Grow your own hot chips? - May 21, 2009


I went to the cricket in January and got stuck behind a huge guy wearing a Mexican hat. It was so hot I began hallucinating about hiring a seagull suit and running onto the pitch with a huge chip under my wing. If security chased me it would look like they were after my chip.

I love chips and they taste even better if they are made from home grown potatoes. Seed potatoes are available now at your local nursery. Potatoes are the easiest of all vegetables to grow. Simply find a sunny spot in your garden. Dig cow manure and blood and bone into the soil. Cut your seed potatoes into quarters and plant these 40cms apart. As the potatoes sprout, mulch around the stems with your lawn clippings. Water them when you see the leaves drooping.

At Chistmas time when the leaves start to go yellow dig up your potatoes as needed. They will stay fresher in the soil than in your cupboard.

Home grown potatoes have a completely different taste than those things you buy at the grocer. Eat your home made hot chips inside or you could be attacked by seagulls.

Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and Director of Tim’s Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.