Potato scab and leaf tea.

[bilmac]

I have read somewhere that spuds like a pretty low Ph and scab is one of the consequences of a high Ph. My Ph is plenty high. I can easily grow spuds but they are pretty scabby.
 
I have access to bushels of tree leaves, mostly cottonwood. Has anyone messed with making and using leaf tea? My guess is that the tea would be pretty acidic. Maybe I could use it to treat my potato rows and cut down on scab.

[keith44]

I grow my best potatoes in a soil with a ph of 5.8.  I also never grow potatoes in the same plot for three years.  That is I have a rotation of three years before I plant anything where it was grown before.  This fall I will gather enough leaves to cover my 4 garden plots with 6" or more of shreadded leaves.  In the spring I will turn them under.  The only plot that will not have lime added is where I plan to have taters growin.  Avoid walnut leaves like the plague, they will inhibit seed germination.

[bilmac]

I would love to just put leaves on the garden in the fall and till them in in the spring. If I did that they would all be in a drift behind the downwid fence and in Nebraska. I till my leaves in  in the fall and then try to pile enough stuff on the garden to keep the dirt from blowing away.

[keith44]

The trick is to mow the leaves with a bagger, place them where you want them, and wet them down.  I've had them stay put in 60 mph winds doing this.

[bilmac]

The water in my irrigation ditch has been shut off for awhile when the leaves fall.

[keith44]

maybe bird netting would hold it for you