The Best potatoes.

@deebomb (15304)
United States
August 15, 2012 4:22pm CST
some years ago I lived in Kansas. I got a chance to grow some Kennebeck potatoes. They were the best potatoes I ever ate. I sent for the seed from Johnny's seed company. These are white potatoes. My daughter boiled some up and mashed them for supper and boy they were so good. I wish we could know the name of the potatoes we buy at the grocery store beyond the red and white. I will be getting more for next year. I'm thinking of getting four shipping pellets, making a tall bed and try growing some potatoes in it with straw instead of soil. This would be good for small spaces. I may plant some vine plants like water melon,squash and cucumbers around the out side.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
16 Aug 12
It is interesting how there are certain varieties of potatoes that are more popular in one area then another, those varieties are not available here. The potatoes I get are normally Annabelle, Mona Lisa, Picasso and Asterix both white and red. As long as they are tasty I think they are all good varieties, though some seem to work better for certain food as some roast better, while others are better for soup. I have never seen them grown in straw before, we normally have then in the ground but the rocks keep making them grow all skew the better the earth the smother they are, but the annabelle's grew beautifully (though small) granted we only had a few to try out but they were the ones that grew the best.
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@deebomb (15304)
• United States
16 Aug 12
Hello leeloo. I learned about growing potatoes in straw from a gardening show we watched years ago. We thought it would be interesting to try and we did. We had some pretty nice clean potatoes too. The variety that you have named are new to me. My daughter grew both reds and russets but I don't know what variety they were. They were good but nothing like these kennebacks which are a whit potato of nice size.. Since your ground is so rocky you might try the straw in the shipping pellet bin. As the potatoes grow and the tops are showing plant a few more potatoes and cover them up with the straw until the bin is full. What was nice with these the skins just wiped off very easily.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
17 Aug 12
You are welcome
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
17 Aug 12
I actually went and read up on it after answering this comment, it does seem like a good way to grow potatoes. I will have to try a patch next year. Thank you for the tip.
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@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
21 Aug 12
I have not tried the Kennebecks but I think that the Yukons are great. The mashed potatoes made from them are so smooth and creamy. I am very impressed with their flavor and how creamy they become. Good luck with your garden.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
22 Aug 12
I'll have to try some of those Yukons some time when my kennebecks are gone.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
16 Aug 12
This sounds like a really good idea and we have considered wanting to build more of a garden somewhere as well. Being able to do your own garden can save you a lot of money and also give you the type of vegetables you enjoy eating as well. Sounds like a great idea indeed.
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@deebomb (15304)
• United States
16 Aug 12
Yes growing your own vegetables does save you money but better yet you know how safe they are.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
15 Aug 12
Well, the "bake" potato kind are Russetts. You can buy Yukon Gold in the store, but I don't know the name of the purple potatoes.
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@deebomb (15304)
• United States
16 Aug 12
Each of those potatoes has variety with in the group of russets like Russet Burbank (known as Idaho Potatoes) and German Butterball. Those Yukon gold also have as part of their variety a yellow finn. and the purple ones have Russian Blue, All blue, Purple Peruvian,Purple Majest. When youu go to the grocery store to buy potatoes all you get is the generic name.
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@missybear (11391)
• United States
15 Aug 12
Sounds good, I love potatoes and I like cooking them, baking them , frying them or just baking them. I think red potatoes are my favorite, especially for making potato salad.
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@deebomb (15304)
• United States
16 Aug 12
These have a really nice flavor. I didn't realize that there were varieties with in the variety. was living in Kansas when i heard the garden show on the radio talking about this variety and I to grow it. I fell in love with them. I hadn't been able to grow them until this year I talked my daughter into trying them.