Hardly any meal is considered complete without the addition of potatoes. One may use it in biryani, curry, chaat, bhujia, samosas, aaloo parathas and tarkaari etc. It is almost impossible to gauge the impact of the potato on the culinary routine and eating habits of Pakistanis.

When it comes to preparing meals, the potato is comparatively one of the most inexpensive ingredients as compared to other vegetables. The generous use of potatoes as a staple ingredient in our meals leads to its abundant and continuous supply too. There are a number of varieties of potatoes that are commercially grown and sold in Pakistan. Sometimes, the continuous requirement throughout the year pushes the government into importing potatoes to meet the demand.

In our upcoming columns, we will be covering different methods of growing potatoes, especially for those with limited resources and limited space available at home.

For now, let us see how tubers of potatoes can be very easily grown at home.

One of the easiest things about growing potatoes at home is that one hardly needs to visit the seed store in order to get potato seeds.

Instead, one can simply buy a few small sized potatoes and use those potatoes as seeds. The benefit of opting for seed potato from the seed store, however, is that these are usually treated, which in the long run helps the plant to fight and fend off unwanted diseases, pests and critters attacks.

Small-sized potatoes can directly be used for sowing.

However, it is better to initially store these potatoes in a cool, dark place. If the location is devoid of any humidity, these small potatoes can be kept in a refrigerator as well. Storing the potatoes in sucha manner will help to quickly start a process called chitting.

Chitting of potatoes simply refers to the sprouting or growth of small green shoots on the tuber`s surface. The chitting gives the potatoes a head start in the sowing and growing process, as compared to those potatoes that are sown directly. This ultimately results in fast plant maturity and comparatively quick potato yield too. Otherwise, within the soil, it takes about two to three weeks for the un-chit potatoes to sprout, depending upon various factors.

If the potato chosen for growing is bigger in size, it can be cut into a few smaller pieces, while ensuring that the sprouting shoots are protected and remain intact.

To ensure this, make sure that the knife is disinfected, as this helps in the avoidance of any probable potato plant diseases.

Some of the popular potato varieties commercially grown and available in Pakistan include esmee, kuroda, vogue and constance. Many other varieties can be easily grown here too.

While intending to grow potatoesat home, the variety chosen should be in line with the city climate. It is advisable to consult with the local growers or seed stores to inquire about the best potato variety to grow in one`s vicinity.

The potato is primarily a winter crop that might bear extreme cold too.

In areas that experience winters for three months or less, days with colder temperatures are the best time to sow the potato crop. In those areas that have long winters, it is recommended to sow the seeds when the soil temperature is not lower than 10 degrees Celsius.

The best temperature range for the potato crop would be around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. A higher temperature than this range can significantly inhibit the tuber plant growth.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel `DocTree Gardening` promoting organic kitchen gardening