Lecture by Alan Chadwick in New Market, Virginia, 1979
Lecture 19.2, Plant Study: Solanum Tuberosa, The Potato, Part 1
An Introduction to Alan Chadwick's Lectures and a Glossary of Terms
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The potato is native to the Andes Mountains in South America. About 1600 it started to be grown in Europe. Originally it was propagated by seed. Many different varieties exist with a whole range of charactistics. How the potato is grown makes a huge difference in its quality. Both the use of manure, and the use of chemical fertilizers, has dimished the quality of the potato. Never use either in its culture. It is not tolerant of frost. How the high quality soil of Long Island was destroyed. Compost is the best fertilization for all potatoes. Comfrey and Stinging Nettle make the most suitable compost for the potato. Must rotate your crops and diversify from year to year. Never grow successive crops of potatoes in the same area. (15:35)