Potato blight

[Mo]

Is it early this year? Mine are going down with it already.

[lancashire lass]

There are 2 types of blight - early (Alternaria solani) and late (Phytophthora infestans) Both usually occur during warm humid conditions - that is, a warm wet spring and wet summer. This year we are suffering from a lot of different fungal problems due to the mild winter.

I was very late planting my potatoes so I might have missed earlier problems.

[Mo]

I didn't know there were 2 sorts. Do they both make the tubers rot?

[lancashire lass]

unfortunately yes. According to the Potato Council blight watch page, the West Midlands up to the North West have had numerous confirmed cases (I'm not sure if the link will take you to the map as I think you have to register) with some along the east coast.

[Mo]

Yes it did let me see the map. Interesting site.

[jackian]

We have no blight yet but when we have had it if you catch it before it goes down the stalk cut the tops off so it does not get to the tubers.

Jackie x

[elliebear15]

Hmm I never knew there was such a thing as a potato council. I bet their AGMs are a hoot. Boy am I learning a lot on here
I just have a vision in my head of Mr and Mrs Potato Head sat round a table with their agenda and minutes ...

[Spreckly]

Well we have the dreaded blight. Poor OH announced it yesterday. He has cut all the tops down, and dug the earlies up, which are OK, but not a very productive crop. He is hoping that the main crop tubers will not be affected.

I understand that three years have to elapse before more spuds can be planted, and we don't have enough workable ground to put a crop in away from the affected area. I refuse to let him break his back preparing more earth, we are on heavy clay, and it has taken almost ten years to get a decent loam.

[Mo]

Well I know a 3 crop rotation is recommended, but if you make sure (ha, ha) that you get all the tubers out it might be OK.
It comes in on the wind anyway. The patch I got bad blight on was freshly dug this year - no crops of any sort for the 40 yrs we've lived there.

[jackian]

We have not got it yet in the south but last year we did.
We cut it all down so that it could not get to the potatoes and d had a good crop in the end.

I have never managed yet to survive blight on the tomatos at the allotments but fingers crossed for this year OK so far