Important note: Putting on latex gloves is mandatory before beginning this process. These tubers contain oxalic acid, which is very irritating to the skin. Some people have a mild to bad reaction upon contact. Don't take any chances. Wear gloves!

Rotted Tubers	Healthy Tuber

Prepare a clean area to conduct investigation; without allowing any materials to go beyond the cleaning area. Newspaper on top of a trashbag should be sufficient for protecting the area. You do not want any infected materials to come in contact with any other plants or yourself.

Separate them from all other tubers, plants, etc., as the tuber may be diseased and the possibility of contamination is great. Upon receiving your tubers, check them for soft spots or mold. Tubers should be firm and solid, like a good potato, no matter the size. If found, the soft spot will most likely be moist and slimy to the touch. Mold or soft spots do not always mean it is the absolute end of your new tuber. Below are a few steps you can follow to try to save your tuber, although it is, of course, no guarantee that a tuber with some rot will survive. Its a chance worth taking.

Be Careful When Performing This Process!

Grab a small, sharp knife to cut away the soft spots (or gently use your gloved fingernail). Once you remove all the spots you consider soft, or moldy, and you are satisfied the remainder of the tuber is firm and you consider it viable, with your gloves on, wash the tubers thoroughly with warm or tepid water, pat it dry with a paper towel, and apply powdered sulfur (you can buy this at any Home Depot or nursery) to the wounds ONLY, being cautious not to apply the sulfur to clean areas of the tuber. This compound will dry the area it is applied to; let it dry for a while and shake off any excess sulfur.

Once it has thoroughly dried, write the name of the tuber on the bag and date it; place the tuber in the bag, and monitor it daily to see how it is responding and be able to see new growth or "tipping out" as it is called. Pot it up when it is ready.

Tuber shown has 2" growth (tipping out)

Cleanup: Upon cleanup of the inspection area, be sure to thoroughly disinfect all tools used and discard the papers, rotted materials and the gloves. You may want to put those materials in another plastic bag before disposing of them.

On the next page, attend Fertilizer 101.