Nov 28, 2017 · Farmers in Peru's Andean highlands have been consuming clay for centuries. Scientists now think it may have allowed them to eat wild potatoes, which are rich in toxic chemicals.

Nov 28, 2017 · Farmers in Peru's Andean highlands have been consuming clay for centuries. Scientists now think it may have allowed them to eat wild potatoes, which are rich in toxic chemicals.

Nov 28, 2017 · There is preliminary evidence that clays from Andean highlands can detoxify potatoes by absorbing their toxic chemicals, explains Timothy Johns, a professor of human nutrition at McGill University.

Oct 13, 2024 · Growing potatoes in clay soil requires patience and persistence, but it’s a rewarding endeavor. By understanding the challenges and implementing the right strategies, you can enjoy a delicious harvest from your clay soil garden.

Yes, you can grow potatoes in clay soils, but it may help to add amendments to the soil which will allow it to break up and not bind together. Clay soil is very sticky and can dry out very hard, this prevents water and nutrients from reaching the potato plant.

Aug 3, 2016 · As we eat our clay and potatoes, Aldo tells me that the inhabitants of the Altiplano area of Peru and Bolivia have been eating clay, known as arcilla since pre-Columbian times, more for its...

In parts of the Andean highlands in Peru and Bolivia, you might come across people eating clay, or arcilla, with their potatoes. Known in native Andean languages as chaco (Quechua) or pasa...

Dec 18, 2018 · During the harvest of potatoes, clay sauce is often prepared by villagers everywhere in this plateau. A Quechua woman is cooking in an open-air kitchen near the Sillustani archaeological site in Puno (Peru). Edible clay is harvested by indigenous people from a number of mineral mines in the highlands.

Jan 6, 2024 · Gardeners often wonder if their heavy clay soil is suitable for growing a successful potato crop. The short answer is: it’s complicated. While potatoes can grow in clay soil, it requires understanding the challenges and implementing specific strategies to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Mar 18, 2025 · You can plant potatoes in clay soil, but it's important to create the right soil conditions for them to thrive. Root vegetables like potatoes perform best when planted in highly friable soils – soils that break apart easily in your hands without fully disintegrating like sand.