Harvest of the Month: Potatoes

Harvest of the Month: Potatoes

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Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes

Table of Contents

Facts

Nutrition and Seasonality

Try New Foods

Add Potatoes to Your Favorite Family Meals

Books

Oven Potato Wedges

Garden Connection

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Facts

Spanish translation: Las papas

Hmong translation: Qhos yaj ywm

Potatoes are not roots but specialized underground storage stems called “tubers.”

Potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space! The technology was developed by NASA
and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

French fries were first introduced in the United States by Thomas Jefferson during his 1801-1809 presidency when he served them in the White House.

Potatoes have been grown in the Peruvian Andes Mountains of South America since 5000 B.C. Peru is still considered the potato capital of the world and they grow a wide variety of potatoes.

There are more than 1,000 varieties of potatoes grown around the world and more than 100 varieties are grown in the United States. Potatoes are divided into two categories- waxy and floury. Russet potatoes are floury while red, white, and yellow potatoes are waxy.

Nutrition and Seasonality

Key Nutrients

  • Vitamin B6 – Important for immune system and brain function and helps you get energy from your food.
  • Vitamin C – Helps wounds heal, is important for the immune system, and is an antioxidant, which protects our cells from damage.
  • Potassium – Helps maintain normal blood pressure.

Seasonality

  • Fresh new red potatoes grown in Wisconsin are available from mid-June to August. White potatoes are available August through October. Potatoes can be stored through winter.

Try New Foods

Children are more likely to try new foods if they help prepare them.

Children can:

  • Scrub potatoes under cool running water
  • Mash potatoes
  • Sprinkle seasoning on
  • homemade potato wedges
  1. Select: Choose clean, smooth, firm-textured potatoes with no cuts, bruises, or discoloration.
  2. Store: Store potatoes in a cool place with air flow. Do not refrigerate, freeze, or place in direct light.
  3. Prepare: Rinse carefully under cool running water and allow it to dry well.

Add Potatoes to Your Favorite Family Meals

  • Add cubed potatoes to soups and stews.
  • Toss cooked, cubed potatoes with fresh garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  • Make homemade potato wedges. Cut potatoes into wedges, toss with oil and seasonings, and bake 400°F for 20-30 minutes until tender and golden brown.

Books

  • Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
  • Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
  • The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons
  • Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale Board Book by Tomie dePaola

Oven Potato Wedges

Scrub 3 medium potatoes and pat dry. Cut potatoes into quarters. Cut each quarter into wedges. Toss potatoes in 3 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, and herbs of your choosing (rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, or dill). Spread potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 20-30 minutes until tender and golden brown. Flip wedges over about halfway through baking. Serve with your favorite dip!

Garden Connection

Planting

Potatoes are one of the earliest vegetables planted in the garden. Most vegetables grow from seeds, but not potatoes! Potatoes grow from “eyes” on seed potatoes. Seed potatoes may be small whole potatoes or potatoes that are cut into pieces. Each seed potato should have at least one good “eye”. Dig a furrow 1-3 inches deep. Place seed potatoes with eyes up, 10-12 inches apart and cover with soil.

Harvesting

Harvest potatoes when the tops of the plants have died and the ground is dry. Dig up the potatoes like buried treasure, making sure not to bruise them.

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