Potato query

[wsarah]

Hi all,

I finally got to do some digging in my allotment yesterday, and found potatoes (without foliage) all over the place! There is a small patch where I recognised the potato folliage, but at least two other beds have them in too. I pressume that these were somehow left behind from a previous harvest. The potatoes that came up all had little holes in, which I guess is some type of insect activity. Do you think this might be because they were in the ground for so long, or is it a sign that there is something nasty lurking in my soil? Also, how long would you suggest I left it before planting spuds on these beds? Had thought of trying some in one this year as I can't work all the plot so thought some big potato crops would be a good idea!

Thanks again

Sarah

[Flummery]

Technically you shouldn't grow spuds on the same bed 2 years running. However, my lottie neighbour grows them in the same bed every year. It's partly down to luck. If you get disease or blight you wouldn't grow there again next year.

I think you'll get away with it. I'd put spuds in if you want to. The holes are just because they've been in the ground so long and something got hungry.

It's almost impossible to get up every single spud so you will often get 'volunteers' where you greww your potatoes. Dig them up as soon as they shoot - or leave them and get an extra crop. Up to you.

[Alison]

I dug a load of yesterday while I was preparing my bean bed. Goodness knows how I missed them last autumn as a couple of them were huge but there you go. Where in perfect condition but starting to sprout quite a lot so I binned them - am still eating stored pots anyway so the last thing I need is anymore! There won't be spuds in those beds again until 2013 so hopefully I'll have cleared them all out by then

[Snadger]

Keel slugs are usually the little blighters that put holes in your Tatties. My plot doesn't seem to be bothered with them (touch wood!) but my dear auld Dad fought a running battle with them all his life and still never managed to harvest clean spuds.

Earlies are your best bet if keel slugs are a problem, purely because they are only in the ground for a comparatively short time!

[OllieMartin]

Keel slugs are usually the little blighters that put holes in your Tatties. My plot doesn't seem to be bothered with them (touch wood!) but my dear auld Dad fought a running battle with them all his life and still never managed to harvest clean spuds.

Earlies are your best bet if keel slugs are a problem, purely because they are only in the ground for a comparatively short time!

I've added this to the WikiGardener site and referenced you.

Hope you don't mind

Potato - WikiGardener Wiki

[wsarah]

oooo, another beastie I have never even heard off! There is so much to learn!