Overview

• Luh’s analysis of royal menus and archives demonstrates that Frederick II never staged a guarded potato plot and never ate the tuber himself
• Historical documents confirm potatoes were grown in Bavaria since 1647 and introduced to Brandenburg as an ornamental plant in the 1650s
• Frederick II’s decrees promoting potato cultivation went largely ignored and the crop did not achieve widespread cultivation until after the Napoleonic Wars in 1815
• The enduring myth continues to draw tourists to Sanssouci Palace where visitors leave potatoes at the king’s tomb and gift shops sell potato-themed souvenirs
• Potatoes today are deeply woven into German cultural identity and cuisine, from regional dishes to annual harvest celebrations