Mould / Fur on Potatoes?

[Dogs and Veg]

Hi all,

I bought first earlies from a local farm shop and they also gave me what was essentially a huge egg carton base to sit them in and told me to keep them indoors, in a light place to chit until the frost had gone before planting them out.

Now the fantastic Scottish weather we’ve been having meant that today was really the first day I thought it wasn’t winter!

Anyway...I was going to plant them tomorrow but husband told me to have a closer look at them and there appears to be fur around most of the shoots. This is my first foray into not only gardening ( can’t count mowing the lawn can I?) but also veggies...are they supposed to look like this? Are they fit for the bin? Is there anything I can do or is there something i’ve Done wrong?

Thank you in advance

[Dogs and Veg]

I keep trying to upload the photos but doesn’t seem to work...perhaps because I’m on my iPad?

Further proof of how much of a beginner I am!

[Dead Dogs]

I keep trying to upload the photos but doesn’t seem to work...perhaps because I’m on my iPad?

Further proof of how much of a beginner I am!

There has been several Grapes having difficulties uploading photos. Have a read of is https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...tos_96156.html

In the meantime, do your spuds look like this

If they do, they are fine. I will be planting mine in the next week or two.

PS
Took photo with iPad, then email to myself before uploading.

[nickdub]

Don't like the sound of the mould much. I suppose it depends on whether you want to risk it or not, but if I was in your shoes I'd probably use some other seed potatoes, as you could be wasting your time starting with these. Sometimes I just use a few potatoes from an ordinary bag bought from a local farm as seeds, rather than buying a specific named sort.

[4Shoes]

Hi all,

Anyway...I was going to plant them tomorrow but husband told me to have a closer look at them and there appears to be fur around most of the shoots. This is my first foray into not only gardening ( can’t count mowing the lawn can I?) but also veggies...are they supposed to look like this? Are they fit for the bin? Is there anything I can do or is there something i’ve Done wrong?

Thank you in advance

Is it a yellow or light green mould. If so, the potatoes are a bit damp, just rub it off and they will be ok for growing on.

It is too early for potatoes outside in Hamilton. They will be up and out of the soil before the last frost (2nd week May.) If not already done so, set them up in your egg section with the sprouting end up.
Leave them in well ventilated, light, not too cold place, and they will chit.

Looking at the Guide, planting potatoes in Scotland around 9th April (just 2 weeks off), so if they are going in a Potato "Grow Bag", outside you might want to leave it until next week end, and ensure any shoots are covered with compost until after 2nd week in May.

Should you have the space in the garage (with a window) you could pop them in now and move them out in may.

[Dogs and Veg]

Hi all - i really hope i've got the picture to upload now...fingers crossed!

If you can see it, what are your thoughts? What have i done wrong or was it a bad batch from the farm shop?

4Shoes - I was planning on starting all my veggies (i'm a complete starter so don't have anything outside yet) outside today, would you keep everything indoors for another couple of weeks knowing my temps?

[4Shoes]

Hi all - i really hope i've got the picture to upload now...fingers crossed!

If you can see it, what are your thoughts? What have i done wrong or was it a bad batch from the farm shop?

4Shoes - I was planning on starting all my veggies (i'm a complete starter so don't have anything outside yet) outside today, would you keep everything indoors for another couple of weeks knowing my temps?

Can't see anything wrong with the potatoes. They are looking good. Shoots nice and strong. The Fur (on the shoots) are just part of the stem, nothing to worry about with these.
They will easily store how they are until you need to plant them.

If they are going into a "bed" and you have not got it covered with plastic or anything, wait for the soil to warm up a bit more.

[Snoop Puss]

I can see why you'd be worried if you've never seen seed potato chits before. But they look fine to me. Here's a link to an image from a YouTube video showing just what you've got on yours, to put your mind at rest. You'll get a page of assorted images come up initially, but wait a second or two and a larger image should open:

https://www.google.es/search?q=Fine+...qeBulmNbkdB1M:

[Dogs and Veg]

I can see why you'd be worried if you've never seen seed potato chits before. But they look fine to me. Here's a link to an image from a YouTube video showing just what you've got on yours, to put your mind at rest. You'll get a page of assorted images come up initially, but wait a second or two and a larger image should open:

https://www.google.es/search?q=Fine+...qeBulmNbkdB1M:

Aw thank you Snoop Puss...they do look exactly like mine! Phew - i thought i had failed before I had even begun!

[nickdub]

Agree with the others, they look perfectly healthy. Bear in mind if you've not planted chitted potatoes before that the shoot should be on top when planted and they are quite brittle, so need a bit of care not to break them off.

[Snoop Puss]

i thought i had failed before I had even begun!

I used to go around thinking the worst of every small blemish or mark I saw on just about everything when I was starting out. Sure, I have failures, and aphids, above all else, are a menace. But mostly, things want to grow. So long as you get the timings and soil right, most things will come good.

[Jimny14]

Looking good so far, look remarkably similar to mine. I was considering putting my potatoes out this weekend as have a bit of time but I've decided to do them next weekend instead to give the ground a bit more time to warm up. Good luck with it all, it can be very rewarding this growing food lark. Just don't beat yourself up when it doesn't go as perfectly as you'd like. Last year for instance was shocking for growing on my plot, even courgettes (which we normally have to give away as we have too many) struggled but we had a very cold, damp, grey summer so there was nothing we could do.

[lottie dolly]

They look nice and healthy,if you did knock a chit of,do not worry,as it will grow another,