Gardener's Question Time

Replies: 11 - Last Post: 30-Nov-2007 16:14 Last Post By: mancub

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Myanmarbound

28-Nov-2007 14:40
Posts: 6,573

Gardener's Question Time

(A) What type of spuds make good chips?

(B) Do you think it would be possible to grow those spuds in Indonesia? In the specific part of Indonesia I am thinking of the soil is volcanic and drainage is good. The temperature is around 26C year round wih high humidity. The big variation is in rainfall but there is water to irrigate anyway. Is the potato one of those crops that needs a frost?

Thanks to you green-fingered GSers for any useful answers.

you prurient foul-mouthed shit-stirrer

tribolite

28-Nov-2007 17:49
Posts: 2,541

A previous acquaintance of mine used to grow potatoes in Brastagi up in the highlands of North Sumatra which he told me was from a variety developed in Holland for the potato chip export market.Don't know if he is still doing it but he was doing it for a few years when he told me about it back in 2000.Other farmers have been growing other varieties years ago up there as well for local consumption.

mr_gimlet

28-Nov-2007 21:18
Posts: 127

The classic chip potato in Australia is the spunta (crazy name, crazy potato)

A meal without cheese is like a beautiful woman with only one eye

Niner

29-Nov-2007 17:33
Posts: 12,319

Build a raised planting bed using old tires. Somebody told me that once, so good luck.

WriteOn

29-Nov-2007 20:31
Posts: 743

Growing Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum . Solanaceae).

I used to be an avid potato grower in the UK. I've also lived in the tropics and never seen a potato grown at sea level or even 6,000ft. You'd have to go higher. The so-called Potato of the Tropics is TARO...but as I remember, there's not a lot of nutrients in Taro. There are field trials going on of 'True Potato Seed in the Low Tropics'. There's also Cassava...but also not much nourishment in this.

Considering I see potatoes being grown at 12,000ft altitude in Nepal (and buried in deep holes in the fields during the winter to avoid being frozen)...I doubt you'll have any luck growing the true potato in the tropics.

WriteOn

29-Nov-2007 20:33
Posts: 743

Waiting to see if the top of the page states 'Question is answered' or perhaps it was 'helpful'...or just ignored by the powers that be.

islandboi321

29-Nov-2007 22:40
Posts: 3,594

A) Russet potatoes make the best chips. Why? They have much less water/higher starch content in them than "boiling" potatoes like Norland, yukon Gold, etc.

B) Potatoes would do poorly in Indonesia. They will not thrive in hot, humid conditions. They will succomb to many diseases. I don't think potatoes necessarily need a frost to be consumed, but I know here in Canada (which grows ALOT of potatoes), they are harvested after it freezes just because they are easier to get at once the tops have been frozen down.

hth

"I'M SICK OF ECO-PORN - ALL THE MISTRUTHS, EXAGGERATIONS AND RENT-SEEKERS IN THIS AREA. SO I OFTEN PARODY EXO-STORMTROOPERS WHEN THEY START CARRYING ON...." -tezza

IanUK

30-Nov-2007 01:44
Posts: 434

Desiree are good chippers.
Watch out for 'Potato Blight' do a Google. Late harvesting could be disasterous because whilst the spores are on the top it is OK, but these are washed into the soil by rain/irrigation. They then attack the tubers initially causing a brown tea leaf effect inside - before the rot sts in.

Best Wishes
Ian

AT TREQ AS SALAMA
www.bootham-gardens-guesthouse.co.uk
Guest Skype = BOOTHAM_GARDENS

tribolite

30-Nov-2007 02:38
Posts: 2,541

Potatoes(ubi kentang/gentang),apart from taro(yam),tapoica and sweet potatoes, do grow up in the highlands of Peninsular Malaysia and in Sabah although not on a large scale.They were mostly for local consumption and we have seem them being cultivated and sold by small scale farmers straight from the farms when we lived and worked for some years around Cameron Highlands.Some were even exported to Singapore.
Have also seen them grown in small farms in Brastagi in North Sumatra and around Lake Toba some of which are even exported to Malaysia through Penang and Port Klang.The Dutch introduced potato cultivation into North Sumatra highlands and Maluku as early as from around 1830.

nutraxfornerves

30-Nov-2007 04:37
Posts: 11,086

Waiting to see if the top of the page states 'Question is answered' or perhaps it was 'helpful'...or just ignored by the powers that be.

The OP is the one who is supposed to make that call.

I'd like to be sure that everyone is talking about the same thing. Does the OP mean

Potato chips UK "crisps"
OR
Potato chips American french fries

Nutrax
The plural of anecdote is not data

Myanmarbound

30-Nov-2007 10:57
Posts: 6,573

I mean French fries.

And thank you everyone for the answers, I just didn't realise I was supposed to be marking your homework!

you prurient foul-mouthed shit-stirrer

mancub

30-Nov-2007 16:14
Posts: 119

Standard white table spuds come in two basic textures.

"Floury" --- Best for chips, wedges, roasting, mashing, Duchess topping, croquette base.

"Waxy" --- When young and small, good for boiling whole simply scrubbed, toss in melty

butter. Mature, good for potato salad and Potato Anna type dishes.

For named spuds in your region, chat up a serious gardener/grower or greengrocer. Take notes. Experts are good value.

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