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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: vinotinto on July 26, 2012, 10:45:01

Title: Potato Blight?
Post by: vinotinto on July 26, 2012, 10:45:01

Hi there- maybe a bit hard to see, but is this potato blight?

(http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w429/vinotinto2/photo-1.jpg)

I initially thought the plants were just dying off naturally, I havent found brown dots on the plants so didnt think I had blight.  But the plants are dying away and there are big brown patches on the leaves, and looking at some images on google Im inclined to think it is blight.  If it is, should I just cut the plants at the base or consider lifting the crop?  Thanks All!

Title: Re: Potato Blight?
Post by: Jayb on July 26, 2012, 11:59:18

Yes, from the picture they do look like they have blight to me  :(

Cut off the helms, bag them and burn or take to the tip. Leave it two weeks for the blight spores on the soil to lessen, they should then store ok but keep an eye out for any iffy tubers when you lift them. No need to wait if you want to lift some to eat straight away  :)

Title: Re: Potato Blight?
Post by: vinotinto on July 26, 2012, 13:22:40

Thanks Jay, that is my job tonight then!

Title: Re: Potato Blight?
Post by: antipodes on July 26, 2012, 15:26:58

Yes I agree with Jayb... when they die off naturally, the leaves may brown, but they also tend to go very yellow, and it's usually from the bottom up that they start to wither.
Blight is just horrid this year, I wonder how the commercial producers cope with it?

Title: Re: Potato Blight?
Post by: Jayb on July 26, 2012, 16:08:54

They have an array of fungicides to spray, http://www.potato.org.uk/sites/default/files/%5Bcurrent-page%3Aarg%3A%3F%5D/Growers%27%20Advice%20Fight%20Against%20Blight%20Issue%207.pdf

(Sorry for the long link)