Growing Potatoes - Benefits and Instructions
Benefits of Growing Potatoes
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Medicinal - Potatoes are one of the most common and important food sources on the planet. They are rich in antioxidants which can help decrease the risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Coloured potatoes have 3-4 times more antioxidants than white varieties. The skins of the potato contain more vitamins than the flesh itself.
- Nutritional Profile - An excellent source of vitamin C, B6 and potassium.
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Use in: Boiled, baked, mashed, fried, stuffed, roasted, soups, stews, salads.
Growing Instructions
Culture:
Harvesting:
Regular potatoes are ready to harvest when the foliage begins to die back. The tops of the plants need to have completely died before you begin harvesting. Dig up a test hill to see how mature the potatoes are. The skins of mature potatoes are thick and firmly attached to the flesh. If the skins are thin and rub off easily, your potatoes are still too new and should be left in the ground for a few more days.
Storage/Preparation:
Allow freshly dug potatoes to sit in a dry, cool, dark place (7 to 15°C) for up to two weeks. This allows their skins to cure, which will help them keep for longer. Potatoes can be stored long term in a root cellar that is damp and dark. Potatoes can be stored in containers of damp sand; alternate layers of sand and potatoes, leaving plenty of room in between for circulation.
Companions:
Beans, peas, onions, garlic, marigolds, celery, corn.