover them gently.
You won't find plug plants for potatoes, you're always starting from seed potatoes. Once the green shoots emerge from the soil, maybe 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) tall, it's time to start "hilling" or "earthing up." You just draw more soil around the stems, leaving about 4 inches (10 cm) of foliage showing. This protects the new tubers from light and helps them form more. You can grow these in large containers or grow bags too, which is handy for smaller spaces.
More Gourmet Potato varieties
Track your Gourmet Potato from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.