What is the most consumed vegetable in the United States? Potatoes! Oddly enough, it’s not even on the top 10 list of backyard garden vegetables. That’s too bad, because the potato varieties that are available for home gardeners are more colorful and flavorful than the varieties you’d find in a grocery store.   We revisit a conversation we had with America’s favorite retired college horticulture professor, Debbie Flower, about growing potatoes. She has some tips about choosing potatoes and how to cut and prepare them for planting.Plus, Master Gardener Gail Pothour talks about the best months to be planting your potatoes. As we are fond of saying here, all gardening is local, so that timing will vary. We will also get into the details of colorful, interesting potato varieties, as well as  storage tips for your harvested potatoes.  It’s all in today’s episode 262, Spring Potato Basics.  It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. Let’s go! Previous episodes, show notes, links, product information, and transcripts at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred, GardenBasics.net. Transcripts and episode chapters also available at Buzzsprout.Pictured: Colorful PotatoesLinks: Subscribe to the free, Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter https://gardenbasics.substack.com Smart Pots https://smartpots.com/fred/ Dave Wilson Nursery https://www.davewilson.com/home-garden/Flashback Ep. 114 Crop Rotation, Clay SoilSanta Clara Co. Master Gardeners - PotatoesGrowing Potatoes Organically: Basics From Seed To StoragePotato Varieties:Dark Red NorlandFrench FingerlingYukon GoldAdirondack BlueMagic MollyClancy All About Farmer Fred: The GardenBasics.net websiteThe Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter, Beyond the Basics https://gardenbasics.substack.comThe Farmer Fred Rant! Blog Facebook:  "Get Growing with Farmer Fred" Instagram: farmerfredhoffman Twitter: @farmerfredFarmer Fred Garden Minute Videos on YouTube Got a garden question? • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics• Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. • Fill out the contact box at GardenBasics.net• E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter