Sustainable Practices for Vegetable Production in the South
Dr. Mary Peet, NCSU
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Potato
Origin
A member of the Solanaceae family, the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) is closely related to the tomato, pepper, and eggplant. Potatoes originated in the Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia and have been cultivated for at least 2400 years. All commercial cultivars are tetraploids, the result of a natural doubling in chromosome number. Although potatoes will sometimes produce seed balls, the seed cannot be used because it is often infertile and never true to type. Commercially, the potato crop is established from 'seed' tubers.
Potatoes were introduced into Europe in the sixteenth century after the conquest of Peru by the Spanish. Cultivation spread quickly throughout Europe, but the first large-scale production was in Ireland. The Irish quickly became dependent on potatoes as a staple of their diet. This dependence resulted in mass starvation and emigration when late blight, Phytophthera infestans, destroyed the Irish potato crop for two years in a row in the 1840's. In colonial times, potatoes were introduced to North America by Irish immigrants, which is why they are sometimes called 'Irish' potatoes. More properly they should simply be called 'potatoes' or 'white potatoes' to distinguish them from sweetpotatoes.
Per Capita Consumption in Pounds
|
1910 |
1949 |
1956 |
1989 |
1993 |
| Fresh |
200 |
108 |
88 |
50.0 |
49.7 |
| Processed |
NA |
NA |
15 |
77.1 |
87.1 |
Nutrition
One boiled potato weighing 137 g has 105 calories, 3g protein, 10 percent RDA of niacin and 24 percent RDA vitamin C.
References
- Thornton, R.E. and J.B. Sieczka. 1980. Commercial potato production in North America. American Potato Journal, Volume 57, Supplement.
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1992 Census of Agriculture. Table 29. Vegetables, Sweet corn and melons harvested for sale: 1992 and 1987. p. 396-421.
- USDA. Agricultural statistics (1947-1993), US GAO, and, Vegetables & Specialties: Situation & Outlook report (1987-1994). USDA Economic Research Service, quarterly.
- Poleman, C.M., and N. . Peckenpaugh. 1991. Nutrition essentials and diet therapy. W.B. Saunders. Co.
- Parnes, R. 1990. Fertile soil, a grower's guide to organic and inorganic fertilizers. AgAccess, Davis, CA.
- Hochmuth, G. 1993. Hard figures for petiole sap testing. American Vegetable Grower 41(12):62-63.
- Rutgers Univ. 1984. Commercial vegetable production recommendations. Bulletin E001. Rutgers Univ., Cook College, New Brunswick, NJ.
- McCann, I.R., and J.C. Stark. 1989. Irrigation and N management effect on potato brown center and hollow heart. HortScience. 24:950-952.
- Schoenemann, J. 1993. Give your seed the best start. American Vegetable Grower 41(3):43-44.
- Zehnder, G.W. and J. Hough-Goldstein. 1989. Use of straw mulch for suppression of Colorado potato beetle in potato. Vegetable Grower News, Sept.-Oct. p. 2,4. VPI&SU, Blacksburg. VA.
- Lanfranconi, L.E., R.R. Bellinder and R.W. Wallace. 1993. Grain rye residues and weed control strategies in reduced tillage potatoes. Weed Tech. 7:23-28.
- Seed catalogs such as Johnny's, Petoseed and Asgrow, NC Extension publications, including the 1991 Suggested Vegetable Varieties for the North Carolina Commercial Grower.
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Last Modified: Thursday, October 4, 2001