Spudnik

I started harvesting my potatoes last week. I grew one row of mixed potatoes at my garden plot. These weren't the only potatoes I grew this year because there is always room for another potato plant or two in other spots. I grew some in my backyard raised beds, but they were woefully unproductive.

I purchased registered potato seed in 2009 and have been saving seed from that stock ever since. The varieties I am harvesting this year are:

• Bintje: yellow skin/yellow flesh
• Desiree: pink skin/yellow flesh
• Rio Colorado: red skin/white flesh

A plate of egg-sized potatoes: Rio Colorado (red), Desiree (pink)
and Bintje (yellow).

I have had some problems with scab. It is more prevalent on individual plants than in general areas. In other words, one plant can have several scabbed over potatoes, whereas a plant right next to it will be fine. Even watering and slightly acidic soil will minimize scab. I usually water through the first hot spell or two, then stop watering completely. I did a lot of mulching of my potatoes this year, which helped minimize the number of potatoes "greened up" with solanine.

To Infinity and Beyond

The potato has come a long way since being turned into a crisp in New York in 1853. Innovative for its time, the Saratoga Chip was low technology compared with growing potatoes in space. During a 1995 mission, astronauts aboard the U.S. space shuttle Columbia grew the first vegetables in space. They used leaves from Norland potatoes to successfully grow tubers. Growing produce in a microgravity environment is a crucial step toward prolonged space travel because the process is capable of providing food and oxygen.