Potatoes! Mashed, baked, and fried; in yummy potato salads and in many forms and combinations they are one of the world’s staple crops coming in fourth after wheat, maize and rice. Here in Passaic County New Jersey and the rest of Zone 6 potatoes grow very well indeed and yet, they are left out of many gardens, and that is a shame.
Potatoes can be grown from seed, but that is tricky and also from plants which is relatively expensive and usually not as productive as using option three, the seed potato.
Seed potatoes are simply potatoes which have been left to mature beyond the point of palatability and which have begun to develop growths on their “eyes” which will eventually become roots which in turn generate other potatoes. All garden supply stores used to sell these but now in many areas the best way to obtain them is to either order them through the mail or produce your own.
Many seed companies carry seed potatoes but for a relatively large variety - 40 plus as of this season – it might be advisable to check out Grand Teton Organics. They have spuds which many have never seen or heard of plus all-time favorites as well.
Once in possession of the seed potatoes simply cut them in half, allow them to sit in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight until a sort of scab or protective membrane forms over the cut section; this will usually be within 3 to 5 days. Then, plant them in loose soil 4 to 6 inches deep and 15” on center from one another. Plant the potatoes in a spot that receives full sun. Wait for the forest green leaves to emerge on tough little stalks, and you have your potato patch.
Weed the potato patch shallowly, and heap sifted compost as a mulch on the bed. Do not allow the soil to dry out, potatoes need moisture to develop big tubers, as the end product is called.
When all the vines have died down, gently dig or fork the potato bed and pick up every potato that you see. Every tuber larger than postage stamp is usable. Potatoes will store well in a cool but slightly humid environment, that fact makes them a valuable winter food source.
By the way, the 40 varieties of potatoes available from Grand Teton may seem like a lot, but in Peru, long considered to be the home of the cultivated potato, they grow nearly 4000 varieties!
How about that?
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