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scabby potatoes
Barbara Harrison
Posts: 107
I have scab on my maincrop potatoes ( maris piper). What causes this? When peeled they are fine and cook well but will they store?
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Scab in potatoes is a sign of soil which is a bit on the alkaline side of neutral. Potatoes like most veg prefer soil on the acid side. It looks terrible but they should store ok and taste fine, the scab is only in the skin. It is a problem i am only too familiar with but we were eating our own main crop (Rooster) until April.
As Buddyboy says, the dry summer has increased the amount of potato scab about this year. A bit more water would've helped, but it's too late now. Something to remember for another year
They'll store ok as long as the conditions are good and you make sure the skins are really dry before you bag them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks all for the help. I did think water may have been a factor but didn't know alkalinity was a factor too.