Plant histories
The history behind a number of crop plants.
Looking at where they originated, their domestication, the introduction of these crops to Europe, how European attitudes to them changed over the centuries and ultimately how our changing demands have influenced the plants themselves.
Use of the potato
The potato has been a vital food crop for Andean civilisations for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years. The arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s heralded the introduction of the potato to Europe.
However, although the potato had been introduced to most of Europe by 1600, it didn't become part of the European diet until much later. At first it was mainly grown by botanists as a curiosity or by physicians who used it in medicines.
Ireland was the first place in Europe where the adoption of the potato was widespread. The potato was introduced to Ireland sometime before 1600 and flourished in the Irish climate. It was of great benefit to the poor, who had to support themselves on very small plots of land, as it gave very good yields. The ease of growing, harvesting and preparing potatoes also contributed to their rapid success. By 1650 potatoes had become the main crop in Ireland. Unfortunately this dependence on the potato and the population explosion that followed its introduction was to lead to widespread famine when the crop failed due to disease.
English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. It is possible that the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh personally supplied the first potatoes to Ireland.
Author: N. Hillard. Copyright: free.
In the colder areas of Europe the delay in adoption of the potato could be attributed to climate. The potato plant, which had come to Europe from Peru, was used to the short days of summer near the equator and didn't produce potatoes in Northern Europe until the shorter days of autumn. In colder regions this was too late for successful potato growth.
As a result potatoes didn't become successful in the northern and colder areas of Europe until plants had been bred that would produce tubers earlier in the year.
Even in the warmer climates further south and west the uptake of the potato was slow. This was probably due to the resistance of rural communities to change. To plant a new crop was to risk food shortages in the event of failure. There were also rumours that the potato caused diseases such as flatulence, leprosy and scrofula.
As well as more serious diseases the potato has been blamed in the past for causing flatulence.
The adoption of the potato as a food crop throughout Europe really occurred during the 1700s. Europe was racked by conflict during this period and many politicians encouraged their citizens to grow potatoes as a way of preventing famine; not only did potatoes often yield more than other crops but, growing underground, it was less open to damage by hostile troops.
