In 2021, we experienced a shortage of potatoes. The
unseasonal weather did not help potato growers at all. With the price of
potatoes reaching very high levels, I decided to plant potatoes in one of the
empty beds of the vegetable garden.
When I received an email from a seed company, from which I
regularly order heirloom seeds, informing me that they had a new stock of seed
potatoes, I took it as a sign from the universe that I should plant potatoes. |
| Blaue st Galler, Ronaldo, Bikini, and Flamenco |
Unfortunately for me, they had four different potato
varieties. Of course, I decided to buy all four when I could not decide which
variety to plant. So it happened that I ordered Flamenco, Bikini, Ronaldo and
Blaue st Galler potatoes. |
| Bikini potatoes |
Bikini was described as a two-tone potato that has a pink
skin with yellow patches. Every potato has its own unique pattern. The flesh is
a creamy yellow and makes a superb chip and crisping variety. |
| Flamenco potatoes |
Flamenco was described as a potato with a lovely bright red
skin and is a quintessential all-purpose potato.
 |
| Blaue st Galler potatoes |
Blaue st Galler was described as a blue potato that will
keep their colour when cooked. It is reminiscent of the ancient Peruvian Blue
potatoes. The benefit of this blue potato is that they are very high in
Anthocyanins, making them a superfood rich in antioxidants.
 |
| Ronaldo Potatoes |
Ronaldo was described as a potato with a pink skin and white
flesh. They cook up well, making them a great, versatile variety superb boiled,
roasted or even in salads.Ordering potato tubers from Gauteng Province by courier felt
like waiting for a present for a special occasion. The package of potato tubers
arrived safely along with a bonus bag of Blaue st Galler potato tubers. I did
not plan for the extra potatoes but decided not to look a gift horse in the
mouth and planted them in another bed. |
| Happy potato plants |
All the potatoes had sprouted healthy eyes and we planted
the potatoes in furrows with the soil from the furrows in heaped rows next to
the furrows. As the potato plants grew, we filled the furrows with the heaped
soil to encourage a better potato yield. |
| The colour of the Blaue st Galler potatoes |
The heat and rain encouraged the tubers to grow and in no
time the healthy plants broke through the soil. The potatoes loved the weather,
and I could enjoy the plants grow big and healthy as we heaped more soil around
the stems.
When the plants started to go yellow and die back, I decided
it was time to harvest the potatoes. Looking at the new potatoes in their
bushel baskets waiting to be stored in the cellar in three days’ time, I can
only imagine the flavour feast of potatoes that awaits us from the Towerwater
kitchen.
