Published on: 22 September 2018
Last Updated on: 22 February 2020
Consuming healthy foods can help to improve your quality of life. So, where do you find fresh fruit or maybe healthy processed food in France? We have one best company which sells fresh and healthy fruits and processed food. We introduce you to the SICOLY known as Sica des Coteaux du Lyonnais. It was established in 1962 and aims to promote best quality fruit on all of the French national markets. Now, the company becomes the leading of fresh fruit production among French plates. The company has professionally become an indispensable supplier in the field of restaurants, ice-cream production, bars, as well as patisserie with high-quality raw fruit and processed fruit.
This following explanation will tell you why one of the most professional fruit-handling in French is the right place to find and get all fresh raw fruit and processed fruit for your daily needs. Every year, best French fruit supplier harvests more than 10,000 tonnes of high-quality raw fruits on 570 hectares of orchards. Here, you can get abundant ranges of fruit from berries, apples, pear, many more at its premium quality. Additionally, high-end technology is used in order to preserve the quality of your fruit in the best quality. To meet every customer’s expectation, the company uses the first electronic cherry grader in France for sorting fruit with premium quality and hydro-cooling for cooling fruit quickly to keep it fresh. Do not worry about the quality, there few labels awared to the company including BRC, Global G.A.P, as well as Integrated Fruit Production approach. Those are the proof that the committed to giving the finest quality and greater guarantees for all consumers is their concern. For those who live in another continent or across the country still can enjoy the premium quality of raw fruit because 15% fresh fruit is exported in several countries and the rest of it is sold on the French market.
You can also enjoy processed fruits like professional fruit puree and you do not need to worry about the quality. The company is committed to preserving the natural value of fruits. There is a wide range of processed fruits including puree and juices from various fruit range and all the products are handled with a proper treatment. All the processed food will still have original flavor and freshness. In fact, it uses the very best tools and technology for food safety systems including de-aeration of puree for conserving flavors and colors and Ohmic heat treatment for preserving the organoleptic qualities of every processed fruit. To keep an authentic taste, engineers always monitor the production on a daily basis. This aims to deliver a greater guarantee of the food safety in order to meet the market’s needs. Then, the quality team also regularly updates-testing plan and respond to what market requirements and the needs of consumers. Additionally, this fruit supplier also applies the most effective stock management by applying zero storage. It aims to make sure that every processed fruit serving its authentic tastes. Now, there is no doubt for you to buy fresh raw fruit or processed fruit from one of the leading fruit supplier in French because they are just really amazing in serving the freshness of fruit to the mouth of every consumer.
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If there is something that I have learned in life, it is about gardening. Well, almost everything if not all. And if there is one thing that took me some time to master, it was knowing how to harvest potatoes at home!
Potatoes are one of the most versatile and popular vegetables in the world. They can be cooked in many different ways, such as boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted. Moreover, they are also rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
But how do you grow and harvest your own potatoes at home? You see, potatoes are not like cilantro or other plants. These are tubers.
In this article, I will show you everything you need to know about how to harvest potatoes, from planting to storage.
So, if that is something that you are interested in knowing, then I have you covered! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more...
How to Plant Potato Seeds or Tubers?
The first step in how to harvest potatoes is to plant them. You can start with either potato seeds or tubers. Potato seeds are small, round, and black, and they are usually sold in packets.
Potato tubers are the actual potatoes that you eat, and they have eyes or buds that can sprout new plants.
You can buy certified seed potatoes from a nursery or garden center, or use organic potatoes from the grocery store.
Here are some if the steps that you must take to plant them:
Planting Potato Seeds
To plant potato seeds, you need to sow them indoors in pots or trays filled with moist potting soil.
Place them in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
The seeds will germinate in about two weeks and produce small green shoots.
When the shoots are about 3 inches tall, you can transplant them outdoors in your garden or in containers.
Planting Potato Tubers
To plant potato tubers, you need to cut them into pieces, each with at least one eye.
You can do this a few days before planting to let the cut surfaces heal and prevent rotting. Alternatively, you can plant whole small potatoes with several eyes.
To prepare the soil, you need to loosen it and add some organic matter, such as compost or manure.
You also need to make sure the soil is well-drained and slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0.
You can use a soil test kit to check the pH level and adjust it with lime or sulfur if needed.
Planting Potato Pieces
To plant the potato pieces, you need to dig a trench about 4 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Place the pieces about 12 inches apart, with the eyes facing up.
Cover them with 3 inches of soil and water well.
As the plants grow, you need to hill up the soil around them to cover the lower stems and prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green and bitter.
You can also mulch the soil with straw, leaves, or grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
How to Care for Your Potato Plants?
The second step in how to harvest potatoes is to care for your potato plants. You need to water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You also need to fertilize them every two weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Also, you can add some wood ash or bone meal to provide extra potassium and phosphorus, which are essential for tuber formation.
You also need to protect your potato plants from pests and diseases, which can reduce your yield and quality. Some of the common potato pests are:
Colorado potato beetles, which are yellow and black striped insects that feed on the leaves and can defoliate the plants. You can handpick them and drop them in a bucket of soapy water, or use an organic insecticide, such as neem oil or pyrethrin.
Potato leafhoppers, which are small, green, winged insects that suck the sap from the leaves and cause them to curl and yellow. You can spray them with a strong jet of water, or use an organic insecticide, such as garlic or hot pepper spray.
Wireworms, which are thin, brown, worm-like larvae that bore into the tubers and cause holes and tunnels. You can trap them with pieces of carrot or potato buried in the soil, or use beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms that parasitize and kill the wireworms.
Common Potato Diseases
One of the most common reasons why a potato cannot grow or survive is the diseases. If you were wondering what some of these can be and how to deal with them, I have you covered!
Some of the common potato diseases are:
Late Blight: It is a fungal disease that causes brown spots on the leaves and stems, and black or brown lesions on the tubers. It can spread rapidly and destroy the entire crop. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, avoiding overhead watering, and removing any infected plants and tubers. You can also use a fungicide, such as copper or sulfur, as a preventive measure.
Scab: This is a bacterial disease that causes rough, corky patches on the tubers. It does not affect the taste or edibility of the potatoes, but it reduces their appearance and storage quality. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, maintaining a slightly acidic soil pH, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization.
Potato Virus Y: Lastly, this is a viral disease that causes mosaic patterns, mottling, or yellowing on the leaves, and misshapen or knobby tubers. It can reduce the yield and quality of the potatoes, and it can be transmitted by aphids or infected seed potatoes. You can prevent it by planting certified virus-free seed potatoes, controlling aphids, and removing any infected plants and tubers.
How to Determine When Your Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest?
The third step in how to harvest potatoes is to determine when they are ready to harvest. This depends on the type and variety of potatoes you planted, and the size and maturity you want.
There are two main types of potatoes: early and late.
Early potatoes are ready to harvest in about 10 to 12 weeks (about 3 months) after planting, and they produce small to medium-sized tubers that are tender and thin-skinned. They are best for boiling, steaming, or roasting.
Late potatoes are ready to harvest in about 15 to 20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) after planting, and they produce large, starchy tubers that are firm and thick-skinned. They are best for baking, mashing, or frying.
Early Harvesting
To harvest early potatoes, you can start digging them up when the plants begin to flower, or when the lower leaves start to yellow.
You can use a garden fork or a spade to gently lift the plants and tubers from the soil, or you can use your hands to feel for the tubers under the soil.
You can harvest as many or as few potatoes as you need, and leave the rest in the ground until you are ready to use them.
You can also harvest some of the young, tender leaves and stems, which are edible and nutritious.
Late Harvesting
To harvest late potatoes, you need to wait until the plants have died back completely, or until the first frost.
This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin, which helps them store better.
You can use a garden fork or a spade to dig up the entire row of plants and tubers, or you can use a potato digger, which is a special tool that lifts and separates the tubers from the soil.
You need to be careful not to damage or bruise the tubers, as this can cause rotting or spoilage.
How to Dig Up, Cure, and Store Your Potatoes?
The final step in how to harvest potatoes is to dig up, cure, and store your potatoes. This is important to preserve the quality and shelf life of your potatoes, and to prevent them from sprouting, rotting, or shrinking. Here are the steps to follow:
Digging Up
After digging up your potatoes, you need to brush off any excess soil and remove any damaged, diseased, or green tubers.
Do not wash your potatoes, as this can remove the protective skin and invite bacteria and fungi. You can wash them just before cooking or eating them.
Curing
You need to cure your potatoes for about two weeks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, such as a basement, garage, or shed.
This allows the skin to harden and heal any minor cuts or bruises and enhances the flavor and texture of the potatoes.
The ideal temperature for curing is between 50°F and 60°F, and the ideal humidity is between 80% and 90%.
You can spread your potatoes in a single layer on a newspaper, cardboard, or wooden crate, and avoid exposing them to light, which can turn them green and bitter.
Storing
You need to store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a cellar, pantry, or closet. The ideal temperature for storage is between 40°F and 50°F, and the ideal humidity is between 65% and 70%.
You can store your potatoes in paper bags, cardboard boxes, mesh bags, or wooden crates, and check them regularly for any signs of sprouting, rotting, or shriveling.
You can also store your potatoes in a root cellar, which is an underground or partially underground structure that maintains a constant temperature and humidity.
Additionally, you can also store your potatoes in a clamp, which is a mound of straw, hay, or leaves covered with soil, that insulates and protects the potatoes from frost and rodents.
Wrapping It Up!
If you want to know about how to harvest potatoes, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. However, if there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know.
All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!
Read Also:
How to Harvest Lettuce: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fresh and Crispy Salads
Everything You Need To Know About Harvesting Basil!
Fad diets are always trying to do something new, promising to improve your health the way no diet ever has before. Often, if these diets aren’t just trying to sell you something, their principles are based on ‘bro science’ or common nutrition myths.
The truth is that we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Many cultures around the world have been eating well for millennia, striking the right balance between all the necessary components of a good diet.
Today, we’re looking at China's approach to food, which has captured the attention of both food enthusiasts and health experts globally. And with nearly half of Americans actively trying to lose weight, according to this study by ValuePenguin, the timing couldn’t be better. Let’s delve into why the Chinese diet is celebrated as one of the healthiest in the world.
A Balanced Approach
At the heart of the Chinese diet lies a profound emphasis on equilibrium. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the belief in harmonizing the body's yin and yang energies is at the core of well-being. This holistic philosophy extends gracefully to the realm of cuisine, where achieving balance in one's diet is regarded as a bedrock principle.
Chinese culinary traditions beautifully exemplify this equilibrium, artfully integrating a spectrum of tastes, textures, and culinary techniques. The result is a culinary experience that engages all five essential flavors – sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami.
Staples of the Chinese Diet
Every good meal needs a healthy foundation, and this is something the Chinese have been nailing forever. Rice or wheat is usually the most common base of nutritious meals. Furthermore, these grains provide a steady source of carbohydrates, ensuring sustained energy throughout the day. Unlike processed and refined grains, Chinese cuisine favors whole grains, preserving essential nutrients and fiber.
In addition to grains, vegetables play a central role in Chinese cooking. A variety of leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and seasonal produce brighten up Chinese dinner tables, offering a wealth of vitamins and minerals. These vegetables are often gently cooked or stir-fried, preserving their nutritional value. The inclusion of vegetables also ensures a high fiber content in the diet, supporting digestive health and promoting a sense of fullness.
Fish, poultry, tofu, and legumes are common in Chinese cuisine, with these protein options often being preferred over red meat. Fish, in particular, provides valuable omega-3 fatty acids, renowned for their heart-protective properties. This combination of protein and veggies has helped China claim the top spot in this Compare the Market study of the world’s healthiest diets.
Embracing Seasonal and Local Ingredients
The Chinese diet's healthiness shines through its emphasis on using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, aligning with traditional beliefs of harmony with nature. Seasonal foods offer peak flavor and nutrition while reducing the need for preservatives and long transportation.
Furthermore, the Chinese diet integrates traditional wisdom into its culinary practices. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) introduces the idea of food as medicine, with specific ingredients chosen for their restorative and strengthening effects.
For instance, ginger helps to combat colds and enhance digestion. On the other hand, goji berries have the power to boost the immune system. This blend of ancient knowledge with food choices contributes to the diet's reputation as one of the healthiest globally.
Portion Control and Mindful Eating
In addition to the quality and variety of foods, portion control and mindful eating practices are integral to the Chinese diet. Usually, meals are nothing less than family-style, with multiple dishes in the center of the table. This communal dining style encourages moderation and mindful consumption. By serving food in smaller portions and sharing, it becomes easier to control calorie intake and prevent overeating.
Furthermore, the Chinese approach to eating is full of mindfulness. Eating slowly, savoring each bite, and paying attention to the flavors and textures of food are common practices. This not only enhances the dining experience but also allows the body to register satiety more accurately.
Mindful eating promotes a deeper connection between the mind and body, reducing the risk of overindulgence and promoting overall well-being. If you’d like to try it yourself, Headspace has this free useful guide you can read.
The Changing Approach Towards Chinese Diet
The Chinese have a reputation for consuming a lower aggregate diet, which eventually impacts their later development. People belonging to some of the rural civilizations think it might be unfair to ask people to give up on meat completely. In countries like Brazil and China, the consumption of meat is a sign of economic as well as social progress.
There is an increasing demand for vegan food as well. A maximum of the total population wants to switch to a healthier alternative, keeping health concerns in mind. This has continued to have a positive impact on both their physical and mental well-being. Fat-free beverages, green vegetables, and more fruits and beans are now included in a traditional Chinese diet.
As a result, there is an increase in the number of healthy babies produced every year. Individuals tend to have better immunizations against diseases, and they typically live longer. Health experts say while this might not be the result of health consumption solely, food certainly has an enhanced effect on overall well-being.
Wrap-Up
The Chinese diet, with its emphasis on balance, staple foods, seasonal and local ingredients, and mindful eating, serves as a model for optimal health. Its diverse array of flavors, ingredients, and deep-rooted wisdom makes it a blueprint for healthy eating practices.
By embracing the principles of the Chinese diet, from moderation to variety, and the incorporation of fresh, individuals worldwide can take strides toward improving their health. Unprocessed ingredients are the key to remaining healthy and strong.
While no single diet is a magic solution, the Chinese approach to food offers valuable insights into maintaining a nutritious and balanced lifestyle that contributes to longevity and vitality. If you are diet-conscious, ensure to integrate the aforementioned tips to make your lifestyle better and healthier. Thank you for reading!
Read Also:
The Diet To Follow For A Healthy Gut
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From the first time they smile to their first tooth, everything that happens to your baby should be documented as a milestone. Getting your baby off exclusive breastfeeding, and started on solids is a feat that you should get right at the first go.
The fact is solid food is not breast-milk. It has to contain all the elements that will make it nutritious, delicious and palatable for your baby. Another thing you need to know is if your baby is ready for it.
While doctors recommend that you feed your baby breast-milk for six months, some babies are ready to take solids sooner than that. So, how do you know when your baby is ready? There are some tell-tale signs that will give you an incline whether to start solid foods or not.
Some Signs your Baby is Ready
Good head and neck control
When the baby is able to sit up in a chair
They reach out for food
When they weigh twice their birth weight
Normally, when babies are not ready for solids, they do not have the ability to swallow. At this point, you see them push the baby cereal back with their tongues. When your baby is ready for solids, they gradually start to lose this tongue-thrusting reflex.
The moment you see these signs, you should know that your baby is ready for more than breast-milk.
How do you start?
One thing you need to remember is your baby’s health and nutrition are the priority. You can start out with iron-rich baby cereal. It is best you feed your baby the cereal with a baby spoon, rather than in a bottle.
No matter what, solid foods, or, cereal, should be fed after you breastfeed your baby. This way your baby still enjoys the goodies of breast-milk and at the same time, can get acquainted with solids.
You may be tempted to introduce veggies and other foods immediately after the first success. But, you need to wait and give these foods gradually. Sometimes your baby may be allergic to these new foods, and giving them all at once will not help you identify the allergen.
Another thing about giving your baby solid foods is you may need to serve it in small forms. There are a lot of great and nutritious recipes for your baby you can try. You may be itching to ask if you can give your baby fresh fruit juices.
Fruit juices are an absolute big no for babies. The reason is that they pose to be more harmful than good. Juices add extra calories and sugars without giving your baby the needed balanced nutrition.
In addition, drinking too much will cause diarrhea in babies, lead to tooth decay, and excess weight.
It’s That Simple
Breastfeeding your baby, although very beneficial, is tiring, especially if your baby nurses a lot at short intervals. If your baby is between 4-6 months, and 6 months to 1 year, giving solids is only meant to supplement breast-milk, not replace it.
Read Also:
You Need To Avoid These Foods For Breakfast
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Eating Good Quality Foods For Diet
