Solanum tuberosum (Phureja Group) 'Mayan Gold'PBR
potato 'Mayan Gold'
A tender, upright, branching perennial maincrop variety with dark green foliage, purple flowers and long, oval tubers with golden yellow skin and a nutty flavour. Good for most cooking methods except boiling when they tend to fall apart. Available to harvest June to August
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy, Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten, except potato crop. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten, except potato crop - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Solanum can be annuals, perennials, evergreen or deciduous shrubs or twining climbers, with simple or pinnnately lobed leaves and star- or bowl-shaped, 5-lobed flowers with prominent stamens, followed by fleshy fruits
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in an open, frost-free site with deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil for high quality and heavy yields. Plants are tall so if possible try to grow on a less exposed site. Improve soil by adding organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, in the autumn. Draw earth up around the stems as they emerge, to exclude light and prevent the potatoes from becoming green. Water well in dry periods. Potatoes can also be grown in large containers or potato gro-bags. See potato cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by chitting tubers or 'seed potatoes'. This is done by standing the tubers 'rose-end' up (the end with the most eyes) in egg boxes or trays in a cool, light place. After two to three weeks the shoots will begin to sprout. Plant out after frosts have passed, from about mid March to mid April
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to cutworms, slugs, wireworms, leaf and bud eelworm and potato cyst eelworm
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), Potato scab, Potato blight, Potato rot, Potato blackleg and stem canker
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.