Potato scab

[adjohnson1971]

I've had an alottment for 2 years now, and as we're now entering the 3rd growing season, I'm thinking about which crops to grow. For the last 2 years I've had no sucess with potatoes as they've been covered in scab. Although this doesn't affect the eating qualities its a complete pain with new potatoes as the spuds need peeling before eating and trying to peel small spuds is just a waste of time, so needless to say I've had a fair bit of waste because of this. Anyway the question I need help with is what causes scab and how can i prevent it? I was led to understand lack of water causes it but I've also read about a lack of lime( acidic soil)???

[eddiemorse]

Occurs Mostly In Dry Soils Lacking Humus. Also Ph 5.0-6.0 Can Cut Down Incidence.

[Peter]

The one potato I never seem to get scab on is Nicola.

[PAULW]

The more acidic your ground the less scab will affect your spuds, lime will help the scab thrive, I add sulpher to the ground once I have planted, the first year this eworked perfectly last year wasn't so good but I put this down to the drought

[Snadger]

If you put a couple of handfuls of peat or bark mulch at each planting station and cover individual seed potatoes with same it will help to retain moisture and acidify the ground locally

It sounds like you have an alkaline soil...I bet your brassicas do well though!

[Lesley Jay]

As for cooking small potatoes with scab on the skins. Boil them or steam them whole and then the skins just slide off while they are still hot.

[Alice]

Or try growing your new potatoes in compost in containers. That way they come out perfect.

[Geordie]

I would try Accent Aaron Pilot or Swift as a first early, Osprey or Saxon as a second early.

[adjohnson1971]

I think Snadger might have hit the nail on the head. My brocolli, cabbages, sprouts and cauliflowers all did well this year, even in the extremely hot weather. I guess it might be worth my while to do a litmus test on the soil. I think i grew rocket this year as an early, so will try something else.

[Two_Sheds]

Bob Flowerdew recommends mulching the plants with grass clippings to prevent scab. If you keep adding the grass, you don't need to bother with earthing up either.

[Tomas]

I've had an alottment for 2 years now, and as we're now entering the 3rd growing season, I'm thinking about which crops to grow. For the last 2 years I've had no sucess with potatoes as they've been covered in scab. Although this doesn't affect the eating qualities its a complete pain with new potatoes as the spuds need peeling before eating and trying to peel small spuds is just a waste of time, so needless to say I've had a fair bit of waste because of this. Anyway the question I need help with is what causes scab and how can i prevent it? I was led to understand lack of water causes it but I've also read about a lack of lime( acidic soil)???

I seen a tip in that other weekly garden paper (no Names sshhh ) only last week to sprinkle grass clippings around the potatoe's and amongst the soil when you cover the spuds, but dont do your nut, just a little. It's worth a try.

Good Luck
Tomas.

[serenity]

The bed where I plan to grow my spuds has a very healthy camelia growing in it too, I believe they like acid conditions, not done a ph test to confirm. Any ideas how this will affect the roosters and pink fur i plan to grow there?

[Snadger]

The bed where I plan to grow my spuds has a very healthy camelia growing in it too, I believe they like acid conditions, not done a ph test to confirm. Any ideas how this will affect the roosters and pink fur i plan to grow there?

Acid soil usually yeilds good potatoes!

[Two_Sheds]

I grew spuds in 2 locations this year, with very different results.

site 1
Pink Fir, Charlotte, Arran Pilot, Mayan Gold. All grown in the soil, but with grass clippings and comfrey leaves as a mulch. Not watered after planting.
No scab.

site 2
King Edward, Druid (both supposedly scab resistant), Osprey. All grown in soil, no grass clippings. Watered more than the other plot, but not excessively.
Really bad scab on all of them.


Next year I'll be doing a trial of sorts, if I remember.
1) Alfalfa is thought to prevent scab, so I've got some growing now, ready for spuds to follow in March.
2) More acidic soil is needed: I'm going to grow some in buckets with MPC and leafmold, but sunk in the soil to retain moisture (it worked well for carrots)
3) spuds planted normally, in the soil, with grass clippings mulch
4) spuds planted normally, in the soil, no mulch

[Two_Sheds]

An update on my scab trial.

Unfortunately many of my spuds failed this year due to the drought. However, I can confirm that growing in containers of leafmold really does prevent scab.

left: spuds grown in my normal (slightly alkaline) soil
right: spuds grown in leafmold