Dying Potatoes

[skyblu]

Arrived to water the lottie tonight only to discover one of my potato plants has suddenly given up and died - overnight, mid-flower!

The plant looks like it hasn't seen water for a couple of weeks, is the best way I can think of to describe it.  It is still upright(ish) but the leaves are suddenly grey rather than lush green.  It just looks shrivelled.  I watered them well yesterday and all other plants seem fine so far.  This one is in the second row and I can see no apparent reason for it.  Could it be wilt of some description?  Any ideas and advice most welcome

thanks

[skyblu]

[Allotment-junkie]

check the very bottom of the stem on the potatoe (where it enters the ground) it should just pull straight out with little resistance if it is a light brown or going black and looks a little wet it may well be blackleg, I am 99% sure it may be this if so you may find one or 2 like this each day

[froglets]

One of my Sharpe's Express collapsed in a heap over the last couple of days - all the rest in the row were fine.  OH dug it up last night and found a red ant's nest at it's base.  And we were blaming the mole.

In't wildlife great   ???

[skyblu]

check the very bottom of the stem on the potatoe (where it enters the ground) it should just pull straight out with little resistance if it is a light brown or going black and looks a little wet it may well be blackleg, I am 99% sure it may be this if so you may find one or 2 like this each day

Oh Lord! I've just googled blackleg and at first appearances it would seem that you may be right! I will check the stem tonight to make sure and then up it comes.  Really annoyed as I bought these from a reputable Scottish seed potato firm.  Although I understand that the heat and humidity recently won't have helped matters.

thanks very much for the 'heads up'

[brownowl23]

I have had blackleg on some of my sharpes express from a reputable company too.

Just one of thsoe things rally as the company cant tell that the seed potatoes have got blackleg before sending them out.

I did get a few small spuds though off the ones I had to dig up.

[Allotment-junkie]

your welcome Skyblu the good thing is that it wont be all your potatoes if it is blackleg as unlike Blight etc it does not spread to the next plant