Have grown potatoes for the first time . dug a lot up a couple of weeks ago, but some are pretty hard. others a bit green.Any suggestions why!(Live in Wellington and have had a rather warm summer)Many thanks
cantabman1,
Mar 6, 5:55am
the green ones should be binned as they have a toxin in them. As for hard spuds that usually when cooked go to mash, it sounds like you havent watered them much. If you want nice spuds, then they need lots of water when the tubers are forming and flowering. If you want good vegies from a garden, then you must water often to get the good results.
liggy2,
Mar 6, 6:15am
Spuds only go green if they are exposed to sunlight so cover them. They are NOT toxic they are only producing chlorophyll which is present in all plants. If you cover a cabbage it will turn white because it cannot produce chlorophyll without sunlight. Green potatos being toxic is and old wives tale!
bounce16,
Mar 6, 6:34am
Rubbish.They produce solanine - a toxin that can affect the nervous system.
I have a couple of spuds that have green spots on them, will they be ok to use as seed spuds!
cantabman1,
Mar 6, 8:07pm
Yep, no worries at all. if you decide instead to eat them, just cut off the green part.
babyluthi,
Mar 7, 1:56pm
This is inaccurate.Green spuds can cause spontaneous abortion in animals and humans.
midget8,
Mar 10, 3:58pm
Geez-you eat the green one's you may as well eat deadly nightshade-same family.
lythande1,
Apr 11, 9:12pm
Solanine is a glycoalkaloid poison found in species of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), such as the Potato (Solanum tuberosum) and the Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).
Solanine poisoning is primarily displayed by gastrointestinal and neurological disorders. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, cardiac dysrhythmia, headache and dizziness. In more severe cases, hallucinations, loss of sensation, paralysis, fever, jaundice, dilated pupils, hypothermia and death have been reported.
In large quantities, solanine poisoning can cause death.
When potato tubers are exposed to light, they turn green and increase glycoalkaloid production. This is a natural defense to help prevent the uncovered tuber from being eaten. The green colour is from chlorophyll, and is itself harmless. However, it is an indication that increased level of solanine and chaconine may be present.
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