Désirée potato

The Désirée is a red-skinned main crop potato originally bred in the Netherlands in 1962. It has yellow flesh with a distinctive flavour and is a favourite with allotment-holders because of its resistance to drought, although it is not well suited to organic growing. It is a versatile, fairly waxy variety which is firm and holds its shape and useful for all methods of cooking; from roasting to mashing and salads.

Its recent popularity in the UK is attributed to TV chef Delia Smith.

• Habit: Medium height, later spreading
• Foliage: Medium to dark grey-green. Strong purple colour throughout plant.
• Stems numerous, purple.
• Leaf rigid, open, slightly arched.
• Leaflets oval, pointed.
• Secondaries few.
• Buds/Flowers: Buds large, red-purple on hairy stalks. Flowers red-violet fading to white.

References

• Romans, Alan. The Potato Book. London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 0-7112-2479-x. 
• Barker, Alex; Mansfield, Sally. Potatoes. London: Lorenz Books. ISBN 0-7548-1090-9. 
• "British Potato Council". http://www.britishpotatoes.co.uk/desiree/. Retrieved 2007-10-28.