Solanum after latin sol = sun. Tuberosum = with many bumps, lumpy, after latin tuber = bump.
This is about the only bump that I don’t want to get rid off. I love this bump with all my heart. Well, except for the green ones, they’re poisoned, never eat the green ones!
They say that modern DNA-analysis shows that all potatoes has the same ancestor specie in the southern Peru. The name potato comes from the spanish patata which comes from quechuans papa.
The potato were brought to Europe in the 17th century by the spanish. In the beginning we just appreciated it as a flower, until we realized that the bumps were eatable. Then we classified it as a medical plant.
In Sweden it was cultivated in the botanic garden around year 1660, but it wasn’t until 1724 as the now wellknown Jonas Alströmer did his best to make us Swedes to grow and eat potatoes in any bigger amount.
Under the poor years around year 1770, the Swedish government started to spread propaganda about it because it gave a more reliable harvest than the grain. When Eva de la Gardie on top of that discovered that we could make alcohole from the potatoes it was no longer any difficulties to convince the farmers to cultivate them…
Today it’s cultivated over the whole Sweden, but the largest cultivations is in the south. People grow it everywhere, even in the citys in pots at the balcony. It’s considered as a part of the Swedish culture.
There are so many potato varieties. I read som where that we have annual harvests of one million tonne potatoes in Sweden!
Did you know that you can get as much as 33% of your recommended daily dose of vitamin C from only 100g of potato? And 14% of the iron. Among other vitamines. Freshly harvested potatoes (non peeled) retain more nutritional value than stored potatoes.
Potatoes can be eaten in so many ways, that I find it excellent with most food. What do you say about a very creamy Potato Gratin? There are too many recipes with potatoes to choose between, otherwise I had posted some of them here.
It’s a real pity though that people tend to eat more of chips and pommes stripes than real homecooked potatoes.
A potato dish from Spain that I ADORE is the traditional Canary Islands wrinkly potatoes, Papas arragudas with that delicious sauce mojo picón. *drooling heavily now*
They say that if you throw a dinner party and it’s no left overs of the potatoes, you’ve had guests with farmer blood.
So I’m definitive a farmer descendant 
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Wow. Great minds do think alike! My potato vine is for show only. But yours not only shows pretty but you can eat it too! Nice! I wonder how the potato looks, is it like our Idaho or tiny like the red? Very cool picture and writing Mrs. L. Hope you have a great day!
Lifecruiser: Yes, don’t they? *lol* I loved your lime green vine. I don’t remember the name of this one, but it’s more like your Idaho then the tiny red.
I adore potatoes! But I didn’t know for dose of vitamins C ! It’ s a good news! I just hear here : don’t eat to many potatoes or you could be sick! In south of France we don’t eat so much potatoes as in north of France! When I have no time I cook them only in water and after I eat them just with a little salt and olive oil! And it’s better when you have a barbecue you put them in alluminium paper in live charcoal.
It ’s very good!
Have a good Sunday afternoon!
Claudie
Lifecruiser: Yes, me too. There is so many ways to prepare the potato to something yummy
See, I’m getting hungry already just talking about it… Hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday too, the sun is shining here, for once.
You have all this interesting information in your head? Impressive! I don’t know that much about any flower.
Lifecruiser: Well, I had to cheat by looking som of it up, to be sure that I didn’t fool you on some of the facts
Lovely photo of the potato flower. I always thought the flowers were nice too. It was also a very informative post.
For some reason I always thought that the North American indians introduced the world to the potato, but now I realize it was the south american indians. Interesting. Potatoes have been a staple in many parts of the world. Some of my ancestory is Irish and one major branch of my family ended up arriving in Canada due to the potato famine in Ireland.
When I was a child I didn’t like potatoes very much and the only way my mother could get me to eat them was to offer me raw slices of potato (I did the same thing with turnip). Odd huh? I hated cooked potatoes but loved them raw (and still do enjoy them raw).
I use potatoes as a base for soups; sliced and spiced and put in tin foil on the bbq; make my own french fries by slicing them into medalions and coating them very lightly in canola oil and some spices and baking them in the oven; mashed potatoes (wonderful with grated Canadian cheddar cheese and garlic!); baked potatoes … on and on. It’s one of the most versatile veggies that we can cook with, and as you pointed out potatoes are full of vitamins, iron and I believe they are also high in potassium too.
Considering that I have Crohns and I have trouble digesting and eating many foods potatoes (and rice) have become staples of my diet since they are soft and easy to digest and easily flavored.
Great post!
Lifecruiser: well, I remember some another children liking the raw potato. I tasted it, but it was no favorite of mine. Though the horses did love it! *lol* Oh, it must be difficult living with Crohns, even if you do get used to it after a while. I have an idea how it is, since my sister got collageen collitis and I myself always have had a sensitive stomach. You do wish that you just could eat without thinking like every one else….
My grandmother would sing my father that song about, Eating a slice of cold potato while waiting for dinner! I’d rather have some of that delicious mojo picon you’d mentioned. I’m always amazed at all the background information and facts you share. Beautiful pic, I’ve never seen a pic of a potato flower before! Enjoy the rest of your day!
Lifecruiser: Thanks Christine. Well, I’m interested in the subjects I write about and therefor I just assume that my readers are too, so I wanna share the facts I know. Then again, some readers might think it’s boring, but they have to take it or leave it, ’cause this is how I am and it’s my writing style
Wow - great background on the Potato plant. I had no idea. I love potatoes — any kind .. all kinds. But especially love the little red ones — sliced up with the skins - cooked in foil on the grill.. yum yum.
Lifecruiser: Glad you enjoyed it
OH, don’t make me hungry like that!
Well my reply will be short and sweet in comparison… Love a good simple mashed potatoe with plenty of butter and a bit of salt and pepper.. yum.. my mouth is watering!
Lifecruiser: Mine too! You just made me very very hungry