Derek Turner wrote:

On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 18:21:29 +0100, (sw) wrote:

Unfortunately, we're on chalk and almost
every potato has what I think is scab: rough brown patches, raised above
the adjacent smooth skin. Some tubers were completely covered by it; I
scraped it off and cooked them anyway, but I'd like to avoid it or at
least decrease the incidence in future. Growing in containers is one
option, but are there any well-flavoured scab-resistant varieties? I've
read that planting into grass-cuttings and mulching with grass-cuttings
is a good idea; does anyone know if this works?

from http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/pc24.htm

quote

Common scab
(Streptomyces scabies) Symptoms:
This bacterial disease, which is common in many soils, produces
patches of corky tissue on the surface of tubers. Damage is generally
fairly superficial, and infected tubers are quite edible.

Control


Grow resistant varieties, such as Wilja and Pentland Javelin.

Improve soil moisture holding.

Scab is much worse in alkaline conditions. Don't lime soil where
potatoes are to be grown.

Put a layer of grass mowings in the planting hole/ trench.

Water, if conditions are dry.

/quote

see also

http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/gg9.htm

and

http://www.hdra.org.uk/nd_spuds.htm

in answer to your last question, yes I mulch using biodegradable
agricultural paper plus grass clippings. I vary the no-dig slightly by
using a bulb-planter to put the seed potatoes a couple of inches below
the soil surface. They grow through slits in the paper and are mulched
each time the lawn is cut! by lifting time the paper has been
incorporated and the soil is in very good heart.

hth

It does indeed. Thank you very much! I'd be grateful for the names of
other scab resistant varieties; in the interim I'm off to water the ones
I've got.

regards
sarah


--
Waist deep, neck deep
We'll be drowning before too long
We're neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the damned fools keep yelling to push on