Wild potatoes are native to the Andes Mountains of South America and were cultivated by local Indians. Spanish colonists brought it to Europe in the 16th century. In 1586, the British defeated the Spanish in the Caribbean, collected tobacco and other plant seeds from South America, and brought potatoes to Britain. The climate in Britain is suitable for the growth of potatoes, and its yield is higher than other cereals. And easy to manage, potatoes had become Ireland's main food crop in 1650 and became popular in Europe. In 1719, they were brought back to the United States by Irish immigrants and began to be grown in the United States.

In the 17th century, potatoes had become an important food crop in Europe.

In the 17th century, potatoes had spread to China. Since potatoes were very suitable for growing in alpine areas where grain yields were extremely low and only oats could grow, they soon became popular in Inner Mongolia, Popularized in Hebei, Shanxi, and northern Shaanxi, high-yielding crops introduced from the Americas such as potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes have become the main food for the poor, playing an important role in maintaining the rapid increase in China's population.

Extended information:

Potato growth cycle

1. Dormant period: After potatoes are harvested and placed in an environment suitable for germination, it is physiological that they cannot germinate for a long time. Tuber dormancy begins when the tips of stolons stop polar growth and the tubers begin to expand. The length of time is related to the storage capacity of the tubers and whether the seedlings can emerge in time after sowing, and thus to the level of yield.

2. Germination period: The potato is in the germination period from bud germination to emergence. The growth of the first segment of the main stem is carried out. The center of growth during the germination period is the elongation of the buds, rooting and the formation of stolons. Nutrition and Water mainly comes from seed potatoes, which are supplied in the order of stems, leaves and roots. The speed and quality of growth are controlled by the seed potatoes and the environmental conditions required for germination.

3. Seedling stage: From the emergence of the potato to the flattening of the sixth or eighth leaf, that is, the growth of one phyllotaxis is completed, which is called a "tuanke". The "tuanke" is the second section of the main stem. Growth, the seedling stage of potatoes. The seedling stage takes a short time, only half a month regardless of spring or autumn planting.

4. The sprouting stage: The potato grows from the bulb to the twelfth or sixteenth leaf. At this time, the main stem begins to rise sharply, and the main stem and leaves have all been completed and formed. Branching and expansion of branching leaves. The root system continues to expand, the tuber swells to the size of a pigeon egg, and there is a growth center transition stage in the tree development stage.

5. Potato-bearing period: After the potato plant growth period is completed, it enters the potato-bearing period, which is dominated by tuber growth. During this period, the growth of stems and leaves decreases day by day, and the base leaves begin to turn yellow and wither. Part of the organic nutrients are continuously transported to the tubers, and the tubers expand faster, especially 10 days after the flowering period. The length of the potato-bearing period is subject to climatic conditions, diseases and variety ripeness, etc., and is generally 30 to 50 days.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Potato