Your box of Nola
You came for lunch and you left with an egg carton of potatoes. “Lovely” you think to yourself, “but why? Why potatoes and not a bag of scrummy yummy biscuits for your afternoon coffee?”
At Nola Bistro the humble, grounded, rich-in-history and tasteful potato has become our inspiration and guiding star. As we work to serve you the tastiest of foods, the healthiest of foods and the planet friendliest of foods – with the aspiration to play our part in changing the worlds food system – we look to the potato for inspiration. So much that we named our restaurant after it. Nola simply means potato (read more about Nola and our philosophy here!)
So, although we also love scrummy yummy biscuits (our baker Camilla is quickly becoming everybody’s favourite person!) we wanted to give you a chance to open your very own nola bistro at home come later this summer. Continue, to read more about the Queen Anne potato, Tånga Farm and how to grow your potatoes!
The potato – “Queen Anne”
The organic potato variety that you’ll be bringing home is a Queen Anne. Isn’t it a lovely name? And there is definitely something queenly about it. It’s a gourmet potato combining the best of cultivation and growing qualities with a delicious flavour. It gives a rich yield and can be enjoyed both as a summer and winter potato.
The Farm - Tånga Gård
The organic Queen Anne in your box comes from one of our suppliers, Tånga Gård which is family-run in the 13th generation. If you’re on a Sunday drive, why not go down and visit their farm shop. You’ll find them somewhere in between Falkenberg, Varberg och Ullared in the heart of Halland.
Grow your potatoes
If you’re a seasoned home-gardener you know exactly what to do with your Queen Anne’s now. But if it’s your first time to grow potatoes, here comes some tips along the way!
Sprout/chit your potatoes
Chitting or sprouting potatoes is simply the process of forcing seed potatoes into growth before they are planted out. Although it is not absolutely necessary, it gives them a head start on potatoes which have not been chitted and in turn will give you a slightly earlier and bigger harvest. Just leave your Queen Annes with the rose end (the end where the potato already has some “sprout eyes”) up and the heel end (the narrow bit) down. Keep in a bright place ideally 8-15 degrees. We hope that in 4-6 weeks you’ll be ready to plant.
Planting
Time for planting and this is a super short guide. There’s of course much more to say about planting the potatoes but google is your friend!
Potatoes don’t like frost. So if you plant your potato and one of those Swedish spring frosts are on its way protect your potatoes by covering with a fiber cloth or similiiar.
Dig and plant them in trenches, rose side up, at least 8-10cm deep and 30cm apart, with 60cm between rows (a personal favourite is not digging in the soil at all but simply cover them with hay or seaweeds) Or why not do it in pots or bags if space is an issue!
Make sure to cover your potatoes with soil continuously – it does not want to see the sunlight!
Harvest!
Harvesting is a matter of what kind of potatoes you want on your plate. Harvest ”new” potatoes 2-3 weeks after the flower has died, or wait until the whole crop has died back if you want larger potatoes with thicker skins. Et Voila! Ready to cook your favourite “nola” recipe!
