[ThatsNice]

Actually started digging today (yay!) for the first time on what has been the least cultivated section (ie not at all) in the last three years that we know of. I dug up at least a doz potatoes all small new potato size. About half look perfect, the rest less so. Apparently everyone here pretty much suffered blight last year, so I'm wondering..are these spuds ok to eat if I cook them tonight, or should I bin them?

[DD.]

They'll be fine.

Blighted ones will have turned into a horrible, smelly mush - and it's a smell you'll never forget!

[ThatsNice]

There were a few mushy ones but I can't say as I noticed a smell. Tea tonight then
I forgot to also ask, we were planning on putting my spuds in that bed I'm now digging because its been least cultivated. These must have been happily growing away under their own steam but I'm wondering now about crop rotation and the blight etc, if we should? Or for the small amount that's there does it really matter? Shall I plant them there still or change plans? The other section was the only bit that was dug over and over.. 

[arugula]

It isn't ideal to plant spuds in the same area on consecutive seasons, if you can avoid it.

[ThatsNice]

The whole plot wasn't touched at all last year, and this section probably not for a couple of years before that either. The other side we've covered over (not where we are planning to put them) we are told was the only bit cultivated season after season. So these spuds have been doing their own thang the last few years.

[mumofstig]

So these spuds have been doing their own thang the last few years.

All the more reason to avoid doing the same thing again IMO, sorry - that's not what you wanted to hear 

[ThatsNice]

No, if that's what majority think I'm happy to go with it. As I was digging them up, I was thinking to myself 'has this b*ggered up the grand plan and why I asked. So just get my head straight (not an easy task, lol!) its better to plant in the bit cultivated over and over and not the bit I've done today?

[ThatsNice]

I have onions, shallots & garlic to go out still though. They'd be ok in the 'free range' spud bed ive dug today wont they?

[DD.]

Yup.