Hi everyone here
I am new to this forum stuff so be gentle with me.
I have taken over an allotment in april this year in rustington west sussex with my girlfriend (soon to be wife) and we get so much out of it, fantastic fruit and veg, so much we are keeping our family's going too,
But i have a crop of potatoes that seem to have exploded like popcorn we still use them they are just a pain to peel, is there any answers on what has happened to them, i have another crop in, which are pink fir apple and they are fine.
An answer would be great
Many Thanks
Sean
of sean and Julie
Do you know what variety they are?
New one on me... do you mean they have produce loads of tiny tubers or each tuber has disintegrated?
:-\
Doesn't pink fir have lots of nobbly bits on them which make them difficult to peel, when I grow them I give them a wash and cook them with the skins on. Is there any chance you have the two varieties mixed up ???
Hi
Each tuber looks like popcorn, i know it sounds strange but it really does, the type is estima from tompson and morgan which are second earlys,
Sean
I would give thompson and morgan a phone call to let them know you are having problems and see if there are any other reports - it may be the seed potatoes had virus or something.
Could it be scab?
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/potatoscab.htm (http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/potatoscab.htm) Sorry forgot the link with the photo.
Doesn't sound like scab. Any chance of a photo?
I will take a photo later after work and see if i can post it here later
Thanks all for your help so far :)
Sean
Hiya, sean and julie, welcome to a4a, does sound like scab, we had some on ours , I think it's limey soil, if I remember rightly ;D
Scab
Also tends to result from dry soil conditions.
Ok i am stumped how the hell do you post a picture on here, tryed all the bits that say insert image, do you have to be a paying member to post pics
Quote from: Sean and Julie on August 11, 2008, 18:00:39
OK i am stumped how the hell do you post a picture on here, tryed all the bits that say insert image, do you have to be a paying member to post pics
Most pay £10 annual subscription. It is very easy to post photos once subscribed. You can post other ways for free but subscription is best and easiest. No hassle. You can do this within your profile parameters.
Yes you have to pay £10 a year unless you do Photobucket or something. Easy to do if you have a PAyPal account it's instant.
Hello
I think I have the same problem with my picasso's. By popcorn, do you mean that the skin has split, leaving grooves in the potato?
If so, this is generally due to a lack of water. I rushed planting my maincrop, so I didn't dig a trench filled with manure but dibbled out individual holes. Result, not as deep and more prone to drying out :'(
I have had some that have got what look like warts on if thats what you mean. I think i was growing rooster.
Quote from: Sean and Julie on August 11, 2008, 18:00:39
Ok i am stumped how the hell do you post a picture on here, tryed all the bits that say insert image, do you have to be a paying member to post pics
Sorry about the previous post finger slipped :-[
Quote from: Sean and Julie on August 11, 2008, 18:00:39
Ok i am stumped how the hell do you post a picture on here, tryed all the bits that say insert image, do you have to be a paying member to post pics
You could also try this http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44356.0.html (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44356.0.html)
Your problem SMP is usually brought on by a dry snap followed by a good soaking... the potato starts to harden it's skin to go dormant and then the rain swells the flesh and the skin splits... like over watering Toms but below ground... :-X
Hi Saddad
I know and what hurts most is that I am probably responsible for the good soaking :'( :'(
Hi smp74
I think you could be right about the dry spell then a wet one it does make sence with the weather pattern we had, but i am glad to say my pink fir apple and estima are great,
Thanks to everyone who offered advice
Sean