[JohnB47]

I seem to have some tiny friends that have taken up residence in my shed and they've been eating away at some cooking apples I was storing. That's no problem but now they've taken a few bites out my seed potatoes.

Is this a problem? The worst damage is a patch about 1/2" diameter and 1/8" deep (you can tell my age now). Will the potatoes be OK to plant, or should I replace to be on the safe side ( the local garden centre sells them loose, so I could replace all damaged ones relatively easily).

Thanks.

[8doubles]

They should be fine for planting, far less damage done than when you cut a tater in half and plant it.

[JayG]

Are you chitting them in your shed or just storing them in bags?

Spuds are pretty good at "healing" minor damage if they're not subjected to conditions likely to encourage fungal infections; they should be fine if separated and chitting (but how warm is your shed during this latest rather cold spell?)

[JohnB47]

"They should be fine for planting, far less damage done than when you cut a tater in half and plant it."

Fair point.

"Are you chitting them in your shed or just storing them in bags?

Spuds are pretty good at "healing" minor damage if they're not subjected to conditions likely to encourage fungal infections; they should be fine if separated and chitting (but how warm is your shed during this latest rather cold spell?)"

I'm chitting them - the mice haven't spotted the ones I have in bags (big double skinned paper bags the local garden centre received their chitting potatoes in and gave away free). The shed does get cold - in fact I've lost some butternut squash to the frost before Christmas but the stored potatoes seem to have got away with it. Maybe the bags were enough to protect them.

I think I'll just go a head and use them - the 'wounds' seem to be mostly drying off now.

Thanks.

[Trillium]

And definitely find a new, safer place to store the tatties - mice are hungry ALL the time.

[Salmo]

They will be fine to chit and grow.

Trap the mice. If you do not like the thought of killing them there are plenty of live traps on the market so you can release them. These will catch several at once and are not a danger to pets or fingers.

[JohnB47]

Thanks but I'm as soft as putty. The thought of making the poor little things homeless!

I'll probably start feeding them next - hang on, I already am.

I've protected my spuds now, so immediate panic over. But something to think of for next years bumper harvest (I wish).

[8doubles]

If you have rolls of fleece or anti-butterfly netting in the shed they will make holes and nests. Check any cables on power tools before you plug them in, there may be a bare live wire that was not there when you put it away.

[hamstergbert]

.......I'll probably start feeding them next......

Good idea.  Feed them to the barn owl down down the lane....
Bwuhahahaha

At least one recreational 'fair weather' flyer has dragged out his wing in the spring only to find panels of it shredded and converted to nesting materials by the little rascals!

[JohnB47]

.......I'll probably start feeding them next......

Good idea.  Feed them to the barn owl down down the lane....
Bwuhahahaha

At least one recreational 'fair weather' flyer has dragged out his wing in the spring only to find panels of it shredded and converted to nesting materials by the little rascals!

Slope soaring?

[hamstergbert]

Dunno about slope soaring - attempting to paraglide with a well munched wing could have finished up giving up free flight and turning the pilot into a fell runner instead (downhill only division).   

Expensive repair though.

I stick to my earlier expressed viewpoint - feed your neighbourhood owls!