Home Guard potato facts for kids

The Home Guard is a special type, or cultivar, of potato. It is mostly grown in Ireland. This potato has an oval shape. It is known as an "early variety." This means it is ready to harvest quite quickly. You can usually find 'Home Guard' potatoes in shops by mid-May.

The potato's inside, called its flesh, is white or cream colored. However, it can sometimes change color when it's cooked. The 'Home Guard' potato can get sick from several diseases. These include blight, potato cyst nematode, and powdery scab.

What is the 'Home Guard' Potato?

The 'Home Guard' potato is a specific kind of potato plant. It was first created in Scotland in 1942. This was during World War II. The name "Home Guard" likely comes from the civilian defense organization during the war. This organization helped protect the country. The potato was bred by McGill and Smith in Ayr.

Key Features of 'Home Guard'

The 'Home Guard' potato is known for a few things. It grows quickly, making it an "early" potato. This means farmers can harvest it sooner than many other types. It usually produces a moderate to low amount of potatoes. This is called its "yield." The potatoes are oval-shaped. They have a white or cream-colored inside.

Cooking and Eating 'Home Guard'

When you cook 'Home Guard' potatoes, they are usually soft and floury. They are good for boiling or mashing. However, sometimes the flesh can turn a slightly darker color after cooking. This is called "discoloration." It doesn't mean the potato is bad. It just changes its look a little.

Growing 'Home Guard' Potatoes

Like all potatoes, 'Home Guard' potatoes grow underground. Farmers plant small pieces of potato, called "seed potatoes," in the spring. These pieces sprout and grow into new plants. The new potatoes then form on the roots. Because it's an early variety, it doesn't need a very long growing season.

Challenges for Growers

Growing 'Home Guard' potatoes can be tricky. This variety is not very strong against certain plant diseases. Farmers need to be careful to protect their crops.

Blight

Blight is a serious plant disease. It is caused by a type of mold. Blight can quickly damage potato leaves and stems. It can also rot the potatoes themselves. This disease can ruin an entire crop if not controlled.

Potato Cyst Nematode

The potato cyst nematode is a tiny worm. It lives in the soil. These worms attack the roots of potato plants. They feed on the roots, which makes the plant weak. This can lead to smaller potatoes or fewer potatoes.

Powdery Scab

Powdery scab is a fungal disease. It causes rough, scabby spots on the potato skin. These spots can look like powdery patches. While it doesn't always harm the inside of the potato, it makes the potatoes look less appealing. It can also make them harder to store.

Importance of Potato Varieties

Potatoes are a very important food crop around the world. There are thousands of different potato varieties. Each one has its own special features. Some are good for frying, others for baking. Some are strong against diseases, while others grow quickly. The 'Home Guard' potato is one of these many varieties. It has played a role in feeding people, especially in Ireland, since its creation.