My First Garden

Until recently, I didn’t realize how many years had passed since I planted my first garden. I remember my first garden in 1954 consisted of just two things– Golden Bantam Corn, which dates back to 1905, and Irish Cobbler Potatoes, which were introduced in 1876.

I recall impatiently waiting for the day when I could dig my first new potatoes. Every day when my father would come home from work, I would ask the same question, “Are they ready to dig yet?” The answer was always, “No. Not yet.”

I still have a vivid picture in my mind of the day those potatoes were finally ready to dig. For me, it was a thrilling experience – using my potato fork hoe to rake back the soil and expose those beautiful potatoes. When washing those new potatoes, the skins were so tender that they came off in the scrubbing process.

Best of all, however, was the reward of having those new potatoes for supper that evening. I remember that my mother boiled them and served them with butter, salt and a bit of black pepper. To this day that is still my favorite recipe for potatoes, and when it comes to taste sensations, new potatoes are at their best when they are fresh out of the ground.

John Coykendall, Master Gardener