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  • Chitting seed potatoes

    Hi,

    I have my seed potatoes in egg trays in the summer house on their ends so that they can chit.

    However some of the seed potatoes appear to be "bleeding" and black liquid is coming out. They are also wet.

    Why is this, what is causing it and can I do anything about it or prevent it ?

    Thanks

    Ian

  • #2
    Might pay to cut one open and see if they are rotting. Is it warm and dry or cool or even damp?
    No expert on potatoes so see what others have to say too.

    Comment


    • #3
      Can't say for sure but that sounds like some of your spuds have gone rotten? What is the temperature, etc like in your summerhouse?

      There's a thread with pictures here - see if your spuds look like theirs.....hmmm can't find it. Will edit later if I do, found it!

      http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post182084

      The potatoes should be in a cool light place out of direct sunlight and frost-free.

      They shouldn't do anything besides grow shortish 'sprouts' from their eyes, (oh and maybe get a bit wrinkly/green)
      Last edited by smallblueplanet; 23-02-2008, 11:53 AM.
      To see a world in a grain of sand
      And a heaven in a wild flower

      Comment


      • #4
        That doesn't sound very good, Ian.

        From your description I would say that it is some kind of rot.

        May I ask, where did they come from?

        If you bought from a merchant or garden centre you should contact them - they should replace them. Don't be tempted to save any apparently healthy looking tubers - they may still be carrying disease.

        Potatoes can be badly affected by disease when it strikes - hence the advice to always buy certified stock. Even then, there can be occasional problems.

        I am sure that others will be along to give you their ideas on what it might be.

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        • #5
          System playing up but will this post update? Testing.
          Food for Free

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          • #6
            Hi,

            I purchased them from Marshalls seeds. Does anyone what they are like at either replacement or refunds ?

            I have cut one open and there was not obvious rot, it was just very wet inside.

            There is no heat in the summer house and a window has been open.

            Thanks

            Ian

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            • #7
              Find Marshalls telephone number and ring them up on Monday morning. I've only been growing potatoes for a few years, but I've never had any do that. I'd definately be ringing up the supplier if they did!

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              • #8
                I would bet the larger of MY two potatoes that frost has got to them.
                The same has happened to some i had chitting at the allotment shed they are also wet to the touch bleeding a black liquid and soft.
                The sprouts have also blackened and turned mushy.
                I have about 4 varieties from different suppliers chitting in the shed and it affected them all thus ruling out a bad individual batch.
                Minty
                " If it tastes like chicken THEN EAT CHICKEN " :- Kermit The Frog


                http://mohicans-allotment.blogspot.com/

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Minty View Post
                  I would bet the larger of MY two potatoes that frost has got to them.
                  The same has happened to some i had chitting at the allotment shed they are also wet to the touch bleeding a black liquid and soft.
                  The sprouts have also blackened and turned mushy.
                  I have about 4 varieties from different suppliers chitting in the shed and it affected them all thus ruling out a bad individual batch.
                  Minty
                  Are you saying the few large potatoes that got frost on them affected or rather contaminated the others? Don't know if this is relevent but I bought an iceberg lettuce which was slightly bruised but the acceleration of deterioration was amazingly fast. I've had to throw 2 layers of leaves off the lettuce.
                  Food for Free

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by veg4681 View Post
                    Are you saying the few large potatoes that got frost on them affected or rather contaminated the others? Don't know if this is relevent but I bought an iceberg lettuce which was slightly bruised but the acceleration of deterioration was amazingly fast. I've had to throw 2 layers of leaves off the lettuce.
                    Sorry i mislead, i am so sure it is frost that "i would bet the larger of my two taters"(Derby saying by males with 1 tater larger than the other ) that it is
                    Minty
                    " If it tastes like chicken THEN EAT CHICKEN " :- Kermit The Frog


                    http://mohicans-allotment.blogspot.com/

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      It sounds like they've been frosted to me. If they are in a summer house with a window open they will have suffered from the 9 degrees of frost we recently had (we did here anyway). Mine are chitting in my spare bedroom. No heat but definitely frost free. If you have let them get frosted I don't think Marshall's will refund. They'll say the spuds were in good condition when they were dispatched. I've used them before - decent firm.
                      You need to get a fresh lot I reckon - and make sure they aren't touched by frost this time. Spuds aren't really hardy - that's why they need earthing up or covering or planting very deep. If your new shoots come up above ground and there's a late frost these will go black too.
                      Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

                      www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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                      • #12
                        Interesting... I didn't know that's what happened to them when they got frosted.

                        Poor things!

                        Flum's right - Marshall's are excellent, but if nobody else has reported problems it looks like it might be up to you to foot the bill for some more.

                        Bad luck

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                        • #13
                          Hello and welcome to the vine. Sorry to hear about your seed spuds - does indeed sound like they got frosted, better luck with the next batch.
                          Happy Gardening,
                          Shirley

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                          • #14
                            exorcism?

                            Ian,
                            I'm no expert but it appears you may need the help of a priest......you have the devil's potato!!!
                            Spiderpig

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              lol @spiderpig! I wanted to suggest that too.

                              Are the potatoes also spinning round?

                              an exorcism may be due

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