Black potatoes

[bwfc07]

Hi all
i went up to the lottie today to repane the G/H with the purspex i got tues but when i had done i went into the shed and noticed about 10 of my potatoes were showing black sprouts and they was a bit soft ashuming i had brought this on ? because about 3 weeks ago i sprayed them with water thinking it might do them good because they wernt showing no signs of any shoots!!!!!!!!! whats do you expect from a divvy novice ......so i threw them out but do you think its because i sprayed them?
Learn by MY mistakes

TheGrosvenorStPlot

[bluemoon]

Blackish looking shoots on potatoes are pretty normal. I'm currently chitting a fair few varieties and one or two types show definite black/purple tinges to the shoot, so there may not have been a problem. Watering them is a real no-no though as it could encourage moulds and rots. Without seeing yours it would be difficult to say whether this was caused by an infection or if they were just of a variety which displays this colour naturally.

The potatoes themselves tend to soften and wrinkle a little during the chitting stage and this too is normal, they lose water through their skins and also by putting it into the shoots. The potato is a storage vessel, it has all the nutrients it needs to start off growth, but obviously when this growth begins the potato itself loses much of the fluids in order to feed the shoots. Keep an eye out for fungal infections, but unless the potato turns black and mushy or the shoots are obviously dying off then it's probably OK. - A well chitted potato is not the prettiest thing in the world.

[johnygreenfeet]

it may be frost

[bwfc07]

Thanks blue i will go to the lottie 2moro pull them out of the comp heap and take a pic and post.....i squose a few and they was a bit watery..... good job i didnt spray them all the others r fine about 1-2 inch sprouts on them now

[Geo]

it may be frost

Yep..

Geo..

[bluemoon]

it may be frost

True, it could be, but frost does tend to send things rather mushy if it's killed them off. If it's just a few shoots, or just the tips, then they'd probably recover. I'd definitely dig them out of the compost and give them another chance. - Keep them away from the others if you have any doubts.

[bwfc07]

Thank you very much for your advise al get them out 2moro and take a pic & post as Black potatoe pic.........Bloody novice allotmenteers

[bluemoon]

We were all novices once, and personally I'm really pleased that so many new people are starting to enjoy the hobby. It was only two years ago that half our allotments were abandoned and now we've a huge waiting list. There's now no chance that the council can say that they're under used and sell them to developers. Ask away bwfc, if I can make a stab at an answer I'll reply every time. I'd much rather you asked, got good results and so kept your plot, it benefits us all in the long run. And I guarantee that 12 months from now with a season's experience, trial and error behind you, you'll be answering questions too.