Growing Potatoes

GROW YOUR OWN POTATOES

Nothing beats that freshly dug, earthy taste of your own home grown potatoes! A home-grown and freshly harvested potato tastes very different from one that has been sitting in storage or on a grocery shelf for months.Potatoes are high in vitamin B and C, minerals and fibre. They need a cool climate, and also need to be watched to prevent sunburn. Potatoes can be grown as a winter crop in warmer climate zones.. And with so many varieties there is one to suit everyone.

Planting And Growing

• Rather than using potatoes from the greengrocer, you'll get better results planting seed potatoes from the garden centre, which are certified disease-free.
• Plant seed potatoes (pieces of whole potato or a small whole potato, with at least 2 eyes per piece) 0-2 weeks after last spring frost.
• Seed Potatoes grow well in most soil types but ideally they should be grown in well-drained, loamy soil that is not too heavy. 
• The seed potato needs to be prepared before planting. This takes 4 - 6 weeks. Lay the potatoes out in a single layer in a warm, sunny sheltered pot. The potatoes will turn green and sprouts will appear from the ‘eyes’ of the potatoes.
• These eyes will grow into shoots. When the shoots are 3 - 4cm long, the potatoes are ready to plant. Just prior to planting, remove all but 3 of the thickest and healthiest sprouts.
• Choose a very sunny, sheltered location. The soil needs to be free draining with plenty of compost, peat or well rotted organic material added long before planting. A general fertiliser or potato fertiliser can be applied just prior to planting and mixed well through the soil.
• Plant seed potatoes after frosts have passed in early spring through to early summer. Seed potatoes are planted in furrows (a long narrow trench) about 150mm deep. Plant each seed potato at least 250mm apart from each other. Lay the sprouted seed potato so that the sprouts are pointing up in the furrow then cover with soil, taking care not to damage the shoots.
• As shoots appear above the ground at about 50 - 100mm, begin mounding the soil around the plant. Mounding is essential as it prevents greening of the tubers and protects the tubers from insects. Continue mounding until the potatoes start to flower and growth slows down. 
• Potatoes require regular feeding throughout their growing season – use a potato fertiliser or a good general fertiliser and always water in well. Potatoes aren’t entirely disease and pest free, but with a little bit of attention you can reduce the risk. When watering, water between the mounds, not on the foliage.

Harvesting And Storage

• New potatoes will be ready for harvest after 10 weeks, usually in early July.When the tops of the plants die, mature potatoes are ready to harvest. You should harvest all of your potatoes once the vines die (usually by late August), or the potatoes may rot.
• Use a fork to dig potatoes, taking care not to damage the tubers as damaged tubers will not keep for long. As soon as the potatoes have been dug make sure you brush off any soil clinging to the potatoes and then store them in a sack or paper bag in a cool, dark, well ventilated place. 
• Do not leave potatoes exposed to light after they have been dug. The ideal temperature for storage is 35 to 40°F.

Few Health Benefits Of Potatoes

• Prevent's cardiovascular disease- Potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, protein, calcium, niacin and Vitamins C and B-complex. These properties help fight heart disease and keep blood pressure at normal levels. Potatoes also contain carotenoids, key to heart health and overall health and wellness.
• Advance skin care- Potatoes have all the right stuff to optimize health and wellness. Potatoes contain Vitamins C and B-complex, potassium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus, all excellent vitamins and minerals for your skin. Raw potatoes can be mashed and mixed with honey to make a masque for your skin. Raw potatoes can also be applied to burns and rashes to ease the swelling and pain.
• Increase's brain function- The brain or nerve center of your body relies on several things to function, including balanced glucose levels, oxygen, Vitamin B complex, amino acids, Omega-3 and other fatty acids, among others. Potatoes contain these elements and so much more to keep your brain performing as it should.
• Potatoes may offset incidence of kidney stones- There are an increasing number of studies that indicate that potatoes may have protective health benefits. For example, potatoes are rich sources of magnesium which can offset the accumulation of calcium in the kidney.

Garlic Roasted Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 kg baby or new potatoes
• 10 clv Garlic (crushed)
• 4 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tbsp sea salt

Instructions

• Boil the potatoes until they are cooked. Whilst they are boiling, crush the garlic and put that in a baking tray with the oil and salt. Drain the potatoes and then cut them in half. 
• When they've cooled down, put them in the tray with the other ingredients and mix it all in. Don't be gentle  smash them up a bit because it guarantees crispiness.
• Bake in an oven of around 200 degrees celcius (180 fan assisted) or gas mark 6 for about an hour. If they look like they are browning too much, then turn the oven down. 
• Keep checking on them and turning them, and I like them really crispy and crunchy, so again, it really is down to personal preference.