Is this blight?

[RenishawPhil]

Am thinking this might be blight, could anyone advise please?

This weeks weather looks like ideal blight weather....

[RenishawPhil]

[Unwashed]

I don't think it's late blight.  It might be early blight, but it might also be mineral deficiency - if you're not on clay or a nice rich loam then mineral deficiency might be a good call - I see quite a bit of yellowing.  Is there much more work for the foliage to do or are the tatties almost fully grown now?

[RenishawPhil]

Spuds are getting there size wise (kestrel), I know we have had some early blight though and have removed those stems, just seemed quite widespread on this crop.

Hopefully  are right

[Jayb]

I agree with Unwashed, it could be early blight which shouldn't affect your crop too much. Or perhaps after last years very wet weather leaching nutrients and the drier conditions this summer they are in need of a little extra feed? Might perk them up a little if they are not due to be harvested for a few weeks.

It doesn't look typical of late blight which rapidly spreads throughout the crop. First picture is of LB taking hold and the two are the front and back of an infected potato leaf.

[Digeroo]

I personally do not think it is late blight.

Are they earlies?  After a while the earlies seem to just start looking a bit sick. This is normal.  If so time to dig them up.

It is usually to have two completely wet/ humid days in a row to get the blight going.  If the plants dry out well between downpours things are normally ok.

http://www.blightwatch.co.uk/content/bw-Smith.asp

Has anyone has a blight alert recently.  You can sign up on the potato council site.

http://www.potato.org.uk/fight-against-blight

[RenishawPhil]

They are seconds or early mains

[Unwashed]

Like Digeroo, I think the tops might just be going over because they've done their job, and the hot spell might just have encouraged them.

[gavinjconway]

Looks pretty normal end of lifespan for them.. Not looking like blight at all.

[BAK]

Not blight.

[RenishawPhil]

Is this still normal end of life stuff?, was just thinking it looks more like blight....

[Unwashed]

That's looking more like early blight now with the yellowing and the concentric ridges to the black spots, but it could still be nutrient deficiency or end-of-life.  I'm still pretty sure it's not late blight, so no great worry. 

[RenishawPhil]

thanks unwashed,

In that case should i just chop of the effected stems?

[Unwashed]

No need.  It's not like late blight where you need to protect the tubers, I'd leave it to run its course.  The leaves are obviously less effective and may well all go over in a week or so, but they'll still do some good if they're on the plant.  Kestrel should be pretty much full grown now unless you put them in particularly late.

[cornykev]

As said it's not blight just ending of life, leave them to run their course. 

[RenishawPhil]

Thanks guys, the kestrel are massive ,but rather scabby. I blame the dry

[cornykev]

Looking good, scabs are no problem.   

[RenishawPhil]

Looking good, scabs are no problem.   

Yea definately, just no good for baking

They make fantastic mash and chips though, :)

[cornykev]

I use mine for baking no probs  just give the scabs  a bit of a scrub and they dissappear.