Potato: The Root Vegetable that could…
- Luanne
- 16 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The potato is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States all the way to southern Chile. Genetic studies show that all cultivated potatoes have a single origin, in the area of present-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia. Potatoes were domesticated there about 7,000–10,000 years ago. A wide variety of potatoes were cultivated in the Andes region of South America, where the species is indigenous. Following centuries of selective breeding, there are now over 5,000 different varieties of potatoes.
The Spanish introduced potatoes to Europe in the second half of the 16th century from the Americas. They are a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply. The potato remains an essential crop in Europe, especially Northern and Eastern Europe, where per capita production is still the highest in the world, while the most rapid expansion in production during the 21st century was in southern and eastern Asia, with China and India leading the world production as of 2023.
In October 1995, the potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space. NASA and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, created the technology with the goal of feeding astronauts on long space voyages, and eventually, feeding future space colonies.
Potatoes are easy to grow; unlike other crops, they do not require large amounts of fertilizer or chemical additives and use less water than other crops. Potatoes are typically grown as annual plants. For example, in the northern US, fields are planted in spring and harvested in fall. The part called a "potato" grows underground. The potato is grown on a specialized underground stem called a stolon. So, although potatoes grow underground, they are stems, not roots, and are known as 'tubers." Potato flowers tell you that the plant is starting to produce these tubers. Flowers on the potato plant bloom towards the end of their growing season. A potato plant can grow up to 24 inches in length, depending on the variety and growing conditions. The plant blooms in different colors, like white, blue, purple, red, and pink. The color of he flower correlates to the type of potato that is growing. Red flowers mean it is a red potato plant.
Marie Antoinette, the wife of Louis XV, made potatoes a fashion statement when she started wearing potato blossoms in her hair.
The most popular ways to prepare potatoes are as follows:
Roasted
Mashed
Baked
Fried
Followed closely by Potato Salad, then the more "healthier" options.
Comments