Topic: Blight

[philcooper]

To give it its own thread there are 2 good sites on the web:

http://www.potato.org.uk/blightmaps.asp?sec=687&con=687 shows actually where blight has been spotted, together with whether it was on volunteers, in dumps of potatoes or actually effecting crops. As this is an asp page the url may change - if so go to http://www.potato.org.uk and type in fight against blight in the search window.

http://www.potatocrop.com/blight/ and clicking on the Weekly Maps button gives the locations of Smith periods - where blight could take hold

Both these are sites primarily for commercial growers

Both these

[Mrs Ava]

Phil, do you have a piccy that you could put on here of blight affected growth?  I am sure it has been shown somewhere else, but for all of us now with our spuds growing like mad and the weather getting hotter and hotter, it might be helpful...(spesh as one of mine is looking right poorly!  :'()

[philcooper]

 ;)

Here are some on the web, eg
http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/microbes/sporang.jpg but I think you wanted pictures of plants with blight

Try http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0701/potato_blight.asp
and
http://www.gardenadvice.co.uk/howto/disease/blight_potato/pics/blight.jpg

The key thing is the blotches - other diseases cause leaf discolouration but not with the botch(es) at the centre

For very good advice see Adrian Saunder's http://www.adrians.utvinternet.com/blight.htm

[Mrs Ava]

Perfect Phil, many thanks.  Now I am wondering what is wrong with this spud plant as the leaves do not have those blotches, they are just crinkly!  :-\

[Multiveg]

Doesn't look good the chart for my area at Blight Watch. 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 9th full smith criteria, and a near miss for the 8th June.
The plot next to mine has a whole load (row) of last year's spuds growing.

[philcooper]

1. Did the plot have blight last year - if it didn't then there should be no problem but follow 2b below

2. If there was blight:

a. ask the plot holder to remove them - point him in the direction of the http://www.cropinfo.net/Potatoblight.htm web page which explains that volunteers are a prime cause of blight and that they should be removed.

b. Should he not remove them, keep a close watch on them and at the first hint of a brown blotch on the leaves, point out the problem again AFTER spraying yours with a copper fungicide

Phil