potato question...

Hi all,

the other day when I was at the allotment I noticed something resembling a tomato growing from one of the flowers on a potato plant.

Anyone have any idea what it might be? I've never seen it before....

Thanks
Kerry

 

I have seen these before but not sure exactly what they sre. The tomato and potato though are related I think. Someone on here will let us know more precisely though.
John

 

I'm with JWK. Sometimes potatoes produce those potato tomatoes. DON'T EAT THEM. THEY ARE HIGHLY POISONOUS. But it is normal for the potato plants to produce them.
Sometimes potatoes flower and sometimes they don't.
My Pink Fir Apples are covered in flowers just now. I can't wait for them to be over so that I can eat them.

 

Has anyone here tried growing potatos from the seeds themselves? Be interesting to find out.
John

 

Not advisable, unless you have a laboratory. The seeds could have crossed with any other local spud, creating a new variety. You need to test the tubers for solanine. A variety slipped through a few years ago, the tubers were not green but still had a high solanine content. It was spotted by a scientist who recognised the symptoms as he sat in the loo clutching his belly.

 

Cheers Ziggy. I am a chemist of a sought. Just going to google solanine.
John

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine
Yep, not so plesant, to say the least!
John

 

Just looked at that meself John,

"Solanine poisoning is primarily displayed by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, cardiac dysrhythmia, headache and dizziness. Hallucinations, loss of sensation, paralysis, fever, jaundice, dilated pupils and hypothermia have been reported in more severe cases."

Another one for Sussex gardener, don't get all of those symptoms even with my homebrew :usr:

 

Strangely enough, I was going to ask the same question. I dont normally grow a lot of spuds but I thought I'd give them a good try this year. All the flowers have died off, leaving the green balls you describe above. I've never seen it before either, so perhaps the weather conditions have been right for the plants to set (I've noticed a lot of bees around my runners this year, so maybe the've been visiting the spuds too).

Just as an added question, I'll be storing them for the first time this year and bought some hession sacks in preparation. Any advice how to prepare them for storing ?

Thanks

Craig

 

Thank you. Would it be advisable to cut the tops off now ? (I've taken the green balls off and some of the lower leaves have gone yellow and are dying off), or leave them for a nother couple of weeks ?

Thanks

Craig