Potatoes! Spuds! Taters! Papas!

Who doesn't love potatoes? Potatoes, a member of the Solanaceae (Tomato) family,  are the world's fourth largest food crop, and for good reason: In temperate regions, no crops comes close to topping the amount of calories per acre that potatoes provide. Not only that, but potatoes are also high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and a whole slew of minerals.

Potatoes originated in the Andes Plateau over 7000 years ago and spread to many geographic areas through trade. Today, there are well over 1000 different varieties of potato, coming in a rainbow of colors, shapes, and sizes. Potatoes can be white, yellow, red, and even purple. Potato varieties are generally classified in three broad categories depending on their maturity date: early season (<90 days), mid season (around 100 days), and late season (>110 days).

Mid-March is a great time to plant potatoes, but they can be planted earlier or later to widen the harvest window. Potatoes are basically a cool-season crop, growing best when soil temperatures are between 60 and 70 degrees. Potatoes enjoy lots of organic matter and slightly acidic soil. Too much nitrogen will cause potatoes to grow lots and lots of leaves, but few tubers, so do not over-fertilize. Potatoes can be grown in the ground, in hills (above the soil surface), in raised beds, or even in pots (at a rate of about one seed potato per gallon of soil). Solanaceous crops, especially potatoes, should be rotated on a 4 year schedule to keep disease pressure as low as possible.

Not sure where to start? Here are a couple suppliers of certified disease-free seed potatoes:

• Sow True Seed
• Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
• Seed Savers Exchange
• Johnny's Selected Seeds

Please note, Wytheville Farmers Market is not affiliated with any of the above suppliers.

After you've got your potatoes harvested, why not try your hand at this Appalachian-Style Rosti (potato pancake) recipe?

Oh, and by the way, you can always just buy your local taters are your local farmers market! Our next market is Saturday, March 23, 10AM-12PM. See you there!

Mark your calendars and get those garden plots ready! The Wytheville Farmers Market is pleased to announce our upcoming Pumpkin Day to be held on Saturday, September 21st, 2019!

We will be having a contest to see who can grow the heaviest pumpkin. A scale will be on hand at the event to weigh all pumpkins. The grower of the heaviest pumpkin will receive a trophy and a WFM Gift Certificate! Additionally, a WFM Gift Certificate will be awarded to the market patron who most accurately guesses the weight of the winning pumpkin! Full contest rules are below.

Ready to get growing? See Modern Farmer's guide to growing a record-setting pumpkin!

Haven't got your seeds yet? Check these varieties out:

• Burpee Seeds
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
• Victory Seeds
• Eden Brothers
• Sustainable Seed Company
• Johnny's Selected Seeds

Full Contest Rules

• The contest is open to all ages.
• Only one pumpkin per grower.
• Pumpkins may have no holes or cracks.
• Grower responsible getting the pumpkin to the Market.
• Wytheville Farmer's Market is not responsible for any damage to pumpkins.
• Grower must help unload and load pumpkin. (We will have a tractor with operator provided by Southwestern Equipment for moving pumpkins)  Plan to be at the Market between 7am -8am for unloading.
• Grower authorizes the use of any pictures taken at the event for marketing purposes.

Please note, Wytheville Farmer's Market is not affiliated with any of the mentioned seed companies.