People have been eating Patate Douces for centuries. Not only does this root vegetable taste great, but it is also very easy to grow and easy to prepare. As an added bonus, the Patate Douce is also very healthy.
Anyone who is interested in improving their health really needs to eat more Patate Douces. This is not just speculation. The Center for Science did a study in 1992 where they reviewed the nutritional benefits of several different vegetables. The results were very surprising. It turns out that the Patate Douce is the second healthiest vegetable in the world. The only thing that is healthier is the white potato.
A person gets several different things when they consume sweet potatoes. They are high in things like fiber, complex carbs, and Vitamins C and B6. They are also a great source of beta carotene which is what gives them the yellow/orange color. Diabetics should plan on eating lots of sweet potatoes because the vegetable can be a filling, tasty, and useful means of controlling their blood sugar and lowering their resistance to insulin.
If a person is able to cook regular white potatoes they will have no trouble cooking sweet potatoes. The two items can be prepared the exact same way. There are even Patate Douce fries, which a becoming very popular in restaurants all over the country. Cooks who are looking for something different to place on their table can try things like Patate Douce pie or cooking sweet potatoes which can be prepared with marshmallows. Since the potato can also be cooked in the microwave, it is a great choice when someone is looking for something fast to prepare that is not going to dirty many dishes.
The Patate Douce is an excellent addition to any garden. Since it is a hardy plant that is fairly easy to grow it is an excellent choice for someone who does not have a great deal of experience with gardening. The plant usually thrives despite any mistakes that the novice gardener might make.
It is best if the individual starts with something called slips. These are plants that have already been started. The person will need to transfer the plant to their garden, but it will be easier and less time consuming than if they are trying to start it from a spud or seed. Most gardening stores will be selling the Patate Douce slips.
Even though the Patate Doucees are not super picky, they are prone to rot. This means that when the person wants to look for a well-drained patch of ground to plant the potatoes. The potatoes do not like to be planted when it is cold. The earth should be staying a fairly consistent 65 degrees when they are transferred to the ground. The plants are not going to stay small forever. They should be planted about 18 inches apart which will give the vines plenty of room to grow. Once the potatoes are planted the soil should be kept moist but not wet. When the vines are yellows and the leaves withering it will time to harvest. It usually takes 150 days to grow the potato.