A perennial vegetable that is grown as an annual, the potato is a member of the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomato, pepper, eggplant, petunia and tobacco. [The Solanaceae, or nightshade family contains around 85 genera and 2,300 species, including many important food crops. Characterized by high levels of alkaloids, varying parts of the plants in the Nightshade family can vary from mildly toxic to lethal. Most closely related to eggplant and tomatoes, potatoes are botanically a modified stem, and are produced from the tips of underground stems. They are grown as a cool-season crop.]
Originating from the wild potato in southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia and cultivated by the Inca Indians over 2,000 years ago*, this cool season crop is relatively easy to grow in temperate zones all over the world. [Wild potatoes are still found growing in the Andean Cordillera today. Potatoes were brought to Spain in the mid 1500's, and subsequently spread around Europe, becoming a staple part of the food supply, especially in Ireland. A large portion of the genetic background of the most important contemporary potato varieties came from a Panamanian potato called the "Rough Purple Chili". This variety of potato was brought the US during the 1850s, when many potato fields were succumbing to disease problems. Today, much effort goes into research and development of productive potato varieties, as potatoes are considered one of the most important vegetables in the US economy.]
[As a nutritious staple crop that be stored for months without refrigeration, potatoes are an important food around the world. In addition to storing well, potatoes produce large amounts of food per area, and can produce high yields in even less than optimal conditions. They are an important source of vitamins and nutrients, and even have moderate amounts of protein. Today, more potatoes are eaten than any other vegetable in the world. They are an incredibly adaptable crop, able to thrive in many different climates. While the majority of US grown potatoes were once grown in the Midwest, the majority of potato production in the US has shifted to the Northwest.]
Roasted, baked, mashed, grilled, boiled, steamed, or fried, the potato is as versatile in the kitchen as it is diverse in the garden, with close to 4,000 varieties worldwide. Categorized mainly for its:
1) Culinary features:
•waxy (more moisture and low starch, such as fingerlings, red jacket, new and white round potatoes; used for salads, casseroles)
•starchy (dry, low moisture and low sugar levels, but high in starch, such as Idaho Russet, Russet Burbank; best used when baked, mashed, fried or roasted)
•all-purpose (medium starch, moister than starchy potatoes and hold their shape a bit better, such as Yukon Gold, Purple or White Potatoes)
2) Harvest maturity:
•early-season (60 to 80 days)
•mid-season (80 to 100 days)
•long-season (100 to 130 days)
3) Shape and Flesh Color: long, narrow, round, cylindrical, or fingerlings; and colors in yellow, red, white, blue, russet brown or bluish purple.
Brought to Europe in the 16th century by Spanish explorers, the potato was not readily accepted by the Europeans because it was generally believed to be poisonous and the cause of a variety of diseases. It was during the 18th century, particularly in France, that the potato gained popularity. Queen Marie Antoinette fashioned potato blossoms in her hair, while her husband, King Louis XVI placed potato blossoms in his buttonhole, inspiring the French aristocracy to strut about with potato plants on their clothes. The French court’s trend of potato flowers were part of an attempt to encourage French farmers to plant and eat this new world crop. The famine of 1785 in France, however, ended the potato resistance and quickly became a popular crop of choice. [The exact details regarding the introduction of potatoes into present day United States is unclear, though potatoes may have been consumed here as early at the 1600s.]
French fries were soon invented, spreading to America and Britain. In 1802, Thomas Jefferson had the White House chef prepare “potatoes served in the French manner” for a dinner party. The 20th century saw the potato continue ‘chipping’ into history. In October 1995, the potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space on NASA’s Space Shuttle. From the hills of the Andes to French fashion to sprouting space spuds, the potato is certainly no ‘sofa spud.’ Offering significant health benefits, the potato’s nutritional value protects against heart disease and cancer, with significant sources of vitamin B6, potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, dietary fiber, and pantothenic acid.
[As a long cost, nutrient-dense food able to provide both energy and protein, researchers around the world are reconsidering the ability of the potato to help combat future global food crises and improve health around the world.]
* (some sources say cultivation began anywhere from 2-8,000 yrs ago)
Ann--sweet potato is different--explain.
[Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea babatus) are unrelated to potatoes, and belong to an entirely different family. Sweet potatoes are very sensitive to cold temperatures, and have different climactic and cultivation requirements then Solanum tuberosum. For these reasons, this plant profile will only address species belonging to the Solanum genus. For more information on growing sweet potatoes, see Garden Zeus plant profile on Sweet Potato.]