Gardens Galore: One Potato, Too ~ By Karen Brewka

Potatoes come to us from South America via Europe. They took a long time to become popular, partly because people did not know what to do with them.
Some cooked and ate the tops instead of the tubers and, of course, became deathly ill. Potatoes are in the same family (Solonaceae) as tomatoes; the leaves are poisonous. Some felt that potatoes were only good for pig food.
Now, potatoes are a very popular staple and are consumed in many forms: baked, stuffed, boiled, fried and made into potato chips.
Luther Burbank developed the 'Russet' potato which is the backbone of the potato industry in North America. Idaho is the 'potato state' and PEI is known for potatoes. Potatoes are grown across the prairies with the chip industry driving expansion.
The worst potato disease is potato 'blight'. This caused the famine in Ireland. Late blight was found in Alberta in 2010 (not seen since 1993). This fungal disease is really serious. Potato tops die quickly as if they were blasted with a blow torch. No tops, no tubers.
Potato scab is very common. This bacterial disease produces lesions (rough patches) on the surface of the potato skin. The patches can be peeled off.
Bacterial ring rot produce lesions on the skin which extend into the potato flesh, creating a 'ring of rot' under the skin.
Green patches on potato skins can result from potatoes being exposed to light, either from growing too close to the surface or being exposed to light immediately after harvesting. Peel off green patches as they can cause illness. Proper heeling (mounding) of soil around the base of the plant as it grows helps to reduce green spots.
To grow good potatoes, use only certified seed, clean up very well after harvesting and rotate potato crops with above ground vegetables on a 3 to 4 year rotation.
Cool, wet weather sets the stage for many potato diseases and disorders. Since our springs seem to be getting cooler and wetter and our falls seem to be getting warmer and longer, perhaps we should think about planting potatoes later rather than earlier.
For more information about potato diseases, check out Alberta Agriculture's web page.

The Valley Neighbours Garden Club welcomes new members. For information call Bea at 403–933–7131.
The Horticultural Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm. For information call Sheila at 403–931–3989.