Tweet
A plot not far from mine has been hit by blight. Can I prevent mine getting it or is there an organic treatment if they do??????
-
-
No treatment once they've got it. You used to be able to buy "preventative" sprays, but not sure if they're still available. -
You could try spray all the leaves with a tea made from mares tail.
You take mares tail and boil for two hours and then use the tea diluted. Can't vouch for it, but something to do with the silica creating a protective barrier.Comment
-
Poozie,
You'll need to spray your potatoes ASAP to prevent them getting infected. All is not lost even if you get some infection, pick off the diseased leaves and spray.
The only "organic" blight spray that I have used in the past has been the old "Burgundy Mixture" containing baking soda and blue stone (copper sulphate)
I prefer to use Dithane (Mancozeb) myself, the sachets are easily bought, mixed and it's a safe fungicide to use. You might need to spray every couple of weeks depending on weather conditions.
Hope this helps,Comment
-
Is Bordeaux mixture 'organic' approved? I sprayed second earlies (anya) and some outdoor toms last week as i was convinced that i saw early signs on a couple of spuds. There has been a spotty leaf thing going on this year but this plant had rotting patches on the stem I dug it out -spuds not quite ready- I'm hoping to get away with it and i have not seen any advance since. Generally you can get the earlies etc. out the soil before any damage. Maincrops are more of a problem.Comment
-
Paulottie,
Copper based sprays are approved by the Soil Association. However, there is some concern about the environmental impact of continued use of copper based sprays. As a result, organic farmers can now only apply a maximum of 6 kg Copper per hectare (about 5.5lbs per acre) per year. This equates to around 3 sprays per season. In a bad blight year, 3 sprays won't prevent or control blight.
Copper based sprays work much better later in the season to prevent tuber blight. If blight is already in the crop, they won't give control of the blight already present.
A 2% Bordeaux mix or even a 1% Burgundy mix could be used. I prefer the Burgundy mix as it's easier to mix and it doesn't clog up your sprayer like the Bordeaux mix can.
You're right that the problem is usually with the maincrop, in most years the earlies are harvested before the high blight risk.
hope this helps.Comment
-
Thanks for that jondanie. First time i've used it there in 4 years -so I think I'm within the limits! I'm not sure as I can remember the difference!-disgusting really as I used to work in Burgundy many years ago. I'll look it up as your right it did clog up even tho i mixed in a bucket and decanted it.Comment
-
A recollection from my geology student days - if you're prospecting for copper in a jungly environment you look for clearings - the stuff doesn't grow well where there are copper minerals in the ground. They are actually called (or were - we're going back some!) 'copper clearings'. I can see why they limit the amount you can add to your soil.Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.
www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - SpringComment
-
You're welcome Paulottie,
Here's a typical 1% Burgundy mix,
100g copper sulphate and 125g baking soda.
Mix each in some water separately and then add the baking soda solution to the copper solution. (NOT the other way round!)
Make up to 10 litres and use it within a day or two.
Flummery, that's an interesting observation on the 'copper clearings' I'll remember that the next time I'm in a jungle!Comment
-
It could happen! And you can never find a copper when you want one!Originally posted by jondanie View Post
Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.
www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - SpringComment
-
ha ha! FlumMoM
I was told hammering a copper nail in was an excellent way of killing an unwanted tree. Also copper kills invertabrates thus a few copper nails in a watertank stops the mosquitos breeding and maybe explains the mollusc deterant effect (as i'm not that sure of the electric shock theory.) Any truth?Comment
-
...and is (allegedly) a help against rhumatism. Copper bracelet theory.Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.
www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - SpringComment
-
blight
New to organic allotments blight has well and truly struck, still not sure if Bordeaux mix is organic, on packet it is clear to keep away from open water as it will kill fish, does anyone know how it works and if it's ok to use. Also can we put the blighted leaves onto our compost or not?Comment
-
Can anyone post a piccy of potato with blight? Not sure I'd recognise it if I saw it!
TIAVeni, Vidi, Velcro.
I came, I saw, I stuck around.Comment
-
TheDoctor,
The following RHS link shows a nice pic and description of potato blight. You'll know it if you have it! Don't worry!
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...ato_blight.asp
Hope this helped,Comment
Comment