Growing potatoes at home is a fun activity. If you’ve never tasted home-grown potatoes, you’re in for a real treat. Freshly harvested potatoes taste much better than those purchased from long storage. They are nutrient-dense and full of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County (CCE Monroe), in collaboration with Fraser Garlic Farm, offers the “Growing Potatoes at Home – Virtual Workshop” on Tuesday, April 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. All aspiring backyard gardeners, homesteaders, community garden members, school garden coordinators, and members of the public who wish to try something different are invited to join. Farmer-presenter and local grower Ed Fraser will discuss key steps to successful potato growing, from soil requirements, planting, care, and pest and disease control to harvesting and storage. Fraser Garlic Farm is located southwest of Rochester and uses sustainable farming practices.
Workshop registration is $15 per person. Registrants can purchase a Seed Potato Medley bag with registration. This four-gourmet variety mix is well suited for home gardens and includes:
•AmaRosa Fingerling – a high-yielding fingering with smooth red skin and creamy red flesh that resists fading during cooking; good when fried, roasted, boiled, steamed, or as pink chips
•Blackberry – tubers with unique purple skin and deep purple flesh have a uniform, round shape with common scab resistance
•Goldrush – known for its white flaky flesh, it is perfect for baking, boiling, or frying, and excellent for winter storage, making it an ideal homestead crop
•Soraya – tubers with yellow skin and flesh are disease-resistant and good for organic growing.
All orders come in three-pound bags and contain about 15 seed potatoes. Orders purchased with the workshop registration are $13 each.
Those who do not wish to participate in the workshop but who would like to still purchase the Seed Potato Medley can do so for $16 per package. The package will include written instructions on potato growing to get you started.
Purchased orders can be picked up in person Monday, April 21, through Friday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, 2449 St. Paul Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14617.
For information, to register, or to purchase the Seed Potato Medley, go to https://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/events/2024/04/11/growing-potatoes-at-home-virtual-workshop.
Contact Jarmila Haseler, CCE Monroe Agriculture Educator, at Jh954@cornell.edu with any questions.
Provided information
