Susanne Runge in Australia has asked if scabby potatoes are edible:
Is it ok to eat potatoes that are affected with common scab?
TopVeg always peels the scabby bits off, but otherwise eats the potatoes as normal. The disease is only skin deep and the eating quality is unaffected.
Common scab is caused by soil borne bacteria. Cooking the potato will kill the bacteria. Hope this helps!
Click these links to read about corky scab in potatoes
& common scab in potatoes
Corky Scab is caused by bacteria Streptomyces scabies. It is
particularly severe in dry periods. Affected potato tubers get scab
lesions, which are quite variable, giving a raised corky area, or a pit.
*To control corky scab:*
* Keep potatoes well watered, especially during tuber set
* Aim for a soil pH of 5 or 5.2, by using acid producing
fertilisers, such as ammonium sulphate. Do not lime or add manure
before potatoes
* Grow resistant varieties
* Buy scab-free seed
* Rotate crops and have at least 4 clear years between potato crops
on the same soil
Common Scab affects Potato Tubers.
Common Scab (Latin name – Streptomyces scabies) causes the skin of potatoes to develop dark, scaby patches which can cause pitting or cracking of the skin.
The disease is only skin deep and the eating quality is unaffected.
Common scab is caused by soil borne bacteria.
Common Scab occurrs when the soil is:
* light and sandy
* alkaline
* deficient in organic matter
* dry at tuber initiation
Prevention of Common Scab:
* plant healthy seed with clean skins
* grow resistant varieties such as King Edward, Pentland Crown, Pentland Javelin & Maris Peer
* do not lime the soil before planting potatoes
* dig in compost or other organic matter to help preserve moisture
Treatment:
* there are no sprays for common scab in potatoes
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