Potato
Belonging to the Solanaceae family, like tomatoes, the potato is the leading vegetable consumed each year in France, with more than 20 kg per capita. Highly appreciated for its flavour, this tuber is always eaten cooked, and works wonders in many culinary preparations that play on all its textures (in soup, salad, chips, mashed potatoes, steamed, baked). Among the most popular varieties are the Bintje, the Charlotte, the Ratte, or the Amandine. The potato is very easy to grow, and abundant, which is why it is so common in the garden, although you need space to grow it.
The cultivation of the potato is considered as "improving" for the garden: this means that planting it limits the growth of weeds, thanks to its large foliage. It appreciates loose, cool, humus-rich soil and an exposure that varies from semi-shade to full sun. There is nothing to sow: wait until all risk of frost is removed from the calendar, usually from April, and place your tubers in furrows at least 10 cm deep, sprouts upwards. Cover with soil and water only when the soil is dry. Another thing to do is to move the soil up around the plant as it grows, forming small mounds. The potato can be harvested after two to three months after planting.
Potato
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Tuber vegetables
- Botanical family : Solanaceae
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Sun
- Hardiness : Frost resistant
- Cultivation difficulty : Easy to grow, but requires regular maintenance (difficulty : 2/3)
- Adult height : 60 cm
Sowing & planting
- Sowing depth : 9.9 cm
- Plant spacing : 25 cm
- Row spacing : 60 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water requirements : High