How do potatoes grow?
How Potato Grows. The potato ( Solanum tuberosum) is an herbaceous annual that grows up to 100 cm (40 inches) tall. As the potato plant grows, its compound leaves manufacture starch that is transferred to the ends of its underground stems (or stolons). The stems thicken to form a few or as many as 20 tubers close to the soil surface.
What is the chemical composition of a potato?
Identification. By weight, the average russet potato is about 78.3 percent water. After water, starches and sugars compose the bulk of the potato's chemical content at about 18 percent. Non-digestible carbohydrates--or fiber--in the form of cellulose and pectin make up another 0.4 percent of the potato.
What is a potato?
The potato is a starchy tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae.
Where did the first potatoes come from?
The earliest archaeologically verified potato tuber remains have been found at the coastal site of Ancon (central Peru), dating to 2500 BC.
Where do potatoes come from?
The potato is native to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes. It was cultivated in South America by the Incas as early as 1,800 years ago. The Spaniards who colonized South America introduced potatoes into Europe during the second half of the 16th century.
Does a potato grow from a seed?
There are two methods of starting potato plants: from "seed potatoes" or from true seed. Each is explained below. Most potatoes are grown either from pieces of the potato, referred to as "seed pieces," or from whole small potatoes. Be sure to use only "certified seed potatoes" for best result.
Is potato human made?
Potatoes were domesticated there approximately 7,000–10,000 years ago, from a species in the Solanum brevicaule complex. In the Andes region of South America, where the species is indigenous, some close relatives of the potato are cultivated.
Do potatoes grow from the stem?
The part of the plant we call a “potato” grows underground. It grows on a specialized underground stem called a stolon. So, although potatoes grow underground, they are stems, not roots, and are known as “tubers.”
Can I grow potatoes from a potato?
All you need is a sunny space to grow them, a steady supply of water, and seed potatoes (the sprouted portion of a potato that you plant in the ground). So, yes, it's true: you can grow potatoes from potatoes!
What are eyes on a potato?
Instead, they are simply sprouts that can evolve into stems for new plants to grow from. Sprouting is a sign that your potato is ready to grow tubers, which you can then plant separately in the ground. These tubers will generally have 2-10 individual eyes on their surface.
What foods are not man made?
Other natural vegetables include:Amaranth greens, wild arugula.Bell peppers, chayote.Cucumber, dandelion greens.Garbanzo beans.Lettuce (all, except Iceberg)Okra, olives.Squash, turnip greens.Watercress.More items...•
Which vegetables are man made?
Man-Made Vegetable ListCarrots. When you think of carrots, you think of an orange root vegetable with plenty of essential nutrients such as beta carotene or Vitamin A that helps to strengthen your eyesight. ... Cruciferous Vegetables. ... Corn. ... Cucumbers. ... Tomatoes.
Is banana man made?
- Bananas: Believe it or not, bananas are man made. The yellow delight that goes back around 10,000 years was was apparently a blend of the wild Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana species of banana. You can try either of them and you'll find a rather foul taste.
How many potatoes will grow from one potato?
How many potatoes each plant produces depends on how well their growing needs are met, the type of potato you are growing, and the weather conditions in your area. Typically, one potato plant produces 8 to 10 tubers equaling approximately 3 to 5 pounds of potatoes.
What is the life cycle of a potato?
Cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) has a relatively short life span of between 70 and 150 days from planting to maturity. Its developmental stages are often described in terms of tuber sprouting, vegetative development, tuber initiation, tuber bulking, and finally plant senescence.
How did the first potato grow?
The story of potato started around 350 million years ago, when they started to evolve from the poisonous ancestor of the plant nightshade (this family of plants eventually evolved not only into potatoes, but also into tobacco, chili peppers, bell peppers and tomatoes).
Can any potato be a seed potato?
It's very easy to make seed potatoes for the gardening season. Choose your favorite potato variety. You can use any potatoes, from traditional white potatoes to Idaho and Russet. All you need are potatoes with eyes, and you're on your way to growing a great crop of spuds!
Why are potato not grown from seeds?
Potatoes are outbreeders and experience inbreeding depression. As a result, they do not grow true from seed. Every potato plant grown from TPS is genetically different. Varieties can only be maintained by replanting the tubers.
How do you get seeds from potatoes?
1:143:56How to Make Your Own Seed Potato Sets For CHEAP! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo november to january you want to get your potatoes. Ready just stick them in your garage. JustMoreSo november to january you want to get your potatoes. Ready just stick them in your garage. Just anywhere stick them in a cold garage you want to make sure the garage. Does not get above 36 degrees
How do you tell if a potato is a seed potato?
What is the difference? Regular potatoes are typically found at the grocery store and have been grown by large commercial farming operations that often use sprout inhibitors. In contrast, seed potatoes are usually found for sale at garden centers or online and often carry a certified label for growing.
Marketing
Potatoes grown for the fresh market are marketed in the Northeast from mid-July through late September if not stored and from mid-September until mid-May if held in storage. Fresh-market potatoes are sold loose, in containers, and in 3- to 50-pound paper or poly bags.
Planting and Fertilization
Potatoes grow best in deep to moderately deep, loose, well-drained soils. The soil should have a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. The best method to determine lime and fertilizer requirements is by soil testing.
Pest Control
Like nearly all vegetable crops, potatoes require weed, disease, and insect management. By practicing IPM (integrated pest management), growers can greatly reduce their reliance on chemicals.
Harvest and Storage
Depending on the variety grown, potatoes are generally harvested from mid-July through October in the northeastern United States. Potatoes are harvested when they are mature or when the skins are set. In any case, harvest when the air and soil temperatures are above 45°F.
Environmental Impacts
In the normal course of operations, farmers handle pesticides and other chemicals, may have manure to collect and spread, and use equipment to prepare fields and harvest crops. Any of these routine on-farm activities can be a potential source of surface or groundwater pollution.
Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices
Good agricultural practices (GAP) and good handling practices (GHP) are voluntary programs that you may wish to consider for your operation. The idea behind these programs is to ensure a safer food system by reducing the chances for foodborne illnesses resulting from contaminated products reaching consumers.
Risk Management
You should carefully consider how to manage risk on your farm. First, you should insure your facilities and equipment. This may be accomplished by consulting your insurance agent or broker. It is especially important to have adequate levels of property, vehicle, and liability insurance.
Etymology
The English word potato comes from Spanish patata (the name used in Spain). The Royal Spanish Academy says the Spanish word is a hybrid of the Taíno batata (' sweet potato ') and the Quechua papa ('potato'). The name originally referred to the sweet potato although the two plants are not closely related.
Characteristics
Potato plants are herbaceous perennials that grow about 60 cm (24 in) high, depending on variety, with the leaves dying back after flowering, fruiting and tuber formation. They bear white, pink, red, blue, or purple flowers with yellow stamens.
Genetics
There are about 5,000 potato varieties worldwide. Three thousand of them are found in the Andes alone, mainly in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia. They belong to eight or nine species, depending on the taxonomic school.
History
The potato was first domesticated in the region of modern-day southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia by pre-Columbian farmers, around Lake Titicaca. It has since spread around the world and become a staple crop in many countries.
Nutrition
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a typical raw potato is 79% water, 17% carbohydrates (88% is starch ), 2% protein, and contains negligible fat (see table).
Growth and cultivation
Potatoes are generally grown from seed potatoes, tubers specifically grown to be free from disease and to provide consistent and healthy plants. To be disease free, the areas where seed potatoes are grown are selected with care. In the US, this restricts production of seed potatoes to only 15 states out of all 50 states where potatoes are grown.
Uses
Potatoes are prepared in many ways: skin-on or peeled, whole or cut up, with seasonings or without. The only requirement involves cooking to swell the starch granules. Most potato dishes are served hot but some are first cooked, then served cold, notably potato salad and potato chips (crisps).
Identification
By weight, the average russet potato is about 78.3 percent water. After water, starches and sugars compose the bulk of the potato's chemical content at about 18 percent. Non-digestible carbohydrates--or fiber--in the form of cellulose and pectin make up another 0.4 percent of the potato.
Function
Carbohydrates including sugar, starch and plant fiber are what make the potato a particularly good food. Carbohydrates are chemicals made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, which combine to form molecules of various sizes. The complexity of the molecule determines the carbohydrate's function.
Misconceptions
If you shun the potato, fearing that it's full of empty starch calories, you can pick up your fork and dig into a tasty spud once again. A generous helping of potassium--as much as 46 percent of the average adult's daily requirement--is among the chemical constituents of the potato, along with other minerals.
Considerations
The chemical content and nutritional value of a potato changes depending upon how it's stored and how long it's stored. At temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, enzymes break potato starches down into simpler sugar molecules, resulting in a sweet tasting potato.
Warning
Potatoes turn green when exposed to light, due to chlorophyll production. In the potato, the production of chlorophyll also signals the presence of solanine--a toxic chemical common to all potatoes and other members of the nightshade family.
