Blight on potatoes

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

I couldn't believe it when I went to the plot today, blight on my spuds! Lost all my toms last week so it wasn't too much of a surprise. Lost around 20lb but dug up 110lb so all was not lost. Still it is a little depressing after all the work - oh the joys of allotmenteering. What about you, any problems?

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Drought. No rain worth mentioning in weeks.

[Alex133]

Digging all mine up today, all top growth previously cut down due to signs of blight - hoping they'll be ok but have horrible feeling throw outs will be high.

[BarriedaleNick]

We always get tomato blight on our site - but the spuds never seem to suffer.  I think maybe most of us plant quite early (London is a little warmer) so by now there is little fresh green growth.
Having said that I shall probably be taking all mine out today..

[Aden Roller]

I wish you luck with your crop.  :)

The first sign of blight here was on out-door tomatoes a couple of weeks ago but few people grow them. Next it was on the potatoes.

I cut the tops off and left them in the ground. Next week, if it's dry, I hope to lift the lot.
It has become normal routine here.  ::)

[cornykev]

Same as Nick the tommies on sight get hit but the tattys seem to be OK, I dug up about 90 Kestrel today.   ;D

[pigeonseed]

Sorry to hear it, EssexYorkshireman and Aden Roller.

I've never had it on potatoes - but the haulms have always disappeared by July. Although not the pink fir apple which are only just starting to go off a bit. I hope they don't get it!  :(

I was digging up Kestrel yesterday too - no sign of tops, so it's guesswork to avoid spearing potatoes.  ::)

[pigeonseed]

Oh actually ...  :-[ ... I've just seen a picture of Kestrel spuds and realised, I dug all them up first, and have left Accord first earlies in the ground instead... What a fool ::). Must keep better track of crops...  ::) ::)

[Aden Roller]

I chopped the tops down on my tatties pretty quickly as we were off on holiday the following day. I didn't want to chance losing the lot.

Since then I've lifted a few but been helped by foxes who regularly unearth them for me.  ::) All I have to do is pick them up.  ;)

[gavinjconway]

yes to the ban Fox hunting then... we need them to dig our souds  ;D

[Aden Roller]

yes to the ban Fox hunting then... we need them to dig our souds  ;D

Help with the spuds is fine (I guess??) but not so happy about the help diggin up everything else.  :(

(Better stay on topic - I don't want to upset anyone or cause problems) ;)

[gwynleg]

Yes blight on tomatoes yesterday - they were Ferline which were meant to be a bit resistant - these definately werent! I am not growing outdoor ones anymore - have never had any tomatoes from them in 3 years!

I went up to chop the potato haulms today and just as well as one lot of black heritage potatoes were in the early stages of blight. Oh well - think I will get a crop though

[Aden Roller]

I hope it's OK to post this link on A4A?

But here it is:  Potato Council - Blight Watch.

I find this really helpful as an early warning - once blight is reported in my area I keep a very careful eye on my tatties.  ;)