Tranquility Potato

Selected seedling from an heirloom blue potato known for high yields and great flavor.

This selection has outyielded all the other diploid potatoes that I have produced at my farm and has been consistently productive despite being a short season potato with medium to large tubers up to one pound each. The bright lavender color and dense white flesh are a standout in both looks and taste. Early ripening: after 70 days, the crop is ready to harvest with most of the vines decayed in mid August here at my farm from tubers planted in May in southwestern Michigan. This early ripening is an adjunct to its growth habit and ability to produce in less than favorable conditions.

The thick almost square stems produce a fan shaped foliage that is both vigorous and sturdy and so far has been immune to the normal virus overload common with potatoes that you can never get rid of unless you do tissue culture.  After five years of testing the yields have not dropped and the size of the potato itself has remained uniform. The foliage dies down by early to mid August upon which you can harvest at that time. Because of the dense white flesh, it holds up either boiling, frying or baking. Many of my unwitting test subjects upon which I forced upon them my Tranquility tubers said they were their favorite potato.  The creaminess of the flesh is a plus for many who like a smooth textured spud.  Comparing potato flavor is tricky because who says one tastes better than the other? The texture combined with the flavor makes Tranquility a standout at least at my farm. Only time will tell after I have run out of family and friends to taste test. 

Hopefully other companies or individuals will produce Tranquility for the potato farms in the Midwest and Northeastern U.S. Some are heading off to Seed Savers Exchange. If you need help with images, please contact me on the front of the web. As an early potato with heavy yields and large tubers, this variety is a stand out in color, form, texture and taste. 

Tranquility has overwintered several times in the past and not frozen to mush. I have not tested this further as far as perennializing it. But it does not produce berries to continue the line from the original Blue Heirloom.