Potatoes From Farm to Fork
Grow Your Own Potatoes!
Want to see the potato life cycle in action? You can grow your very own potatoes at home or school with just a few simple supplies. Follow these steps and watch your spuds sprout!
What You’ ll Need:
• 1 or 2 seed potatoes( or a potato with“ eyes” starting to sprout)
• A large bucket, deep pot, or a spot in a garden
• Potting soil or garden soil
• Water
• Light Steps to Grow:
1. Pick your potato. Choose a seed potato or a potato with little buds( called“ eyes”) growing from it. If it’ s big, you can cut it into pieces— just make sure each piece has at least one eye!
2. Let it rest. Let your cut pieces sit for a day or two. This helps the cut sides dry and keeps them from rotting.
3. Plant your potato. Fill your container with a few inches of soil. Place your potato pieces in the soil with the eyes facing up. Cover them with 4 – 6 inches of soil.
4. Give it sunshine and water. Put your pot in a sunny spot. Water it so the soil stays damp but not soggy.
5. Watch it grow! In a few weeks, green stems and leaves will pop out of the soil. When the plant gets taller, gently add more soil around the stem— this helps the plant grow more tubers!
6. Wait for the sign. After a few months, when the plant’ s leaves and stems turn yellow and start to die back, it’ s harvest time!
7. Harvest your potatoes! Carefully dig around in the soil and pull out your potatoes. Rinse them off and enjoy the spud-tacular results of your hard work!
Mexican-Style Totchos
Ingredients:
• 1 bag( about 32 oz) frozen tater tots
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese( or a Mexican cheese blend)
• ½ cup black beans( drained and rinsed)
• ½ cup mild salsa
• ½ cup corn( canned or frozen and thawed)
• 1 small tomato, diced
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro( optional)
• ¼ cup sour cream
• Optional toppings: sliced olives, avocado, or jalapeños
Instructions:
1. Bake the Tots: Ask an adult to help preheat the oven and cook the tater tots according to the package directions until they’ re golden and crispy. Tots also cook very well in an air fryer.
2. Make the Totchos: Carefully move the cooked tater tots onto a baking sheet or oven-safe dish. Sprinkle the cheese all over the top.
3. Add the Good Stuff: Sprinkle on the black beans, corn, and diced tomato. Add a little salsa on top.
4. Melt & Bake: Place the totchos back in the oven( or air fryer) for about 5 – 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
5. Top & Enjoy: Remove from the oven( or air fryer) and add your favorite toppings like sour cream, cilantro, and olives. Let them cool a little … then dig in!
Source: potatogoodness. com
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