Growing Potatoes
Learn How to Grow Potatoes
in a Variety of Ways
There is increasing interest world-wide in growing potatoes. As wheat and rice prices increase, the humble potato is being rediscovered as a nutritious crop that has the potential to cheaply feed a hungry world.
In every culture there is increased interest in learning how to grow potatoes
The potato is presently the world's third most-important food crop after wheat and rice. Corn, formerly an important crop for human consumptoin, is now primarily used for animal feed. In places and times when and where most other crops might fail, potatoes may still typically be relied upon to contribute adequately to food supplies.
For anyone who wants to learn how to grow potatoes, check outHow to Grow Potatoes: A Practical Gardening Guide.
Some reasons for growing potatoes:
- Potatoes require very little water
- Potatoes mature in as little as 50 days
- Potato crops produce a yield between two and four times more per hectare than wheat or rice
In recognition that an increasing focus on growing potatoes can be an answer to world hunger, the United Nations named 2008 the International Year of the Potato. They called this tuber a "hidden treasure".
World governments are beginnning to focus more attention on the value of the potato to feed their population.
- Peru's leaders have started a program encouraging bakers to use potato flour to make bread. Potato bread is being given to school children, prisoners and the military, in the hope the trend will catch on.
- India intends to double potato production in the next five to 10 years.
- China, a huge rice consumer that historically has suffered devastating famines, has become the world's top potato grower.
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, potato gowing is expanding more than any other crop at present.
- Belarus leads the world in potato consumption; each resident of this eastern European state eat an average of 376 pounds of potatoes a year.
- Peru is sending thousands of seeds to the Doomsday Vault near the Arctic Circle, contributing to a gene bank for food crops that was set up in case of a global disaster.
In the USA potatoes are often thought of only as a bland "Idaho potato" variety. However potatoes come in at least 5,000 types.
Colors range from creamy-white to bright yellow and deep purple. With countless shapes, textures, and sizes, potatoes offer chefs of the world a chance to constantly create new potato recipes. Their great taste and versatility casue them to be consumed sliced, boiled, or mashed from breakfast through dinner.
How to Grow Potatoes
Types of Potatoes
Seed Potatoes
Planting Potatoes
Harvesting Potatoes
Storing Potatoes
Potato Bugs
Garden Tillers
Share Your Potato Gardening Story and Photos
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