Spuds are a fun and easy crop for summer
The humble potato has been around for a long time. The earliest recorded trace is around 6000 BC in the Peruvian Andes where it grew wild. Subsequently cultivated by the Inca Indians, it was brought to Europe by the Spanish conquistadores during the 16th century.
Sir Walter Raleigh is believed to have been the first farmer of potatoes in Ireland and brought them as a gift to Queen Elizabeth I.
Today they are enjoyed across world cuisine as one of the most versatile ingredients and could be said to be our national dish when served with some battered fish!
I often recommend this crop to novice gardeners – if you stick to early varieties they are a relatively easy veg to grow and the joy of unearthing this golden treasure in summer will get you hooked, I promise.
Now’s the time to get your seed from garden centres – they usually arrive in store from around January but can be quickly snapped up. Buying certified seed is important as it ensures they’re virus free.
There are two main types of potato – early, which you