Beka and I love root vegetables...

I went to the park the other day with a friend, Beka, and we started talking about gardening while the kids played. We discussed different things we wanted to plant this year and I said, "I'll do carrots and onions because they're so easy to grow here." (It's hot and dry ALL SUMMER LONG) So then she was saying how much fun it was to grow potatoes in her garden last year. I had grown potatoes as well last year but forgotten about them until about a week ago.

A week ago...I was peeling potatoes that I'd purchased and was absently thinking, "Potatoes are good. I should plant potatoes next year.....Wait!! I planted potatoes this year and they're still out there!" I have heard that you're supposed to wait a couple of weeks after the tops die down to harvest but I've just read other sites that say to harvest a couple of weeks after they flower. I waited until halfway through winter. :)

So the next day, I went out with my shovel and dug up about a dozen potatoes. (An Easter egg hunt in January.) They ranged in size from medium to very small. Here are some from dinner.

The best part of the whole experience? I didn't even have to buy the starts for the potato plants! I planted potatoes that sprouted roots while hanging in the pantry. Fun! Just FYI: They taste just like potatoes purchased at the store. So I'm not planting them next year because the taste is superior, they're just fun to grow.