[rozzy]

Hi
I have taken over my first allotment and thought I was doing so well. Its a private allotment so the jcb dug it over for us, then I also used a rotavator for a whole day to break it down. A further weekend preparing the soil and then onto planting! Now, however, its all planted (according to my careful rotation plan) and as well as (and in some places instead of) the seeds/plants I have sown I find potatoes popping up here there and everywhere. These are obviously from the last person who had the allotment. Could someone please tell me that all is not lost can I do anything about thid, or am I about to lose over half my plot for a year or so, this obviously ruins my rotation plans??
Please help,  I was so enthusiastic and now I feel a bit down trodden??
Thanks

[gazza975526570]

Can you not just pull them out? They pop up on most allotments as you generally miss a few spuds!

Dont worry too much about the disease element (if thats what your thinking?)

Just pull them out before they grow too big and get in the way of your own planting

[madcat]

Pull them out and don't worry too much.     Rotation plans are what we aim towards - life has an interesting way of messing them up (actually that is probably true of most plans!  )  but actually most veg are tougher than we think! 

[Iain@JBA]

Get a metal bar and place it 2 inches to the right of the potato stem. Push the metal bar into the ground and at the same time gently pull the stem of the potato plant whilst levering the metal bar until you think you have it underneath the potato and then it should pop out.

[mumofstig]

You'll get them from your own next year.....you can't help but miss some when you harvest.

Pull them up as soon as you see them, it's all you can do

[rozzy]

Thank you everyone it seems the problem may not be as bad as I thought judging by your reactions, I know I am a wet behind the ears gardener, its just everything you read is so "planning, planning, planning" when the plans go wrong I feel a bit lost! Thank you everyone who replied I have regained my enthuisasm!

[ex-cavator]

Get a metal bar and place it 2 inches to the right of the potato stem. Push the metal bar into the ground and at the same time gently pull the stem of the potato plant whilst levering the metal bar until you think you have it underneath the potato and then it should pop out.

... or (if you're standing on the other side of the potato plant) place the bar 2 inches to the left of the potato ....

(sorry, couldn't resist  )

[Yorkie]

I had wondered how one told which side was the 'right' side 

[operabunny]

I'm digging dozens of spuds out of my new plot - I'm beginning to think the guy who had it last covered the whole thing with taters. Now glad I didn't rotovate so at least they are whole and not chopped up to make loads of extras!

[JohnB47]

Yep, they're all over the place. I dug one out tonight and I see loads appearing in all my neighbouring plots. Just something to live with.

[Dan78]

It is my second year this year (plot was a field for 20 years before) and Im finding that i missed quite a few potatos! They are popping up with the fruit trees and now in all the strawberry plants! Damn me for planting them so deep last year!

Dont worry about it though.. just dig them up and hopefully not disturb everything else!

[Salmo]

It is important to remove these potatoes and also any that you see sprouting from compost/rubbish heaps.

These are potential sources of blight which may infect the new crop.