POTATOES - BAKED, BOILED, MASHED, OR FRIED

February 8, 2011

Potatoes make up one of the main diet components of many cultures.  Here are some fun and sober facts.

1. Potatoes were taken to England by Sir Walter Raleigh, and to Europe about 1533 to 1536.
2. Potatoes were credited with solving the famine issues throughout Europe during the little ice age of 1650 to 1850.
3. The disease Late Blight, Phytopthora infestans, was the cause of the Irish potato famine, which caused the death of over 1 million people and caused more than one million more to immigrate to other countries, many to the US.
4. Which countries produce the most potatoes?  Russia and China both produce 73 million tons of potatoes.
5. How many million tons of potatoes does the USA produce?  19 million tons.
6. People from what country eat the most potatoes per capita?  Belarus at 743 lb per person per year.

Are potatoes healthy?  Very healthy until we eat too many fried or add too much gravy, butter or sour cream.  Below is a list of vitamins found in potatoes.

Nutritional value of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of raw potato with the peel.

•        Energy                          80 kcal   320 kJ

•        Carbohydrates              19 g

•        Starch                          15 g

•        Dietary fiber                 2.2 g  

•        Fat                               0.1 g

•        Protein                         2 g

•        Water                           75 g

•        Thiamin (Vit. B1)          0.08 mg 6%

•        Riboflavin (Vit. B2)       0.03 mg 2%

•        Niacin (Vit. B3)            1.1 mg 7%

•        Vitamin B6                   0.25 mg 19%

•        Vitamin C                     20 mg 33%

•        Calcium                        12 mg 1%

•        Iron                              1.8 mg 14%

•        Magnesium                   23 mg 6%

•        Phosphorus                  57 mg 8%

•        Potassium                     421 mg 9%

•        Sodium                         6 mg 0%

Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults.

It was reported a few years ago that ¼ of all vegetables eaten by children in the USA were eaten in the form of french fries. 

Potatoes are very easy to grow and make a great addition to home gardens.  Potatoes are also highly productive, producing more produce in a small area than most other plants.

In future posts we will discuss ways to grow potatoes and potato varieties.

Happy Gardening,

The Garden Doc