Allotments 4 All

I have just found that some of my seed potatoes are wet and soft, they were chitting in a cool, dry greenhouse on a wooden shelf.  Does anyone know what might have caused this and if the potatoes are still viable, they still have healthy looking chits. The variety is Lady Christl and the other variety in the same greenhouse is Nicola which are doing fine.
Joan

They might have been nipped by frost? If the chits are still looking healthy, then the plants should be ok. Planting soon sounds like a good idea.

I have international kidney, but tasted Nicola the other day, bought from our local Morrisons. I was extremely impressed with the flavour, as were the rest of the family, so this could well be my choice for next year ...

Where did you buy the seed tubers from? They should not really go wet/mushy.

Saved tubbers can suffered problems but if bought I would contact the supplier and ask for an exchange. I would not be happy to plant them.

Jerry

The Lady Christl seed potatoes were bought from D T Brown and the unaffected Nicola were pre packs from a local garden centre.

Thety do sound as though they'd been frosted. I keep mine in the house, and the heat never seems to harm them at all.

Yes Robert, I have always chitted my spuds in the garage in previous years, and had miniscule sprouting, presumably due to low temperatures from frosts. The odd tuber seemed to suffer from frost damage. This year they are chitting on our dining table, and showing good progress.

if I did that with mine, I know exactly what would happen; they'd be removed to the kitchen and eaten, mid great complaints about the size. I conceal them in a corner of the study where they won't be molested.

Curry - Nicola? If they tasted good, wait until you have your own. Anything from the shops now is presumably Egyptian - or stored here since September last??

Yes Tim, I agree wholeheartedly on the flavour of 'homegrown' spuds, eaten fresh from the garden. My point was that if I enjoy shop supplied spuds that much, then they must be a definite for the allotment?

The packaging indicated Israel by the way.

Oh, yes - I forgot that Israel does them too!!

Wait until you see my interview on 'new' potatoes with Tesco & the CO-OP!

When will we be able to see that interview Tim

In their own good time!

Not so much an interview as an exchange of mail.

This sounds intriguing !

thanks for the replies I am glad that it is most likely frost as I was dreading to be told that they were infected with something and my other stock would have to be got rid of.
joan

Hi jmcbrien,

I've just added a new section in the wiki on seed potatoes diseases, you'll find it under the heading of ' Pests, Diseases & Disorders '

Thanks Mike B I will have a look
Joan