On Sat, 24 Jun 2006, Bob Hobden wrote:

My neighbour showed me some black potatoes this morning. She said that
they were self-sets even though she had most of her garden down to regular
potatoes. She said that the stems of the plant were also black. They
weren't big, most around the size of a pigeon's egg. I didn't see the
plant myself.

Anyone have any idea what these might be and, more importantly, are they
poisonous?

Sounds like a throwback, perhaps she let some spud seed last year. Lots of
black spuds in the Andes, and every other colour too.

Thanks for the reply, Bob. My wife suggested much the same when I
mentioned it to her. This is the first year that my neighbour, with the
aid of visiting grandchildren, has tended her garden. It was always her
husband's domain but he died last Autumn.

Can't imagine why they should be poisonous.

Thanks for the reassurance. I was worried only because other parts of
the potato plant are poisonous - and so are potatoes if left to go
green. In my ignorance I just wondered....

David

--
David Rance http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk
Fido Address: 2:252/110 writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France