I think you are right.
And this makes me a bit nervous to persue potatoes.
As I research the fruits and veg that might benefit my family, I see diseases that cross over. THis is frustrating. How to keep a variety of foodstuffs for our use.
Not knowing the old ways to keep plants clean ( no disease) ---I expect old varieties could /should be more disease tolerant, BUT we know that is not true of tomatoes, so not likely true of other fruits/veg.
makes me ask questions. Perhaps a local variety thrived because it could handle the local disease pressure, UNTIL a new disease arrived via a traveler, human or animal ie birds.
Late blight has moved into the area the last few years. The davenport collection of old variety apple trees was badly damaged--no scions offered this year, again. Maybe never again. It was a historical orchard kept for the rare New England varieties that commercial growers of today dont use.
Picked up potatoes from a friend. There are lots of black tar like scabs on them all. Ikept a few to green up and sprout BUT with a little more thought, tossed into microwave. Wondering if black scab looks like these potatos. Not worth the risk.
Soooo. Thank you for the reminder.
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