I donned a pair of garden gloves today and started digging around in the potato bin/cage and here is what I found... In all but 2 cases the seed potato (I had planted whole potatoes, did not cut them up for planting) was basically a sphere of rotted mush, but they were each surrounded by 6-8+ little baby potatoes some as small as a pea, most more like the size of a grape or cherry tomato. Two of the 7 or so total seed potatoes were still firm but I did not dig them all the way to inspect more closely. I scooped out the rotted seed potatoes but left the little baby potatoes in the soil, hoping that they might grow... they did seem to have their own little roots, their skin was bright pink, and they looked very healthy. The two as-yet unrotted seed potatoes I left in as well and tried not to disturb them too much. Thoughts? This was my first attempt at growing potatoes and I feel like in all the research I had done prior, I didn't come across anything like this. I suppose I could dig up the little 'fingerling' potatoes and just make a meal of them, but I'd rather give them a chance to grow if there is a possibility that they could actually grow at this point. It really doesn't feel that far into the growing season here (even though others' zone 6 gardens are producing already)... my volunteer tomato plants are only about 3-4 inches tall right now and the plants I started (tomatoes, cukes, zukes, pumpkins, beans, peas) are only just starting to take off.

My experience with this has been BAD. On two separate occasions we have had mature tree's removed and the fungus (armillaria) colonize the root systems which were not completely removed. Trees planted within 20 feet of the removed stumps (ground to 12" below grade) grew fine for 2-3 years and then died suddenly. Plants which grow in clumps rather than a single stem are OK and persist. After 10 years the mushrooms have stopped coming up, so it may have finally retired back to normal background levels. Keys to survival are good drainage and no water next to trunk. Remove as much of any old root systems (larger than pencil thickness) as is possible. Resistant plants are an option. I have lost grapes, nectarine, roses, cherry, crabapple, ceanothus, crape myrtle, arbutus marina... Chad

Dang Texas Weed, I live very near you and I have never been lucky enough to find morels or trumpets. Well if you are in the city areas, not likely to find the right conditions. We do not always get them out here as it takes a wet and cool spring or fall season. Around here they are found around dying Elm, Ash, and Sycamore trees with a lot of ground liter cover. Not a condition you will likely find in the metro areas. I also hear you can find them around dying apple trees and some ferns.

Hello, Sorry but the mushrooms are going to become more plentiful before they finish their job. In Feb 2010 we had a 2.5' diameter Silver Maple removed but left the stump cut low enough that I put soil over it and planted grass. We've had steadily more mushrooms each season so far and this year has been the worst. The mushrooms that are growing have taproots! Anyway, I just mow over them but one is in the garden and almost the size of a football. I don't have dogs so I don't really care about the mushrooms and actually like them since they are helping to break down our old tree. Even with a stump grinder, you're going to get mushrooms growing on the roots in the grass 10' away from the stump. I would consult your veterinarian about the possible effects eating mushrooms could have on your dogs. There are plenty of dangers inside the house too, i.e. raisins, chocolate, underwear....etc.