When a friend first offered me some some Blue mollies – I replied “NO Thanks – I don’t get high” at which point he showed me some of the seed potatoes he had. Funny looking taters they certainly were. I grew them that year and was disappointed with the yield but was impressed by the … Read more
Cutting into your potato and finding dark-colored areas inside of it can be a cause for alarm. People get food poisoning all the time, and it’s much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health. These black areas in the potato can cause you to question if you should throw away … Read more
Some folks will eat so many french fries and potato chips that they may feel like they’re chitting potatoes, but this type of chitting is not spelled with a C. Potato chitting is a task that some home growers engage in on an annual basis. It is sometimes called greensprouting, or pre-sprouting Chitting gives you … Read more
Buying and saving supermarket potatoes to plant in your garden used to work, that was before they began treating them with growth inhibitors which prevent sprouting and extend marketability of potatoes. The growth inhibitor stops the formation of ‘eyes’ or sprouts on potatoes and makes them nonviable for planting – they won’t produce new plants. … Read more
Jumbo: 3.5 inch diameter potato or larger Premium: 2.5 to 3.5 inch diameter. A-size: Most Standard potatoes average 2.5 inches in diameter. B-size: 1.5 to 2.5 diameter range. Commonly call ‘new’ potatoes C-size: Less than 1,5 inch diameter. The smallest potatoes available.
Kennebec potatoes are hybrids developed by the USDA in the 1940s. They are named for the Kennebec River in Maine. They are most commonly used for french fries and potato chips commercially, but are suitable for any common culinary endeavors one would normally indulge in with a spud. Its flesh is a standard white. The … Read more
Russet Burbank is an heirloom that can be traced back to 1914. It is a large, vigorously spreading indeterminate with a fairly late maturation date.It Stores very well for extended periods and is resistant to common scab. It requires up to 90 days to mature fully and produces a hefty above average yield. It produces … Read more
When potatoes are exposed to light their skins turn slightly green , this is caused by a toxic glycoalkaloid called solanine. Solanine develops if potatoes aren’t fully covered by soil while growing, or if you leave them in the sun too long after the harvest, or aren’t stored in complete darkness. Because solanine is slightly … Read more
Tomato Like Fruit on Potato Plants At times potato plants will produce a fruit on the above ground plant. These ‘fruits’ are similar to tomatoes in appearance which is not surprising as Potato and Tomato plants are close relatives. More commonly the plant produces only a blossom which although it is white or lavender otherwise … Read more
Potato gardening can be rewarding and successful. Plant potatoes in early spring after the final frost date has passed. Using disease-free seed potatoes will eliminate many potential problems. Even when you have done everything by the book, as in life , gardening still throws obstacles in your path. The following is a compendium of common … Read more