dieased spuds?

[jojo]

trying to constuct some beds on my new plot to get ready for growing next year. In the area i've just cleared (finally!) and started to dig over i'm unearthing lots of old potatoes that are a bit holey and the ground smells a bit iffy. Are these just a left over crop from the previous owner that have been left buried and are just starting to rot away or are they likely to be diseased?
Do you think this area is ok to plant up with anything or should i avoid certain crops?
don't want my first crops to be a disaster before i've even started!!

[shirlthegirl43]

I would suggest avoiding root crops there for a while. Do your best to get all the spuds out as they are supposed to harbour the blight spores.

Brassicas or corn or legumes should all be okay though. I stand ready to be corrected by the long-time gardeners though as I am just learning.

Good luck with the clearing and planning.

[jojo]

thanks for the advice shirlthegirl. I was planning to plant the first beds I got ready with garlic and perhaps onions so I could get producing something but perhaps i'll just sow some green manure for the time being in this area and hope the next area i get cleared hasn't got any problems!

[shirlthegirl43]

Don't think onions and garlic count as root crops - I was thinking more of not planting carrots turnips, parsnips etc there.

You say the ground smells iffy - is it a rotten pong or a fertiliser type pong? If fertiliser then it shouldn't be a problem anyway but deffo don't put carrots in or they will go weird shapes.

[jojo]

smells like that horrible wiff when one of the potatoes in a bag goes soft and black...quite distgusting actually! the actual potatoes i'm unearthing are buried quite deep and there are no actual plants visible on the surface so i guess they just got left behind? i suppose this is all part of having an allotment isn't it, trying to find out as much as you can and then a bit of guess work!

[shirlthegirl43]

Might be best to try green manure this winter then. Not had this problem as I only grow in my garden and it hasn't been cultivated for at least 10 years! I have to evict lots of bramble and nettle roots though.

Good luck with it all

[Cutecumber]

Try and get any diseased tubers out - if it is blight, this is main way that the fungus spreads. Stick them in a bag and dispose of them in your main rubbish collection (or Council green waste) not your compost heap.

Avoid potatoes and tomatoes for a while on that spot, to be on the safe side.