Allotments 4 All

Finally have dug up my triffids and lo..... I DO have potatoes !!  The first bed was all King Eddies and have managed to dig up a few kilos. Quite happy with my first attempt.

However I have questions with my second bed.
The second bed was mainly Maris Pipers, a few of them  have large splits in the sides -how does that happen?

Quite a few of them have what I would call blisters on the skin, or soft spots although the rest of the potato seems OK. Again what is the cause and are they still edible.

On a slightly different note on each occasion when I dug up the potaotes I found a red tailed bumble bee crawling across the soil. Two when I dug up the first bed ( dug up on different days) .  I must have disturbed them but has anyone else experience this?

So many questions but I hope you can help.

Hi Fitzsie - well done on getting potatoes!

I expect those bees are some kind of mining bee, they make little burrows in the soil. We get them in the garden.

Do you think your soft spots or blisters are scab? You could google it and see if the pics match. I think too alkaline soil can bring this on, and some varieties are more affected than others. It's an infection but more cosmetic than anything.

Split potatoes - have you had dry weather followed by wet?

Had a quick google and it looks like they do have a form of scab - one site actually said that Kings Eddies have the most resistance and Maris Pipers have the least !!!  Got in one !!  Thxs for that.

As for the weather we had that brilliant spring and then a poor summer to follow. Only a few have the splits, so won't stop me eating them. The Eddies, although not huge in quantity are tasting wonderful and will defintely grow potatoes again next year. I think I might give the M.Pipers a miss though.

cheers for that !!

You're welcome! Glad you've had a good year.

I've been disappointed with mine this year - they're very floury and don't hold together well when cooked. I've still got the pink fir apple to come up though, I'm hoping they'll be lovely.

Quote from: pigeonseed on August 30, 2011, 21:05:19
You're welcome! Glad you've had a good year.

I've been disappointed with mine this year - they're very floury and don't hold together well when cooked. I've still got the pink fir apple to come up though, I'm hoping they'll be lovely.

If your PFA's turn up floury I think we can accept it as a sign of the forthcoming apocalypse :D

one way to treat alkaline soil is to put some yellow sulphur in (big pinch per station scattered over about a square foot) when you're planting your spuds....

Splits are probably the irregular watering this summer has given.... Mine are a bit small this year (some varieties done better than others) [plus I have a contaminatied manure issue.... next year ther will be autowatering for the potatoes, the beans and the polytunnel....

QuoteIf your PFA's turn up floury I think we can accept it as a sign of the forthcoming apocalypse

I promise to pass on the warning if that happens!  ;D