Benefits of Growing and Eating Potatoes

Potatoes are the most productive crop in terms of providing food value in temperate climates. Their great taste and versatility also means that explaining the benefits of growing and eating your own, is an easy task.
 
When growing your own potatoes, you are in complete control of variety choice, growing technique and chemical and pesticide input. Regional favourites and varieties which suit your growing conditions and palate can be chosen. Greengrocers and supermarkets are limited to a handful of commercially important varieties while the gardener can choose from well over 100 varieties. Organic and part-organic growing, and a number of different techniques which the gardener trusts, can be implemented. Garden-grown spuds often have stronger flavour and finer texture than irrigated field crops. Harvested crops are fresh and ready to hand, with no worries about greening under shop lights or the use of sprout suppressants or any other additives.
 
Some of the very old varieties which have not been available in greengrocers for many decades can only be experienced by the gardener. On the other hand the very latest varieties take several years to become generally available and the gardener can be among the first to try them. Indeed, word of mouth reputation generated by the initial gardening experience has been instrumental in developing the reputation of several modern varieties.

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