NEEPS

toffeeedinburgh · newbie Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Lumphanan

I know this is probably really lame but could anyone tell me what's up with some of my tatties? I have grown them for the first time this year and have planted 1st earlies, 2nd earlies and maincrop. I harvested the 1st earlies a while ago and they all seemed ok when I dug them up. The first few times we ate them, the tatties were fine but since then I have had to chuck quite a few into the compost bin as they are discoloured and bumpy on the outside and then quite discoloured and sort of brown on the inside. I can't remember the variety but they are red ones. We only have them laid out in a garage which is fairly dim but does have a window. What is this? Is is blight or is is the way we are storing them? Any advice appreciated.

Smooth Hound · Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

they would be best out side, a garage is a bit dim, even with a window,

baldowrie · Neepster Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 1159

not all varieties keep well and if you do keep them you should keep them in a clamp or a dry cool dark place.

New tatties I personally just dig as and when required.

Rosie · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Toffee.
It sounds like you have had a bit of blight on your spuds. Did you have brown blotches on the leaves at all. Sometimes spuds can get bumps on their skin called scab, this doesn't usually affect them. If they are not storing,it sounds like blight. i have had this too this year, it's due to the warm humid weather.
You can also get a disease called spraing which gives you brown marks all the through the tuber, you can't really eat them when they have this though.

If you can store your spuds in a cool dark place, no light at all as this will turn them green and poisonous, and in hessian sacks or big paper sacks. Not in plastic as this will make them sweat and rot quicker.

Hope that all makes semse and helps

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Aberdeenshire Rosie

Maria · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks for this Rosie....i just learnt something new again!

Knew how to spot blight and scab...but had no idea about spraing...how does this happen?

I think i'm one of the lucky ones who hasn't had any blight (she says touching wood very quickly) I grew first earlies in compost bags...yum...only complaint was the didn't last nearly long enough.

and i also have maincrop growing in a no-dig border, using cardboard, manure then straw to earth up. They are doing really well so far. I've even been able to steal a few as they grow.
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Better late than never!

Rosie · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

Hi Maria.
I have been growing potatoes for years and you just pick up things. I like the sound of your no dig system.
If you go to this link it tells you all about spraing.

http://www.potato.org.uk/departme...sts_and_diseases/ref.html?item=26

I don't normally get blight, well not me

but my spuds don't normally get it but this year has been bad.

Never compost blight infected potatoes or tomatoes either as it spreads the spores around.
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Aberdeenshire Rosie

JamesB · Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:52 am Post subject:

sounds like blight. I spoke to one of the lectures on organic farming from SAC and he said basically blight comes in July, to grow without any chemicals plant early varities eg duke of york and harvest in early july.

thats what we did but were a bit late in planting but they still did ok but were a bit smaller than normal. they dont store either.

James
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JamesB
Mintlaw area

toffeeedinburgh · newbie Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Lumphanan

Thank you so much Rosie, I suspect you are right and it was a wee bit of blight. Also, I totally take on board what everyone has said about storage as I have STILL not stored my tatties in sacks. Even though the garage is not very light I have got green bits (we have eaten them with the green cut off as my grandma did) even on my 2nd earlies which have suffered no blight.

Next year I will take all this on board.

Thanks for all the advice!

Rosie · Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:46 am Post subject:

Your very welcome Toffee!
We were through Lumphanan last weekend!
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Aberdeenshire Rosie