Ask Gerry

My Sarpo potatoes produced enormous haulms this year together with an excellent crop.Can the haulms go on the compost or must they be burnt?

I sorted my potatoes before i pitted them. last week need to get some out, and found a few bad ones in the pit. what can i do to make sure all my potatoes dont go bad. will i be able to save them. there is enough potatoes in the pit to keep me going till middle next year, i dont want to lose them

What causes the black marks in pototoes.When I peel some potatoes the have black marks in them. I cut these out and the cook the potatoesCould you please tell me what causes the black marks?

My British Queens & Kerrs Pinks have developed a scab, some covered 100%. The soil is dense stoneless riverbank clay. Would appreciate your opinion.

I have recently started collecting seed potatoes for storage. At the moment i am storing them in a paper potato sack.In a dark location.Is this ok and do you have any other advice as Regards storing seed potatoe and propagation? If blight is contracted how does this affect the seed potato?

My rooster potato leaves are holed and eaten badly and also my beetroot leaves have suffered a similar faith but the leaves of my sarpo mira potatoes next to the roosters are only barely touched . when i examine the leaves i cant see anything on them,no insects or caterpillars but always a couple of white butterflies,will the butterfly eat the leaves,i have never seen this before.

I have grown potatoes in containers this year and, unfortunately, they have blight. I have cut off the haulms and am eating the spuds as fast as I can!What should I do with the spent compost in these containers? Can it go on my garden compost heap or to the municipal composting site?

I have grown British Queen from certified seed i have a lot of small potatoes can I use these as seed next year and if yes how can I store them

I'd appreciate any advice on harvesting my onions and potatoes. Spuds are Duke of York, and they have profuse foliage but few blossoms. (I have just read they are prone to blight! Ick!)Onions are poking their "shoulders" up above the surface, and looking very healthy - they are Red Baron and Sturon. The books say to wait til the onion foliage dies down, but a few have already produced seed heads, which I have snapped off.

If i mix the potatoes stalks with what i already have in the compost bin will it decompose or do i need to use chemicals to break it up?

I have a "potato bag" and wonder if I can still plant some and expect a crop later this yearI haveno real ground space (apartment living) and would get agreat thrill t get any sort of crop.Any suggestions?

My father has grown potatoes in the same plot for many years.In the last year or 2 the potatoes do not thrive as well as previously,we are wondering if the soil is lacking in minerals, any advice?

I planted early potatoes in march Home guard and British queens. I also planted Kerr pinks and Golden wonders as late potatoes. The late potatoes are all flowering but no sign of a flower on the earlies. Is there a problem ?

I have potatoes in tubs all in fresh multipurpose compost with added Osmocote, religiously watered. In the last 2 weeks some leaves have yellowed between the veins and turned brown. There is no sign of any mould. Dr Hessayon's book (The Vegetable Expert) suggests it could be magnesium deficiency. If you think this is likely, I would be very grateful if you would recommend a product to boost Mg levels.

I'm not sure of the brand but I bought 2nd early potatoes in Woodies and I planted them in the fold-up tubs that they sold (circa 60cm high). I brought the earth bit by bit to within 15cm of the rim of the tub. I now have 2 ft st green stalks coming out of the tub with a lovely purple blossom. These stalks are now seriously falling over the edge of the tub and I was afraid that they might break so I have staked them up with bamboo sticks. Is this ok or should I let them fall over? When should they yield some sort of crop?