potatoes

We moved a couple of years ago from the Netherlands to the Chicago area. We are adapting well, although it is tough sometimes on the food . Unfortunately, we can't get used to the mainstream potatoes like russet, yukon, red, etc. Anyone ideas where we can buy other varieties in the Chicago area?

Is there something particular you're looking for?

diederikr wrote:We moved a couple of years ago from the Netherlands to the Chicago area. We are adapting well, although it is tough sometimes on the food . Unfortunately, we can't get used to the mainstream potatoes like russet, yukon, red, etc. Anyone ideas where we can buy other varieties in the Chicago area?

Nichols Farm at Green City Market and any other markets in which they have a stand. Pretty sure there are others at Green City but Nichols has a good variety.

@zoid, in general we are looking for more taste, potatoes like Russet have no tast at all. We are used to a variety of at least 25 different kinds. Some are more firm, some crumble easier, some are better for home-made fries, etc but, all have a different taste. I know you can buy seedling 'Bintje' potatoes but don't know where to buy the full grown Bintje potatoe.

Might have to grow your own if you can't find good source at a Farmer's Market or some place like that. From what I've read the lack of flavor is a result of heavily irrigating the commercial crops in the U.S. -- it's a simple way to increase yields, but it really dilutes the flavor.

See http://potatogarden.com/ for a good source for many different varieties. The catalog (either by mail or free .pdf download from the website) is an interesting read. It's hard to flip through and *not* want to grow a few dozen varieties of potatoes and garlic...

And I just stumbled upon this link, which is probably going to keep me occupied later tonight after I get home...

phaseolus wrote:Might have to grow your own if you can't find good source at a Farmer's Market or some place like that.

You can rent garden plots at various places around town if you're living in a building without a yard.

Another idea: Subscribe to a CSA that's already growing potatoes, befriend the owner and see if you can make a special request or two for next year's growing season. The owners of the CSA I belong to (sold out this year) solicited requests over the winter.

Hi- I agree that the potatoes that you get at the farmer's market are much better than supermarket ones, because they are freshly dug. It is too late to rent a garden spot this summer, and some of the CSA's are already filled up. I love the potatoes that Nichols sells at a bunch of markets, including Green City, Oak Park, and the Evanston market. I probably buy more potatoes from him than anyone else at the Evanston market. He usually has the cheapest potatoes, and he has the widest variety. Henry Brockman also has good potatoes as does Green Acres and a few other stalls at Evanston. The particular variety of potatoes that you are looking for, I have never heard of. I used to grow potatoes when I had a larger garden than I have now, and I used to get my seed potatoes from a farm in Maine called Wood Prairie Farms. They probably only have about 20 different kinds of seed potatoes though. There is a much larger seed potato company somewhere in Idaho, but I forget the name of the place.

Thanks all for the ideas. I decided to grown them myself. I ordered the Bintje seedlings from GrowOrganic.com, they have a huge variety. We'll see in a couple of months!

diederikr wrote:Thanks all for the ideas. I decided to grown them myself. I ordered the Bintje seedlings from GrowOrganic.com, they have a huge variety. We'll see in a couple of months!

I hope when the time comes, you will take pictures and tell us a bit about each potato. Who knows you may inspire many more to grow their own potatoes next year.

Regards,

Until your crop comes in you should try some of the new potatoes available now at the farmer's markets. Nichols alone had several different small fingerlings and small yukon golds.

NASA Really Is Trying to Grow Potatoes on Mars

http://www.wsj.com/articles/nasa-really ... 1460560325