On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:06:11 +0000, Jeßus wrote:

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

Ever opened an old non-working refrigerator that has had something left in
it? Those instructions will not work in Australia.
That is just a slow cooker deep in the earth. what you are doing is hoping
that heat leakage out of the freezer is greater than the "hibernation"
heat of the veges. It may work there because they get snow and/or ice
forming on the ground (Point 7).



The problem as I see it is hat there is no coolng air flowing through the
veges.If anything is living, it is going to be creating heat and venting
gasses that need to be removed.