Changes

The potato was discovered and cultivated in the Andes 3000+ years ago, and was a major food source for the [[Incas]]s, who gave it to the Spanish around 1520.<ref>Office of International Affairs, '' Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation'' (1989) [http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=030904264X&page=92 online]</ref> They brought to Europe one main variety, the white potato. It soon became the major food crop for peasants in northern Europe. A plot of an acre or less could feed an entire peasant family for a year.  Ireland became overdependent on the potato, and when a potato blight<ref> See [http://www.cropinfo.net/Potatoblight.htm "Potato Late Blight] for details.</ref> in 1845-46 destroyed most of the crop, the result was the [[Irish Famine|famine]]. The famine caused a million deaths, vast social disruption and massive emigration.  

The potato was discovered and cultivated in the Andes 3000+ years ago, and was a major food source for the [[Incas]]s, who gave it to the Spanish around 1520.<ref>Office of International Affairs, '' Lost Crops of the Incas: Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation'' (1989) [http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=030904264X&page=92 online]</ref> They brought to Europe one main variety, the white potato. It soon became the major food crop for peasants in northern Europe. A plot of an acre or less could feed an entire peasant family for a year.  Ireland became overdependent on the potato, and when a potato blight<ref> See [http://www.cropinfo.net/Potatoblight.htm "Potato Late Blight] for details.</ref> in 1845-46 destroyed most of the crop, the result was the [[Irish Famine|famine]]. The famine caused a million deaths, vast social disruption and massive emigration.  

Farmers and agronomists have developed many new varieties and sub-varieties to fit different soils and climates.<ref> see [http://www.umaine.edu/paa/PVI.htm for a listing]</ref>  Harvest is usually midsummer to late fall. Most farmers plant in early spring, using well-drained, slightly acid soil; they avoid wet, soggy soils.<ref> See [http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/rowcrops/pp877w.htm Gary A. Secor, "Guidelines for Seed Potato Selection, Handling and Planting" PP-877 1997] and [http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/pdf/CIS/CIS1000.pdf "Potato Production in the Home Garden"]</ref>

Farmers and agronomists have developed many new varieties and sub-varieties to fit different soils and climates.<ref> see [http://www.umaine.edu/paa/PVI.htm for a listing]</ref>  Harvest is usually midsummer to late fall. Most farmers plant in early spring, using well-drained, slightly acid soil; they avoid wet, soggy soils.<ref> See [http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/rowcrops/pp877w.htm Gary A. Secor, "Guidelines for Seed Potato Selection, Handling and Planting" PP-877 1997] and [http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/pdf/CIS/CIS1000.pdf "Potato Production in the Home Garden"]</ref>

 

==Production and consumption==

==Production and consumption==