Potatoes are tubers that grow on the potato plant below ground.
Like tomatoes, aubergines and bell peppers, potatoes belong to the nightshade family. The scientific name is ‘Solanum tuberosum’, or plant with tubers (tuberosa) which like to be in the sun (sol). The foliage is poisonous and thus inedible. The thicker roots, or tubers, underground, in which the plant stores its food reserves, are though edible and really nutritious. Each tuber has several sprouting points or “eyes”. New plants with tubers evolve from them in the subsequent year. The newly sprouted plants feed only with the reserves of the mother tuber. The little plant feeds itself independently only when it gets green leaves and sunlight.

Potatoes contain starch (19%), proteins (2%), fibres (2%) and essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Apart from that, potatoes contain no fat as such. They are a good source of energy for your body and help your bowels work properly.

The farmer plants Jazzy in the soil in April. The first little plants emerge in May. In August the potatoes are ready for harvesting (lifting).