The wonderful Potato
We cannot live without it.
Wikipedia says:
Potato (informally tattie, tater, spud, tato, pota, spudzie or tate) is the term which applies either to the starchy, tuberous root vegetable crop from the various subspecies of the perennial plant Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, or to the plant itself. In the region of the Andes, the word is also used to refer to other closely-related species of the genus Solanum. Potato is the world's most widely grown tuber crop, and the fourth largest food crop in terms of fresh produce - after rice, wheat, and maize (corn).
2008 - the international Year of the Potato
UN
Food prices are soaring worldwide, driven by fierce competition for reduced international supplies of wheat, maize and rice, and other agricultural commodities. As concern grows over the risk of food shortages and instability in dozens of low-income countries, global attention is turning to an age-old crop that could help ease the strain of food price inflation.The potato is already an integral part of the global food system. It is the world's number one non-grain food commodity, with production reaching a record 320 million tonnes in 2007. Potato consumption is expanding strongly in developing countries, which now account for more than half of the global harvest and where the potato's ease of cultivation and high energy content have made it a valuable cash crop for millions of farmers.
At the same time, the potato - unlike major cereals - is not a globally traded commodity. Only a fraction of total production enters foreign trade, and potato prices are determined usually by local production costs, not the vagaries of international markets. It is, therefore, a highly recommended food security crop that can help low-income farmers and vulnerable consumers ride out current turmoil in world food supply and demand.
In Peru, for example, the government has acted to reduce costly wheat imports by encouraging people to eat bread that includes potato flour. In China, the world's biggest potato producer, agriculture experts have proposed that potato become the major food crop on much of the country's arable land. India has plans to double its potato production.
Food of the future. The International Year of the Potato is raising awareness of the key role played by the "humble tuber" in agriculture, the economy and world food security. But it also has a very practical aim: to promote development of sustainable potato-based systems that enhance the well-being of producers and consumers and help realize the potato's full potential as a "food of the future".
Over the next two decades, the world's population is expected to grow on average by more than 100 million people a year. More than 95 percent of that increase will occur in the developing countries, where pressure on land and water is already intense. A key challenge facing the international community is, therefore, to ensure food security for present and future generations, while protecting the natural resource base on which we all depend. The potato will be an important part of efforts to meet those challenges...www.potato2008.org/
UN-backed potato conference
UN - 2008 is the international year of the Potato
- 2008 UN potato year
- Read here why the potato is so important to humankind.
Don´t eat the flowers or their fruits
they have poison
When the potato was introduced in Sweden people got sick and died at first. It turned out that they did not understand that the food was under in the soil. They had ate the little green fruits that were growing like green tomatoes on the top. Both the flowers and the fruit are dangerous to eat.Eat the spuds!
The useful Potato
Facts about the potato
Potatoes
Potatoes Dir: Matt Smith / UK / 2002 A documentary showcasing the origins of this staple food which has enlightened millions of viewers at many top international film festivals. http://www.rubberductions.com/
Runtime: 2:04
18065 views
10 Comments:
Recipes
Many lovely dishes made of potatoes.
Give it a try! Raggmunk is Swedish
Foil boiled small spuds
Ingrediences:600 600 g spuds
50g butter
1 lemon
2 cloves of garlic
1 dl chopped parcley
1 tsk salt
Foil paper
Fold the spuds and put them on the Grill. They will be ready quite quickly. About 10-15 minutes.
Enough for 5-6 persons
Potato Cook books
Potatoes
Potatoes delights the eyes and the taste buds. Fifty recipes, literally from all over the world, use the good old spud to liven up even the simplest of meals.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $18.60
Used Price:
Yummy Potatoes: 65 Downright Delicious Recipes
Baked, mashed, boiled, or fried, potatoes are always yummy. In this collection of recipes dedicated to the humble spud, 65 mouthwatering dishes range from classic gratins to pan-fried potato cakes to hearty stews.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $14.21 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $18.95
Used Price: $7.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
The Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes Cookbook
Eating vegetarian does not mean giving up hearty, filling, and, most importantly, deliciously satisfying food. Vegetarian cuisine is not often associated with indulgence, but in this book food writer, chef, and cooking instructor Robin Robertson provides recipes for hearty, soul-satisfying--yet surprisingly elegant--dishes that will entice vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $14.25 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $20.95
Used Price: $7.50
Usually ships in 24 hours
Passion for Potatoes
The humble and nutritious potato does deserve a volume all its own, and this one demonstrates the author's skill and sophisticated taste. Entire chapters are dedicated to classic potato dishes--there's one on potato salads (which includes an unusual barbecued version as well as the more familiar American variety).
Release Date: 02/12/1992
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $16.95
Used Price: $0.01
Usually ships in 24 hours
You might need these for your cooking potatoes
Raggmunk
Ingrediences:1 kilo hard kind of potato, grated.
1 small pealed onion, chopped
100 gram spicy cheeze grated
2 eggs
1 ts flower
salt
butter
Mix all the grated and chopped ingrediences. Fry flat cakes in a frying pan.
Serve with freshly fried bacon
Baked Potato
A whole meal in itself
When you put a big potato in the owen it will take half an hour for it so get cooked. Some say that you can cover a bowl of small potatoes with plastic film and cook it in the micro but the result you get from an ordinary foil-covered baked potato is richer.You take it out, squeeze it gently and put some butter or any sauce you like and ENJOY your meal.
How to make mashed potatoes
Potato links
- Washington State Potato Commission and many more recipes
- Read the whole recipe for mashed potatoes:
8 lbs. Washington Russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 cup milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup (2 oz) butter or margarine
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper - How to make potato pancakes
- Treat Your Potatoes Right
For best results, use russet potatoes. This variety is high in starch, and the starch is necessary to form pancakes that don't fall apart. Most people choose to peel the potatoes before making latkes, but this is entirely a matter of taste. If you do peel them, put the potatoes in water between peeling and shredding to prevent them from oxidizing and discoloring. - The history of Potatoes
- "O Creator! Thou who givest life to all things and hast made men that they may live, and multiply. Multiply also the fruits of the earth, the potatoes and other food that thou hast made, that men may not suffer from hunger and misery."
- 4 661 recipes for Potato!
- Grilled Potatoes or Roasted Potatoes on the Grill and many many more really good recipes!
- Wonderful site about different Potatoes
- Potatoes: Flowers, Varieties, Qualities
(and how to cook them... )
How to grow your own potatoes
Have you ever munched down on a fresh, home grown potato?
There is a good reason why potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in the home garden. They're easy to grow, and they taste better!
Potatoes
Potato eyes - dont hurt them
If you want to grow potatoes
These little growing "eyes" on the potato is the beginning of a new potato plant. Dont hurt these if you want to grow potato.In fact - you dont even need to put the whole potato in the ground. As long as a piece of a potato has one eye - it is enough. So you can cut up a potato with eyes in more little new plants to be. Good huh!
Potatoes in the Home Garden
A week or two before your planned potato planting date, set your seed potatoes somewhere where they will be exposed to some warmth (between 60 and 70 degrees F.) and lots of light. This will induce them to begin sprouting. (see this picture)A day or two before planting, use a sharp, clean knife to slice the larger seed potatoes into "seeds". Each seed should be approximately 1 1/2-2inches square, and must contain at least 1 or 2 "eyes" or buds. Smaller potatoes may be planted whole. In the next day or so, your seed will form a thick callous over the cuts, which will help to prevent it from rotting once planted.
Traditionally potatoes are grown in rows. The potato seeds are planted every 15 in., with the rows spaced 2 1/2 to 3 ft. apart.
If space is limited or if you would only like to grow a small crop of potatoes, you may prefer to plant one or two potato mounds. Each 3-4 foot diameter mound can support 6 to 8 potato plants.
With either method, the first step is to cultivate and turn the soil one last time before planting, removing any weeds, rocks or debris. This will loosen the soil and allow the plants to become established more quickly. Your potato plants will benefit from the addition of compost, well composted manure, and other organic matter to the soil. HOWEVER, too much organic material can increase the chances of potato scab. (Potato scab is a bacterial infection which doesn't affect the usability of your potatoes, but it makes them look pretty ugly!) To lessen the likelihood of this, mix the organic matter into the soil below the potato seed, where it will feed the roots, but not contact the newly forming potatoes.
Planting in rows
Dig a shallow trench about 4 inches wide and 6-8 inches deep. The spacing at which you place the seed pieces will determine the harvested potato size. For most household uses, you will want to plant your potato seeds 15 inches apart in this trench. If you'd like a quick crop of "baby" potatoes for soups and stews, you can plant the seeds 4 inches apart, and begin harvesting them as soon as they reach the desired size.
Place the potato seeds into the trench (cut side down) and then cover them with 3-4 inches of soil. (Do not fill the trench in completely!) Depending on the soil temperature, the sprouts will begin to emerge in about 2 weeks. At this time add another 3-4 inches of soil.
Your crop of potatoes will form between the seed piece and the surface of the soil. For this reason, when the stems are about 8 inches high, you once again add enough soil to bring the level half way up the stem of the plant. Another hilling will be needed 2-3 weeks later, at which time you again add soil half way up the stem of the plant. After these initial hillings, it is only necessary to add an inch or two of soil to the hill each week or so, to ensure there is enough soil above the forming potatoes that they don't push out of the hill and get exposed to light. (If the new potatoes are exposed to sunlight while they are developing, they will turn green. This green portion may be toxic!)
This hilling process is necessary to create sufficient space for the potatoes to develop large tubers, and an abundant crop. Don't get carried away with hilling though... If you cover up too much of the foliage, you may end up reducing your final crop yield.
Potato 50 Seeds - White Skin
Zolushka Potato 50 Seeds - White Skin/White Flesh
Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price:
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Grow your own Potatoes without a garden
If you have no established garden plot, or if there just isn't enough available space within your garden, you can still grow a respectable crop of spuds, and do a little recycling at the same time. Potatoes thrive in the warm environment of a soil filled tire!Four tires + Two pounds of seed potatoes + Good soil = 20-30 pounds of winter potatoes!
Pick a spot where you can stack your tires which is out of the way and preferably out of sight. Loosen the surface of the soil just enough to allow for drainage, and set your largest tire in place. Fill the inside of the tire casing loosely with good topsoil, and then set 3-4 potato seeds into the soil. (Use sticks or rocks to keep the casing rings spread open.) Add enough soil to the tire "hole" to bring it to the same level as the soil inside the tire.
When the new plants are eight inches tall, add another tire and soil to the stack, as in the first level. Repeat the process for your third, and if desired, fourth tires. As you add tires and soil to the stack, the 8" of the plant stalk is covered with soil. By doing this, the existing stalk essentially reverts to a root status and the plant is forced to grow upward to once again find the sunlight which it needs. (much like if you were to try to eliminate a dandelion by covering it with a scoop of soil) By raising the soil level this way (in 8" increments) the plant is able to continue growing without suffocation, and at the same time you are creating a 24-30" tap root from which many more lateral roots can develop. Each lateral root can then produce additional potatoes (at 3-4 levels rather than the normal single layer). When you water, be sure that the soil is thoroughly moistened all the way to the base of the pile.
The tires act as an insulator and heat "sink" for your potatoes. This added warmth will cause the lateral roots (where the new potatoes form) to multiply more rapidly, thereby giving you more potatoes. When you need fresh potatoes next fall and winter, harvest the crop from the top tire, and remove it from the pile. More potatoes??? Next tire...
A choice if you dont have a garden
Bosmere K705 Potato Planter Bag
Amazon Price: $27.69 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price:
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 2-3 business days
How to plant potatoes
Potato Chips
And other prepared dishes from Potato
What Potato chips do you prefer?
Pick your favourtie here. Vote for it.
Dirty Potato Chips - Jalapeno 5.5oz Bag
Delicious kettle-cooked "Dirty" potato c more...0 points
Dirty Potato Chips - Mesquite BBQ 5.5oz Bag
Delicious kettle-cooked "Dirty" potato c more...0 points
Dr. Chews Sweet Potato Chips (small )case of 6 bags
100% Natural Sweet Potato, cooked, sliced and sun- more...0 points
Dirty Potato Chips - Salt Free 12 - 2oz bag
"Dirty" Potato Chips - Salt Free, 12-2- more...0 points
Prepared Potatoes
Char Siu Duck w/Garlic Mashed Potatoes & California Blend
Truly a treat, this restaurant quality duck is won more...0 points
Instant Potato Flakes, Bulk, 16 oz
Premium Idaho Potatoes, cooked and dehydrated. Rea more...0 points
Mashed Potato Seasoning - Garlic
Elevate mashed potatoes to new culinary heights wi more...0 points
Popular Pringles - vote for your favourtite
Lovely packing
Pringles Original Potato Chips, Single-Serve Pack, 1.75oz Can, 36/Ctn
Item #: FVS14064. NOTE: This product cannot be ret more...0 points
PRINGLES POTATO CHIPS Original flavor
PRINGLES POTATO CHIPS Original flavor Resealable & more...0 points
PRINGLES PIZZA POTATO CHIPS Pizza flavor
"PRINGLES" PIZZA POTATO CHIPS Pizza flav more...0 points
Potato news from Google
- Recipes for Health Red Chard, Potato and White Bean Ragout
- Add the potatoes and stir together, then transfer to the pot with the beans. Bring back to a simmer, cover and simmer 30 minutes, or until the potatoes and ...
- Potato and apple rosti wonderful served with smoked salmon, sour cream
- The term refers to shredded potatoes sauteed on both sides until crisp and browned. This version includes apples and fresh sage. Top with sour cream, ...
- North Dakota potato crop off by seven percent in 2007
- By Farm & Ranch Guide staff FARGO, ND - The final numbers on in for the 2007 potato crop and production in North Dakota declined by seven percent from 2006, ...
- Red Chard, Potato and White Bean Ragout
- Add the potatoes and stir together, then transfer to the pot with the beans. Bring back to a simmer, cover and simmer 30 minutes, or until the potatoes and ...
Some fun Potatoe stuff
Toy and other things.
Mister Potatoe head
Recommended Age: 36 months - 5 years
Mr. Potato Head
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $5.99
Used Price:
The classic, face-changing friend for kids.
Reward winner
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 24 hours
Potato Myths:
Laying a potato peel at the door of a girl on May Day shower her that you disliked her.If a woman is expecting a baby, she should not eat potatoes because the baby will b born with a big head.
A potato in your pocket will cure rheumatism and eczema.
If you have a wart, rub it with a cut potato, then bury the potato in the ground. As the potato rots in the ground, your ward will disappear.
Potato Jokes:
An old man living alone in South Armagh, whose only son was in Long Kesh Prison, didn't have anyone to dig his garden for his potatoes. So he wrote to his son about his predicament.The son sent the reply, "For HEAVENS SAKE, don't dig the garden up, that's where I buried the guns!!!!!" At 3 AM the next morning, a dozen British soldiers turned up and dug the garden for 3 hours, but didn't find any guns.
Confused, the man wrote to his son telling him what had happened, asking him what he should do now?
The son sent the reply: "NOW plant the potatoes!"
---------------------------------------------
Potato Jokes
Why did the potato cross the road?
He saw a fork up ahead.
How do you describe an angry potato?
Boiling Mad.
Why didn't the mother potato want her daughter to marry the famous newscaster?
Because he was a commontater.
Why wouldn't the reporter leave the mashed potatoes alone?
He desperately wanted a scoop.
What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato?
Anything, just butter him up.
What does a British potato say when it thinks something is wonderful?
It's mashing!
What do you call a baby potato?
A small fry!
-----------------------------------------
Why didn't the mother potato want her daughter to marry the famous TV newscaster? Because he was a 'commontater.'
Why did the potato go to the beach? Because he wanted to get baked.
How do you describe an angry potato? Boiling mad.
What do you say to an angry 400 lb spud? Anything, just butter him up.
What does a British potato say when it thinks something is wonderful? It's mashing!
Star Garnet
Spuds rule!
PacSci Potato Clock
PacSci Potato Clock
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $19.99
Used Price:
Explore how the electrochemical cell works
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 24 hours
How to put potato power in your mp3 player
It really works
how to make potatoes power an mp3 player
watching on how to make potatoes power an mp3 player
Runtime: 1:05
13900 views
10 Comments:
Potato baskets
But who says you have to put potato in them :)
Potato all around
this is a must hehehe
Potato Chip Can Bar Stool Wood
Londons Times Health and Vanity Trends Cartoons
Potato Fairie, Peeling Potato
