Each year I leave most of my Armageddon taters in the ground to re-grow, but now there are far too many of them crowding each other out, so hubs is kindly digging them up for me.
A third of the taters will be replanted as they’re ready to romp away having grown strong shoots, the rest will be cooked as they’re still perfectly edible.
One bucket of spuds takes an age to clean and peel, and given there’s at least ten more buckets to come, I’m sure going to have my work cut out.
Thankfully I have a large chest freezer to house my Armageddon taters.
I’ve now learnt that one bucket of taters produces…
three trays of small cut roasted potatoes, my favourite type.
One pan of colcannon, a pan of leek and potato soup and a substantial batch of mashed potato. The leeks were harvested from my raised beds in the courtyard.
Littl’urchin loved the soup, which is wonderful as there will be a lot more winging it’s way to her.
And finally…
I’ll now need to harvest the last of the leeks and plant the taters in this raised bed.
Until next time, stay safe guys.
Come the apocalypse you’ll be well prepared. It’s amazing harvesting potatoes at this time of the year.
They store well in sandy soil. I’m always surprised re how long they keep in the ground. Thanks Chloris.xxx
They certainly do look good 🙂
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, you just can’t beat a potato can you, such a versatile vegetable.xxx
Sounds delicious!!! I love your name for those potatoes.
Thanks Casa. I hope all is well with you and yours.xxx
I may have missed something in the past, but — why armageddon potatoes? Is something happening? Do I need to pay more attention to the news?
They certainly do look good. I rarely eat a potato now, but I’m being sorely tempted, with all this potato talk. I do remember a small family revolt, back in the days when “instant” mashed potatoes first appeared. Grandma resisted, but Mom gave them a try. It took about two tries for everyone to look at her and say, “No more fake potatoes! We want the real thing!
I call them that as I always leave half of the potatoes in the ground each year just in case something happens and food is short. Hahaha, loving the instant mash saga, I have to agree that it’s gross! Thanks Linda.xxx
Your potatoes look great! We have had a really good crop this year too, and they just taste SO much better than any we have bought…..I really love potatoes in their jackets with some butter and salt! Your leeks are looking good, we have had no luck with them.
Hope you will be seeing littl’urchin over the Easter holidays.
Thanks Gerrie, Oh yes, home grown is far superior! Good to hear you had a good crop too. You have me craving a baked potato now, I must put some in the oven tomorrow. What a shame about your leeks, plants can certainly be picky.xxx
I lift all mine by late autumn, and rarely find any I’ve missed the following year. The larger ones will generally store well for use into the new year.
Thanks, and you too. xx
Since I got the topsoil for the raised beds in the courtyard I’ve discovered that potatoes don’t last underground in heavy soil but do in my sandy soil in the veggie patch. Thanks Flighty.xxx
Awesome! I love taters of any kind and those trays of roasties look yummy. Do you just freeze them and then pop them in a hot oven when you want them? Presumably you cook from frozen? How long would they need in the oven? xx
Thanks Gill, y’know what, it doesn’t matter how many roasties I cook, they never make it to the freezer! xxx
Potatoes from the garden are just the best.
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks Brenda.xxx
I like the way you grow and prepare some of your potatoes for the freezer. I don’t think we’ll grow many potatoes this year, but indoors we’ve lots of other veg seedlings on the go on every available shelf. Take care, stay well.
This is certainly the time when seedlings are everywhere! It’s the same here. Thanks Linda.xxx
Dearest, yes… time to put under earth the potatoes with sprouds 🙂 I saved frew from my beloved Charlotte type.
I didn’t plant leeks, this year, well in 2020 was difficult to get small plants because of the lock-down and those sown have not grown. But I have planted several allium bulbs of colors between white and violet… now you only see the leaves. They can make beautiful bouquets with other flowers from the garden, or be used for decoration on plates.
Yummi your baked potatoes, sure, are always an exceptional meal.
Yes, stay safe you too… Hugs and kisses 🙂 claudine
What a shame your leeks didn’t grow, hopefully they’ll do better this year if you can get some plug plants. I have planted some potatoes too, this certainly is a busy time gardening wise, everything seems to come up at once and need potting on at once. I love alliums, you must post about yours when they flower! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a roast potato! Thanks Claudine. Love and hugs to you all.xxx
Great post and awesome images. Never heard of those spuds down here.
It’s just a name I give them as I always leave some in the ground just in case. Thanks Peter.xxx
What a delicious labor of love! While I have no time for much gardening, leave alone extended cooking efforts, I sure can appreciate yours!
Thanks Jeanie. Growing your own is labour intensive, but I do enjoy it.xxx
Armageddon taters – brilliant. We had leek and potato soup for lunch today but I could go some of those delicious looking roasties. :O) xx
Leek and potato soup is my favourite at the moment, it’s even more delicious when home grown. I love lentil, carrot and spinach soup too. The roasties sure go fast.xxx
They look fab and will keep you going for a while!
Thanks Steph, that little lot certainly didn’t last long!!!xxx
Yum!
Indeedy! Thanks Jason.xxx
Is that a week’s worth of preparation and cooking? Just as well you have a capacious freezer. Little’ un is a great motivator for grandma’s provision of soup. It won’t be long before she asks you how to make it 🙂
With that amount of potato peelings you could have offered out a porcine treat.
All in all it took four hours to prepare and cook the potatoes. The roasties went the same day as did the soup, the rest went into the freezer but have already been eaten. Looking forward to sharing recipes with Littl’urchin. Yes, pigs would have appreciated all those peelings, still, they all went on the compost heap where they somehow manage to grow each year. Thanks Menhir.xxx
You are so resourceful! And obviously well-experienced. Have you tried crash potatoes? They are boiled first (with peel if possible) then crashed onto a pan, drizzled with olive oil, salt, pepper, whatever herbs you like (I favor thyme) and baked high (450F/230C) until the edges and tops crisp up.
Uhmmm excellent idea! Thank you for the tip, I will try it out. Over here, we drive crazy about potatoes :-)c
Thanks Anne, I did try crash potatoes several times, you posted about them, they are utterly delicious and will be made. xxx
I am so impressed with your organisation and resoursfulness, you put me to shame! All your roasties look really delightful…enjoy!
Thanks Pauline, the work you put into your beautiful garden puts me to shame! Roasties are certainly inviting aren’t they?xxx
I love potatoes and so once again wish I was your next door neighbour…I would help you peel and clean:)xxx
How lovely it would be to share the preparation and goodies with you! Sighs….Thanks Janet.xxx
Yum! A lot of work, to be sure, but wow: Look at the payoff. What beautiful deliciousness!!! You inspire me. I LOVE this post. Thank you; I feel like I’ve eaten a feast. Xoxo 😘
You can’t beat home grown taters! Hahaha….looking at those pics makes me hungry now. Thanks Kitty, love and hugs to you all.xxx
Oooh, look at all those roasties, yum yum. I’ve been growing my spuds in containers since giving up the allotment with mixed success. Fingers crossed that it’s a good year.
There’s nothing quite like a roastie is there? here’s to your roasties surpassing your wildest dreams this year! Thanks Jo.xxx