Potatoes
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How to Harvest and Store Potatoes
Harvest potatoes young or mature. Mature, full-size potatoes are called maincrop potatoes. Maincrop potatoes are often cured and stored for later use. Maincrop potatoes are ready for harvest when most of the top foliage has withered Small, round, immature potatoes are often called “new potatoes.” New potatoes are usually eaten skin and all. New or […] More
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in Plant
Growing Organic Potatoes
Potatoes are easy to grow organically. Plant potatoes in spring raised beds or mounded beds after the soil warms and dries out. Plant potatoes where they will grow in full sun. To prepare potato planting beds, remove large stones and then add an inch or two of aged compost and well-rotted manure. Compost will provide […] More
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Potato Growing Quick Tips
Planting: In cold winter regions, plant seed potatoes in spring as soon as the soil can be worked. For a summer crop where the soil temperature does not climb above 85°F (20°C), plant 2-3 weeks before the last frost. For a fall crop, plant in late spring. In mild-winter regions, plant in late winter—4 to […] More
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in Tips
Potato Planting for Potato Cooking
Choose potatoes for planting with cooking in mind. Potatoes for boiling—for making potato salad and home-fry potatoes—should have a low- to medium-starch content. Potatoes for baking should have high-starch content. Low- and medium-starch potatoes keep their shape and remain creamy and toothy when boiled. High-starch potatoes will swell and puff up when baked; they will […] More
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in Recipes, Side Dishes
Cabbage Colcannon
Cabbage colcannon is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with milk, butter, and cooked finely chopped onions and cabbage. Easily you can substitute leeks for the onions and kale for the cabbage. Colcannon is a warming and hearty dish commonly served alongside corned beef, boiled pork, or bacon. The Irish often serve colcannon on […] More
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Ham, Potato, and Cheese Gratin
The ham and cheese and potato gratin is a flavorful and sustaining winter dish. I usually call on this recipe a day or two after a big baked ham dinner by simply reserving 1 or 2 pounds of ¼-inch ham slices. But you can pick up a 1 to 2 pound ham steak at the […] More
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How to Make Seasonal and Flavorful Potato Salad
Potato salad is a summer classic—but it’s also a spring and fall and winter classic. Some like it moist and creamy. Some like it dry and crumbly. Some like it dressed in egg-rich mayonnaise. Some like it dressed in oil and vinegar. Some like it with sweet relish and a dash of sugar. Some like […] More
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in Prepare, Recipes, Side Dishes
How to Cook New Potatoes with No Recipe
New potatoes make for sweet, moist eating. You can serve them steamed, sautéed, boiled, baked, roasted, or grilled. They can be served tossed in butter or olive oil or as a dip with butter or sour cream or horseradish or served as a side dish with chicken, lamb, steaks or burgers, or grilled fish. New […] More
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Grow Potatoes in Trenches, Mulch, or Containers
Potatoes are easy to grow in holes, trenches, under mulch or landscape fabric, or in containers. Grow potatoes in full sun and well-drained soil or mulch. Plant potatoes when the soil temperature is at least 50°F. Potatoes grow best when the air temperature is between 60 and 65°F. Grow potatoes from seed potatoes—small tubers grown […] More
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Potato Growing Tips
Grow potatoes from whole potatoes, small potatoes, or a cut piece of a larger potato. Potatoes grow from the dormant buds–called “eyes”–on the surface of other potatoes. When the buds sprout, they develop into new plants. About two weeks after sprouting, the main stem and first leaves of the new potato plant will appear above ground. Potato Growing Tips: […] More
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Potato Growing Problems: Troubleshooting
Potato growing success can be had with well-drained, deep, sandy loam containing plenty of humus paired with cool, moist conditions. Plant potatoes in early spring after the danger of frost has passed. Use disease-free seed potatoes; cut each potato so that two eyes are on each piece. Even under these ideal growing conditions, potatoes are […] More
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How to Grow Potatoes
Potatoes require a cool but frost-free growing season. Grow potatoes through the summer in cool northern regions. Grow potatoes in fall, winter, and spring in hot summer southern regions. Plant potatoes as early as 4 to 6 weeks before the average last frost in spring or any time after the soil temperature warms to 40°F […] More
Steve Albert