Best potato picks
Kevin Twomey of T & T Seeds recommendations
You can give your seed potatoes an early start by allowing them to sprout in a well lit room at least three weeks before planting.
toes are related to tomatoes; they are sensitive to inconsistent watering.) Over or under-watering can result in knobby, ill-shapen spuds. Water deeply. According to the National Gardening Association, “Potatoes get 57 percent of their water from the top foot of soil, 24 percent from the second foot of soil and as much as 13 percent from the third foot of soil.” Hilling. Some gardeners recom-
mend waiting until the potatoes have begun to bloom before hill- ing. Vesey’s Seeds suggests hilling when the plants are a foot tall. Hill- ing simply means piling six to eight inches of earth (or another mulch) up the stem to ensure that no light reach- es to the tubers which will begin to grow from stolons reaching out from lower leaf axils. Sunlight will cause greening and the consequent produc- tion of toxic substances in your pota- toes. Hill periodically as the potatoes grow. Harvesting. You can begin to
harvest new potatoes in about 10 weeks from planting, gener- ally in early- to mid-July. Simply dig down into the hill with your hands. Harvesting mature potatoes for stor- age should be left until late August and is usually aided by use of a potato fork to avoid damaging or bruising your crop. In colder areas, plants will die back after a first light frost, indi- cating it’s time for harvest. Curing. Before storing the pota-
toes, allow them to cure (toughen the skins) by letting them dry in a shady area for a few hours. Do not wash before storing – simply brush off any excess soil. Washing reduces their storage life. Wash just before cooking. Storing. Potatoes should be stored
in a cool dark place, ideally at about 10 degrees C. Do not store below four degrees C as this promotes the production of harmful acrylamides, chemical compounds which are considered carcinogenic and toxic. k
www.localgardener.net
Dark Red Norland is the best early potato. Plant it every two weeks for season-long baby
potatoes. Mature potatoes store very well.
Purple Caribe, a purple-
skinned potato makes the best mashed potatoes.
Alta Blush is a new variety with a really creamy flavor and
texture. They are ideal for mash- ing or boiling.
Yukon Gold is still a favourite. It has firm yellow flesh, perfect for baking or using in potato salads.
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Linzer Deleketess is the best early fingerling type. It has very
good flavour and it holds up well for boiling or salads.
Winter 2014 • 25
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