Diseased Charlotte Potatoes

[jac321]

I've been growing Charlottes as an early for years with no problems, this year however most of the crop ,while lifted satisfactorily, has quickly rotted off. They have been stored cool ,dark, and airy. In many cases the rot is not visible until the spud is cut open.It looks like a cross between dry roy and hollow heart. Has anyone any ideas what has caused this. I don't think the dustman is going to be very happy about carting off over 90 pounds of smelly rotten potatoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Florence Fennel]

Can't help you Jac, just came in to commiserate really. It's my first time with potatoes in the ground, third or fourth time in bags, so I'm a novice. I'm sure someone will be able to explain what happened.

[binley100]

First time growing Charlottes for me.......I only lift and use as needed. So haven't noticed any rot. But what I have noticed is if I overcook them by a nanosecond they seem to explode out of their skins .....

[Florence Fennel]

That happens with International Kidney too Binley. I've got some brown spots on the skins of mine as well. Doesn't affect the potato at all and because Himself has them scraped, it comes off.

[binley100]

Haven't started on the Intl Kidneys yet, they're next in line after Nicola ........

[snohare]

Is it because they didn't get enough water while bulking up ? Just a thought...I know I've had similar problems with the occasional RDOY or Sante, and they were usually growing at a great pace, underwatered, and then developed a corky void inside which did not do well in storage.

[PAULW]

Just found one of my IK hollow in the middle, it was a good sized small baker the old dear did it in the microwave and when she cut it in half it was hollow in the middle, as Snohare says it could be they where brought up short of water then the week of rain we had made them bulk up to fast.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Best guess is hollow heart.

Usual cause prolonged wet weather after a long dry spell, that would fit with the spring/summer we had.

As I understand it, it starts when the plant takes moisture from the tubers in order to stay alive during the dry spell and the only solution is artificial watering (and lots of it) during the dry spell.

There is an outside chance it is gangrene but this should show on the surface as well.

Colin