On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:46:18 +0000, 0tterbot wrote:

" Dan" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I used to use the spuds that were bought for eating that had got a bit
old. Then I got a sort of blight. The young spuds turned into a sort of
foul smelling bag of milky fluid in the ground. Not only ruined that
planting, but other attempts to plant in the same area. I'd stick to
seed potatoes.

i've had that happen from a purchased seed potato :-) (unbelievably
foul, isn't it?)

Indeed it is!
Which brings up an interesting point - a lot of my bought spuds have gone
'bad' from time to time. But I keep using the same wicker basket for
storage... which may well be harbouring the disease?

Anyway, I intend making a whole new storage area in one of my sheds along
these lines (root cellar using old freezer):
www.ehow.com/how_5806_make-deep-freeze.html

even if a potato does not commence life diseased, they can pick things
up from the soil (or elsewhere) once planted, sadly. otherwise, every
potato crop would be magnificent & there would be no diseased potatoes
anywhere!!

to the o.p. i'd say use seed if you want a particular kind, and they are
surely better (not to mention much cheaper than the retail price for
eating potatoes) but honestly, grocer's potatoes are fine too,
especially since it is a useful thing you can do with them if they've
greened or sprouted while you weren't looking.

Thanks for your reply