Have you noticed that your potatoes are full of blemishes? A few years ago when I first noticed it, I thought it was just a bad potato year. Then I thought maybe it was the excessive rain we had another year, and I wondered about disease. I kept thinking that “next year they’ll be good again.” I’m not even talking about potatoes from my garden. These are the No. 1 potatoes that I buy in the store. For several years now the potatoes have had blue bruising. It’s not getting better. On the contrary, it’s as bad as it has ever been.
I thought it might be our local Vancouver Island potatoes and started buying potatoes from eastern Canada and from the U. S., but the problem seems to be everywhere.
I wonder, if I’d been one of the starving Irish in the years of the potato famine (1845 – 1849), how much of the bad (blighted) potato I would have cut away. I suppose it would depend on how hungry I was.
Do you have potatoes like this in your area? What do you think is going on?
May 9, 2018 at 7:30 pm
I’m here in California. Potatoes look okay, though. I just made potato salad yesterday.
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May 9, 2018 at 7:31 pm
Maybe they just need a drier climate.
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May 9, 2018 at 7:35 pm
Haven’t seen that here.
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May 9, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Lucky you!
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May 9, 2018 at 7:44 pm
Haven’t bought any like that. I do notice the skins are often blemished but insides are good. Tried to buy Vancouver Island russet potatoes this week, couldn’t even buy BC russet’s. Making first of the season Potato Salad.
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May 9, 2018 at 7:47 pm
This one in the photo is a US potato, but the local potatoes are just as bad. Maybe a drier summer will get rid of the problem.
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May 9, 2018 at 7:49 pm
I don’t see those spots, just external blemishes which are cut away. I hope you can find some good taters. Potatoes. 😬
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May 9, 2018 at 10:41 pm
That’s good. I don’t mind a few blemishes but these were really deep.
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May 9, 2018 at 8:28 pm
I haven’t noticed that in the Okanagan or in NWT. I hope you can find some good ones.
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May 9, 2018 at 10:41 pm
Thanks, Lynette. We will try switching to another type of potato.
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May 9, 2018 at 8:44 pm
Lot’s of “bad apples” among these potatoes 😦
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May 9, 2018 at 10:42 pm
I think so!
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May 9, 2018 at 9:04 pm
Most often this problem stems from potato’s that were bruised at harvest time and is now showing up at your market. These potato’s are generally very old and have been in a controlled tempeture long term storage bunker and are nearing the unsellable stage.
This problem is most common in potato’s that have been in storage since harvest through winter and spring months before ‘new’ crop potato’s start arriving at your market.
Try changing the type potato’s you are buying ie. switch from russet to yukon or red potato’s.
Good luck and Happy Gardening
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May 9, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Thanks for this. I’ll try that.
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May 10, 2018 at 12:55 am
I buy my potatoes direct from the farmer nearby. All veggies in the superstores are getting worse and worse (tasteless). Maybe you will find a farmer nearby, try it out.
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May 10, 2018 at 6:34 am
We always bought our potatoes from local farmers but that’s where the problem seemed to start. I think potatoes from dry parts of the country are better.
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May 10, 2018 at 1:49 am
We only eat the baby reds, Anneli. I haven’t noticed any problems with that potato.
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May 10, 2018 at 6:33 am
I like the red potatoes, too. I think I’ll be buying more of those.
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May 10, 2018 at 8:37 am
We love them!
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May 10, 2018 at 6:13 am
We buy most of our potatoes at the local Overwaitea in Nakusp. We like the Russet potatoes and they did not show any of the problems that you were describing. Greetings from the Interior!
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May 10, 2018 at 6:32 am
That’s good to hear.
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May 10, 2018 at 9:14 am
We have seen this here, too. Not frequently, though. I have no idea what that is. We usually cut that area out, if it’s not too large, and eat the remaining part. IOt seems to depend, though, on the variety of potato. I’ve never seen it on red nor on yellow ones. If I remember correctly, only on russet potatoes.
Have a wonderful day,
Pit
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May 10, 2018 at 9:27 am
I was looking on the internet for info about it and it seems to be more prevalent in wet areas, just like the tomato blight is. And, yes, I haven’t seen it much on the other varieties of potatoes – mainly on the russets. I’m going to buy other kinds at this time of year, when the new ones aren’t out yet.
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May 10, 2018 at 11:46 am
Enjoy the potatos!
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May 10, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Yes. It makes me a little nervous because I know black stuff on potatoes can be dangerous. It’s maddening how much I lose when I cut it all away.
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May 10, 2018 at 2:11 pm
I know. I hate to cut so much away too, but I don’t dare eat it.
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May 10, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Ick…
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May 10, 2018 at 5:28 pm
I don’t mind imperfect fruit or vegetable, but this does seem excessive. Do the produce grocers offer any kind of explanation? Seems like they’d be trying to make an excuse! I’d substitute frozen or canned until it’s sorted out. If you get an answer, however, will you please post again? I’m really curious!
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May 10, 2018 at 7:22 pm
I’ll certainly post again if I find out anything.
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May 10, 2018 at 5:41 pm
I don’t buy potatoes as much as I used to since I cut back on carbs. However, they always have a blemish or two, just not as many as the one you pictured here. I’d go with Jill’s suggest and get the baby reds. I love those.
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May 10, 2018 at 7:21 pm
I love the reds but the Captain likes russets. Not like those though.
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May 11, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Well said.
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May 12, 2018 at 12:35 pm
I haven’t noticed this in my area. Maybe I should take a closer look.
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May 12, 2018 at 1:07 pm
We’ve had a lot of it in the last several years. It wasn’t always like that.
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May 12, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Sweet potatoes as well?
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May 12, 2018 at 1:17 pm
The sweet potatoes were only affected a tiny bit.
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May 12, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Well, go melt some marshmallows on top of those and have a party! 🙂
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