I am in the process of digging my potatoes - Pink Fir Apple and Ratte.
While they look fine while uncooked, after cooking in their skins and
then peeling they display something that looks like a corn that humans
get on their feet. It's round, bright yellow and hard. The skin of the
potato is unusually thick and they don't smell bad. The potatoes
themselves are not particularly large - I know that these varieties are
normally quite small but these are smaller than usual.

Has anyone else come across this? Is it possibly a result of the July
drought?

David

--
David Rance http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk
Fido Address: 2:252/110 writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:06:10 +0100, David Rance
wrote:

I am in the process of digging my potatoes - Pink Fir Apple and Ratte.
While they look fine while uncooked, after cooking in their skins and
then peeling they display something that looks like a corn that humans
get on their feet. It's round, bright yellow and hard. The skin of the
potato is unusually thick and they don't smell bad. The potatoes
themselves are not particularly large - I know that these varieties are
normally quite small but these are smaller than usual.

Has anyone else come across this? Is it possibly a result of the July
drought?

David

I suspect the size is due to the drought. All my potatoes were smaller
than usual, apart from Desiree whic have done very well.
Could the "corns" be scab? I have found more with scab this year than
ever before, but always peel those. However, there is no scab on my
Pink Fir Apple. (aren't they delicious!)


Pam in Bristol

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 Pam Moore wrote:

I am in the process of digging my potatoes - Pink Fir Apple and Ratte.
While they look fine while uncooked, after cooking in their skins and
then peeling they display something that looks like a corn that humans
get on their feet. It's round, bright yellow and hard. The skin of the
potato is unusually thick and they don't smell bad. The potatoes
themselves are not particularly large - I know that these varieties are
normally quite small but these are smaller than usual.

Has anyone else come across this? Is it possibly a result of the July
drought?

David

I suspect the size is due to the drought.

Undoubtedly.

All my potatoes were smaller
than usual, apart from Desiree whic have done very well.

My earlies were also quite good - can't remember what variety they were,
though!

Could the "corns" be scab? I have found more with scab this year than
ever before, but always peel those.

Don't think it's a scab. It's not visible until you cook them and peel
them. Haven't seen anything like it before.

However, there is no scab on my
Pink Fir Apple. (aren't they delicious!)

Absolutely! And they, and Rattes, keep well.

David

--
David Rance http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk
Fido Address: 2:252/110 writing from Caversham, Reading, UK

"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 Pam Moore wrote:

I am in the process of digging my potatoes - Pink Fir Apple and Ratte.
While they look fine while uncooked, after cooking in their skins and
then peeling they display something that looks like a corn that humans
get on their feet. It's round, bright yellow and hard. The skin of the
potato is unusually thick and they don't smell bad. The potatoes
themselves are not particularly large - I know that these varieties are
normally quite small but these are smaller than usual.

Has anyone else come across this? Is it possibly a result of the July
drought?

David

I suspect the size is due to the drought.

Undoubtedly.

All my potatoes were smaller
than usual, apart from Desiree whic have done very well.

My earlies were also quite good - can't remember what variety they were,
though!

Could the "corns" be scab? I have found more with scab this year than
ever before, but always peel those.

Don't think it's a scab. It's not visible until you cook them and peel
them. Haven't seen anything like it before.

However, there is no scab on my
Pink Fir Apple. (aren't they delicious!)

Absolutely! And they, and Rattes, keep well.

David

--
David Rance http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk
Fido Address: 2:252/110 writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
My potatoes get lesions of the type you describe when slugs have a go but do
not penetrate the skin. They are however usually visible before cooking.
Slugs seem peck at a range of fruits and vegetables without always causing
massive damage.
Regards
David T

On Tue, 22 Aug 2006, david taylor wrote:

I am in the process of digging my potatoes - Pink Fir Apple and Ratte.
While they look fine while uncooked, after cooking in their skins and
then peeling they display something that looks like a corn that humans
get on their feet. It's round, bright yellow and hard. The skin of the
potato is unusually thick and they don't smell bad. The potatoes
themselves are not particularly large - I know that these varieties are
normally quite small but these are smaller than usual.

Has anyone else come across this? Is it possibly a result of the July
drought?

My potatoes get lesions of the type you describe when slugs have a go but do
not penetrate the skin. They are however usually visible before cooking.
Slugs seem peck at a range of fruits and vegetables without always causing
massive damage.

Would have had to be masses of slugs, then! Can't think it's that as I
haven't seen any slugs here and only one snail all summer long! Normally
I would see them.

David

--
David Rance http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk
Fido Address: 2:252/110 writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France

"David Rance" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 22 Aug 2006, david taylor wrote:

I am in the process of digging my potatoes - Pink Fir Apple and Ratte.
While they look fine while uncooked, after cooking in their skins and
then peeling they display something that looks like a corn that humans
get on their feet. It's round, bright yellow and hard. The skin of the
potato is unusually thick and they don't smell bad. The potatoes
themselves are not particularly large - I know that these varieties are
normally quite small but these are smaller than usual.

Has anyone else come across this? Is it possibly a result of the July
drought?

My potatoes get lesions of the type you describe when slugs have a go but
do
not penetrate the skin. They are however usually visible before cooking.
Slugs seem peck at a range of fruits and vegetables without always causing
massive damage.

Would have had to be masses of slugs, then! Can't think it's that as I
haven't seen any slugs here and only one snail all summer long! Normally I
would see them.

David

--
David Rance
http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk
Fido Address: 2:252/110 writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados,
France
The small slugs that are a particular nuisance to potatoes live in the soil.
Many years ago I grew King Edward potatoes-loved by slugs, and Arran Banner
as a means of bringing a building plot into cultivation-A standard technique
in bygone times.
Some of of the King Eds were riddled with small slugs, the ABs were largly
unaffected but you could see where slugs had tried and abandoned. Slugs are
not generally visible except where they have stayed in the potatoes.
My early potato crop shows slug lesions without being badly affected.
Apparently slugs favour potatoes and plants with a higher sugar content. It
may be the higher sugar content encourages attack on more mature potatoes
and the King Ed variety which crisps up well and has a floury texture when
cooked.
Regards
David T