Smelly potatoes?

pollyskettle

I've just pulled some soil back on my potato plant (no variety as my Mum planted it and gave it to me!) and I think it stank! I say think as I live on a building site and it could have been something else, but I'm pretty sure it was the potato soil. I couldn't see any spuds in there, just a lot of roots, but I didn't dig too far. The plant is quite big now, but no flowers. It's probably a couple of months old. I've been watering it religiously but not feeding it at all.

Anyone know whats causing this? Is it potato rot? I've never grown any before and I have no idea.

Please can someone help?

Thanks

I'm new to this gardening lark, but I'm trying! I'm about to enrich my new veg plot soil with compost and fish blood and bone and plant spring onions, peas and beans. I'd appreciate any help at all as it's all greek to me at the moment!

Editted to add:

Can I add some 'proper' onions or is it too late for these? I've been reading all the threads on here and I have information overload and brain ache!

Debt_Free_Chick

It may well be rot if you've overwatered.

Can you not put the spade/fork beneath one plant and take a look? If there are baby spuds there, then simply replace the clod of soil.

Rotting potatoes certainly do stink

Edit: I should say that there is a particular disease known as "Potato Rot" which is caused by a bacteria. It's not been found in the UK since 2003 and is reportable to DEFRA if discovered.

However, I am referring to a more general "rot" caused by overwatering. If the growing tubers sit in waterlogged soil, they can simply break down and rot to a smelly mush

pollyskettle

Thanks for the speedy reply! I've pulled back the soil under my 1 plant (lol) and theres loads of little 'normal' looking spindly roots like you get on flowers seedlings iyswim and deeper down there are some thicker roots with the tiniest little 'bulb' shapes on the end which I assume are potatoes-to-be! I only lifted directly under the plant a few inches down, she only planted one seed potato pretty deep down and then filled to the top with soil. I understand you're supposed to put the spud near the bottom then wait for it to grow and cover it and then keep doing that until the pot is full?

That side of the pot didn't seem to stink, so I may be panicking over nothing and it could have been stinky site workers instead!

Debt_Free_Chick

pollyskettle wrote: »

I'm new to this gardening lark, but I'm trying! I'm about to enrich my new veg plot soil with compost and fish blood and bone and plant spring onions, peas and beans. I'd appreciate any help at all as it's all greek to me at the moment!

Leave enrichment and soil improvement until the autumn/winter as many plants will not appreciate too much during the growing season.

You say you have "new soil" - how did you come by this? Or is this a plot on a new build property?

Editted to add:

Can I add some 'proper' onions or is it too late for these? I've been reading all the threads on here and I have information overload and brain ache!

Too late, sorry

But you can try a particular type intended for Autumn planting or Welsh Onions.

However, they just "overwinter" and will still not be ready until next summer.

Or there's a Spring Onion that will overwinter and be ready in "Spring" (I'm trying this, this year)

Debt_Free_Chick

pollyskettle wrote: »

Thanks for the speedy reply! I've pulled back the soil under my 1 plant (lol) and theres loads of little 'normal' looking spindly roots like you get on flowers seedlings iyswim and deeper down there are some thicker roots with the tiniest little 'bulb' shapes on the end which I assume are potatoes-to-be!

Sounds promising :j

I only lifted directly under the plant a few inches down, she only planted one seed potato pretty deep down and then filled to the top with soil. I understand you're supposed to put the spud near the bottom then wait for it to grow and cover it and then keep doing that until the pot is full?

Yes - as the "haulms" (stems) grow, then keep (almost) covering them with more soil/compost.

Allow the soil to dry out a little - don't keep them permanently soggy

That side of the pot didn't seem to stink, so I may be panicking over nothing and it could have been stinky site workers instead!

Penelope_Penguin

What do your potato leaves look like? If they smell bad that's often potato blight. If so, the prognosis isn't good, I'm afraid.

More info - Click Here.

Penny. x

pollyskettle

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

You say you have "new soil" - how did you come by this? Or is this a plot on a new build property?

New build property! We've had to dig off the turf that was on top which took out about 3" of soil with it, so it needs adding to a bit as there are pipes under there! I've also dug out a mountain of hardcore which has again lowered the soil level - shall I just add growbags (unspent) to it to bulk it back up?

Too late, sorry

Bum!

But you can try a particular type intended for Autumn planting or Welsh Onions.

I'll have a look at these - thank you

Spring Onion that will overwinter and be ready in "Spring" (I'm trying this, this year)

That's the one I got! I picked them up in Woolworths for 60p a packet last week - bargain!

So fingers crossed the potatoes may actually be ok I'll reduce the watering a bit, the plant itself looks healthy so I'll let it dry a bit before I water.

Thank you very much for your help - I certainly wish I knew as much as you! So hopefully this time next year I'll be munching on home grown veggies

I won't mention that I let the kids plant tomato seeds at the weekend as I know it's far too late and they don't really stand a chance, but I told the kids that it was an experiment in pushing the boundaries of vegetable gardening :rotfl:

Thank you again :beer:

pollyskettle

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

What do your potato leaves look like? If they smell bad that's often potato blight. If so, the prognosis isn't good, I'm afraid.

More info - Click Here.

Penny. x

Thanks Penny - the plant itself looks pretty good so hoping I may be panicking unnecessarily. One leaf looks a little 'crinkled' like it hasn't grown properly (like plastic does when you forget it's on the hob and it catches), but the rest look good, no marks at all.

I'll keep an eye on it for another week or so and let you know whats going on.

Thank you again for your link.