Tucker Farms, Inc.
Certified Seed and Tablestock Potato Varieties
Adirondack Blue Adirondack Blue, formerly known as S45-5
Parentage: N40-1 (Chieftain x Black Russian) x NY96
Released: 2003
Breeder/Agency: Walter De Jong, Cornell University

In September 2006, Penn State and Utz Quality Foods selected Adirondack Blue for a special production run of Nittany Lion blue and white potato chips for tailgating fans.


Production Characteristics
  • Maturity: Mid-season
  • Yield: Medium, but consistently higher than All Blue
  • Tuber Set: Moderate
  • Specific Gravity: Low (1.061 to 1.067)
  • Diseases: Susceptible to common scab, silver scruf and seed piece decay. Resistant to golden nematode. May be susceptible hollow heart.
  • Storage: Dormancy one week less than Chieftain
  • Market: Specialty tablestock and fresh markets. A good candidate for purple chips, but not directly from 45°F storage.
  • Advantages: Higher overall yield and marketable yield than All Blue. Very attractive tubers without the white vascular ring of some blue varieties.
Physical Characteristics
  • Plant
    • Decumbent to spreading plants with fair canopy
    • Clusters of blossoms are pure-white with yellow anthers
    • Stems (stalks) are mostly green, but with some bluing, especially closest to the leaves
    • Leaves are mostly green, but proximal ends of first and second lateral leaves are blue
  • Tubers
    • Round to oblong, slightly flattened shape
    • Intermediate to shallow eyes, larger tubers may have protruding eyebrows
    • Deep purple, slightly netted to smooth skin
    • Attractive deep purple flesh throughout. "Bright color may scare some consumers, but those who tried it, loved it."
  • Other
    • Typically requires one week longer after vine killing to achieve strong skin set.
Culinary Characteristics
  • Taste: Excellent flavor. A favorite at farmer's market taste test.
  • Texture: Less mealy, slightly moister than All Blue.
  • Uses: Baking, boiling, steaming, mashing, brightly colored salads. Color may leach out during boiling, but not if microwaved, baked, or fried.
  • Other: Very high in antioxidants, especially the skin.