Every time I go on Instagram at the moment, it seems like another celebrity has decided to embrace home-grown potatoes – and you know what, I think they’re onto something, because experts say potatoes are the easiest. vegetables To grow in a small garden.
One I’ve recently seen is actor, podcaster and author Giovanna Fletcher, who professed her love for him in a hilarious Instagram post. Growing potatoes. And we share the joy. Potatoes are low-maintenance, beginner-friendly, and perfect for hundreds of delicious recipes. Once harvested, potatoes are an easy grower that everyone should have on hand.What to plant in April‘ list.
As my favorite vegetable, I’m more than happy to beat the potato drum. But are potatoes going to be the next ‘it’ vegetable? Well, they don’t call potato harvesting ‘digging for gold’…
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Are potatoes on trend?
Giovanna frequently shares updates on her growing garden on social media, and a recent post shows that it’s a work in progress. Chitting its seed potatoes. This is a key step in the growing process, encouraging seed potatoes to germinate early, ensuring strong, healthy growth once planted.
She’s not the only celeb to catch the potato bug. Jeremy Clarkson His diddly squat farm produces huge yields of spuds, and is a staple David Beckhamvegetable garden. Not to mention the viral sensation SpudBrosWho has managed to get the nation psyched on the classic jacket, beans and cheese.
‘Potatoes have become a popular growing choice for celebrities this year, as they are easy to grow even with busy lifestyles. They don’t require much maintenance to achieve a good harvest, and can be grown in bags, pots and small spaces,’ says Richard Barker, horticulturist. LBS Horticulture.
Potatoes are ‘trendy’ due to their versatility and are considered ‘comfort food’ for many people. They are very nutritious and a good source of vitamins and fibre, and growing your own potatoes is seen as a way to be more sustainable and self-sufficient.’
Why are potatoes in trend?
Now, the spuds don’t look as good as they did recently Cabbage trendAnd jacket potatoes aren’t exactly edible, but potatoes are so popular because of their simplicity. They have a delicious flavor, can be cooked in many different ways, are low maintenance and incredibly easy to grow. They are a low-effort vegetable with big rewards.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Guido Meith)
‘Potato is a very easy crop to cultivate. They really only need loose soil, sunlight and regular watering to thrive. It is important to remember that leaves/stems cover the surface while breaking it. Once they flower, you can start harvesting. But it is worth noting that they are better stored in the ground during the hot summer months. So harvest as needed,’ says Jude Allen, head grower at Wild Farms WILD Restaurant.
Plus, you can grow potatoes in containers, making them perfect for small gardens, patio spaces or balconies. Because of this, potatoes are an accessible plant that we can all grow, so it’s easy to see why they’re experiencing a boom in popularity.
‘People often think that potatoes need a lot of space to grow, but they don’t, and they can be a great option for smaller gardens,’ says Richard.
‘This is because they can be grown in containers or bags, and one seed potato can produce up to ten new potatoes, making it a high-yielding crop for the space required. Potatoes also grow upwards rather than outwards, as adding soil as they grow (known as hilling) can increase yields.’
What Potatoes Should You Grow?
If you too have the potato bug, you need to know Where to buy seed potatoes?.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
‘There are about 5000 varieties of potatoes, yet most people only get five or six. This Maris PipersPopularity surged a few years ago after Jamie Oliver recommended them for Christmas dinner roasties, causing a shortage in supermarkets. Personally, I don’t think they are any better than the trusty old all-rounder in this regard King Edward,’ says Jude.
Pink fir apple is a delicious heritage staple crop variety. Its crisp appearance, reminiscent of crisp knick-knacks, means it can be ignored, but its waxy skin and nutty flavor mean it’s worth finding and adding an unhealthy amount of good quality salted butter to it.
‘For those who like chips, Ramos is a high fryer. Their high starchiness allows them to crisp up nicely while remaining fluffy in the middle with a clean, neutral flavor. It is a reliable producer and perfect for chefs looking for consistent quality throughout the year.
‘A brilliant name if you want to go a bit weird Russian bananas There are buttery-tasting finger potatoes. Goes great with horseradish or coriander. Easy to grow with six hours of cool-to-warm sunlight and moderate watering.’
Where to buy potatoes:
I wouldn’t go so far as to say potatoes are a trend. They have always been a popular growing choice for the garden, although *very* popular right now. If you’ve caught the spud bug, why not try growing some of these varieties this spring?
