A couple months ago, we found a potato in the bin that had sprouted about a hundred Martian eyes. Ever resourceful, the children said "Let's grow potatoes!" Hm. Well, not having a garden plot - or even an outline (hehe) I said "Sure! Let's do that." So, we lopped off the bottom of the thing, stuck some toothpicks around the perimeter, and rested it on an old plastic coffee container. Filled it up with water and put it near an Eastern exposure window. Lo and behold! This plant took off and is now nearly THREE FEET in height. Just last week, it started to flower. (This is how ignorant of actual potato plants I am ... having had NO idea that the plant flowers in profusion.) Yes, I've read the "Potatoes Are Evil" website - but so long as you don't eat 'em green ... it's one of the best sources of whole nutrition in nature's bounty bag. We love potatoes. Baked, fried, mashed, hashed to brown, chipped, dipped, plain, boiled, cheesed, creamed, just about any way you can imagine.
This potato plant, though, is HUGE. I really need to get it potted outside, because I don't think the roots will actually produce potatoes in its current hydroponic state. Not sure that we're past frost danger yet, so it may need another week. Next indoor potato experiment will be with the also humble sweet potato. I had the pleasure of tasting sweet potato fries not long ago. They were delicious. I've heard they grow a gorgeous vine. Will see what happens.
Humble potato
oh how we love thee,
eyes all staring,
Wonder what you see?
18 comments:
What a beautiful flower it sprouts. I hear that potatoes are fairly easy to grow. Who doesn't love em!!
Who knew? I had no clue they had flowers either Tink. I guess I learned something new today. I agree, potatos do rock. They are actually about the only vegetable I'll eat.
Hi Grace! Hi Rob! Sorry about the spammers. Had to delete some non-comments. Potatoes and Spam. hm.
:o)
Good question, Grace! I'm not sure that I personally know anyone who doesn't like potatoes. Well, one person, but that one doesn't count.
Rob, do you like corn or carrots? The only veggies the kids will eat are corn, peas, carrots. And of course, the 5th food group .. ketchup. :o) I think they go for those sweeter veggies and the starch in 'em. :o)
Thanks for stopping by to see our amazing, growing potato plant!
Yeah...corn is cool, carrots I can do without though. I'm pretty much a meat-eater in the greatest sense of the word. I lie tomatoes but then someone came along and told me they're a fruit. Even the few vegetables I do like are getting taken away. LOL!
Ah... potatoes. This must be the post to balance my evil post of a while back. ;-)
Cute, tink -- I loved your plot pun. And cool you got the thing to grow.
Don't potatoes contain some nicotine? Or is that just eggplants and tomatoes?
Ah, yes, SWEET potatoes. Now there's a potato.
Remember: potatoe?
LOL
(p.s. I've been relatively nightshade-free ever since I wrote my post on that plant family. Has it done me any good yet? Remains to be seen... coz gosh, I do actually love potatoes and tomatoes. Esp. tomatoes. I miss 'em).
Hi again Tink,
Really -- the flower's beautiful. Potatoes are beautiful.
My husband, daughter and I went out to Red Robin for burgers last night and it was crystalized for me just how ubiquitous potatoes, tomatoes and all form of pepper are in our diets. Especially at restaurants. The entire menu consisted of various iterations of burgers ("with fries"), burgers ("with tomato"), banana peppers here, paprika there ... it was hilarious me tryng to locate something nightshade-free on the menu.
Those beautiful steak fries just sat on my plate. Calling me. But I was strong.
One day soon I'll relapse. I'm sure of it.
;-)
P.S. You're right about us not being out of frost danger yet. Our frost-free date is May 15. When's yours?
It's chilly again this weekend!
Don't let Mr. Potato-Head get too much huger till he gets outside.
:-)
oh-oh-oh, completely forgot! Been meaning to ask, tink, have you seen Emma Townshend's new horticultural blog? It's really sweet.
Just google her.
I didn't know they produced flowers, either. Hmmmmm...I really should know that.
And I love potatoes. Mashed, boiled, fried, shredded, baked, stuffed, french fried...you name it!
Potatoes are evil??
I guess I'll have to check it out...
They produce fruits as well, very much like cherry-tomatoes but they cannot be eaten! They contain a lot af solanine and yes, traces of nicotine. But very decorative they are. I have been growing potatoes all my life. Grew up on a small farm you see...
Hi Tink, how are you?
xox
We dig you too!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080415/lf_nm/agflation_potato_dc
Signed,
Tater Man
Tink - I love your analagy of catching a couple in front of the boat. I have done alot of fishing, and big game fishing. Nice. Thanks for checking out the concert photos. I don't know if I am back down to earth yet?!
xo
Hans, are you talking about potatoes (when you said, "they produce fruits .. but cannot be eaten"?)
Which do you think are worse (in terms of solanine) potatoes or tomatoes?
(Sorry for being a downer on your thread, tink. No one feels worse about it than I do. I passed up a lovely potato salad tonight).
Friends and Potatoes! And friends of potatoes. And friends of Dan Quail who was not a fan of good spelling. (heh)
I'm LOVING the comments. Thank you for taking time to stop by the Annie's Humble Potato Plant! I will respond tomorrow ... am running out of time and we have vats of solanine yet to produce! :o) I'll be back soon, promise! Who knew about that Hans??? Potato farmer to Wholigan. An Amazing Underground Journey! ;o)
xo!
Heh...
Lucy, I don´t think tomatoes even produce solanine, I have to look that up :)
I have been eating tomatoes since I was a kid and haven´t got poisoned by solanine yet.
Yes Tink, on our small farm we had one horse, some cows and sheep. We grew potatoes, oats and barley. There were and still are also several acres of woods.
So my background is really small-scale fisherman and farmer :)
Turned into a Wholigan and technology nerd. But never abandoned my agricultural roots!
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