Would you eat this potato?
By Leebugs
Kerry,
Ireland 
Hi there. I just harvested a grow bag of potatoes and noticed that some of them have a brown scale on the surface. It seems it can be peeled off along with the skin, and the potato is still viable but I'd still like to know what it is and what causes it because we do prefer our potatoes with their skins on. I have no idea about any potato diseases, including the infamous potato blight. Thanks
PS - potato in photo was just semi-washed. Scale is quite dry & has no fluid content
9 Aug, 2009
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Answers
Agree with Fractal.
9 Aug, 2009
Sorry for belated thanks to your answers (hate how going to work interfers with gardening).
15 Aug, 2009
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It is almost certainly the well named Potato Scab. Luckily, the damage it does is not too serious and relatively superficial. The potato is most certainly still edible. Once cooked, the scabs come away easily with the skin.
If your soil is too limy, this can create the right conditions for the bacterium to develop.
9 Aug, 2009