Vitelotte, or black vitelotte, the China truffle

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The purple Vitelotte noire, or black vitelotte, is reputed for its striking violet flesh.

Black vitelotte facts

Name – Solanum tuberosum
Family – Solanaceae or nightshade
Type – vegetable

Height – 1 ½ feet (50 cm)
Exposure – full sun
Soil – rather light, rich and not too damp

Harvest – from June to November.

Not only is the color special – its taste when cooked is different from that of other potatoes!

Planting Vitelotte potato

The Vitelotte potato loves growing in light, well drained and deep soil.

It rots in case of excess moisture and needs sun to develop well.

Planting the black vitelotte potato is easy, especially since it doesn’t depend on the climate zone you live in.

• Wait for mid-March in mild climates and beginning of April everywhere else before starting planting.
• In the south of France or near the Atlantic coast, some can even start mid-February, but it is wise to provide for cover such as cold frames or tunnel greenhouses in case frost spells hit.

How to prepare the soil before the planting

• Your garden earth must be well softened before planting to make the soil as light as you can.
  Till the earth to a depth of around 1 foot (30 cm).
• We recommend planting “certified germinating” tubers from March to June.
• Wait for the tubers to have begun germinating before setting them in place.
• Place the Vitelotte tuber vertically, ensuring that the sprout faces upward.
• Space tubers around 1 1/3rd feet (30 to 40 cm) apart, and bury them at a depth of 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm).
• At planting time, after having dug your rows to a depth of 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm), place your tubers and cover them with the finest possible earth.
• If you’re planting several rows, space each row around 2 to 2½ feet (60 to 70 cm)apart.

Caring for and growing black vitelotte potatoes

Ridging your vitelotte

• When all plants reach a height anywhere from 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm), ridge their base with light soil.

Ridging means to build up a small mound at the base of the potato plant stems in order to secure the plant to the soil, protect it from wind, and let it grow at its best.

Watering your vitelotte

• Water every evening when it is hot and you see the leaves wilting.

In order to remove any risk of the ground being too dry, it is recommended to mulch the base of the potato stems.

Harvesting black vitelotte

The harvest is best towards the end of summer, once the foliage has dried off and died somewhat.

• It is indeed useless to harvest potatoes before the foliage turns completely yellow.
• This phase of yellowing is key to signaling that harvesting is imminent.
• But it also signals that there should be no further delay because a completely desiccated foliage means that you have waited too long.
• Dig the tubers out carefully so that you don’t wound them.

Preserving vitelotte noire

Once harvested, keep your Vitelottes in the dark in a cool, dry and ventilated place.

Check over the tubers from time to time and twist buds off during the entire keeping.

Insects and diseases that attack the Vitelotte potato

• Aphids – leaves lose their original color and roll themselves into cylinders.
• Blight – Leaves are covered in white felt and wither away.
• Colorado potato beetle – Leaves are covered in white felt and wither away.
• Rhizoctonia solani
• Bacterial rot
• Read all the tips on growing potato

All there is to know about the black vitelotte

The black vitelotte is also called the Chinese truffle for its distinctive black color.

These days it isn’t grown as widely as it once was, but this heirloom variety is nonetheless making a comeback both for its unique color and for its appealing taste.

The Vitelotte potato is said to be an amazing antioxidant.