On Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:20:04 +1100, terryc wrote:

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.

Good points, which I'll keep in mind.
I do know of a few people in Aus who seem to have had success with this
idea, obviously depends on the local environment/climate as well, i.e it
is not unusual to get frosts here at xmas time. Cheers.