Blight Alert

[Dorothy rouse]

We have had a 'blight alert', so am going to check on my main crop potatoes tomorrow, Romana and Pink Fir Apple, they all looked ok the other day.

But I'm wondering if you would advise digging them up and storing now? Or just keep checking?

Ta


DottyR

[Creemteez]

I dug all mine up at the weekend as they were showing the first signs of Blight. I'm very pleased with the crop I've got. Was keeping a very close eye (checking every day) and as soon as I was sure it was blight, up they came. They were King Edwards and Pentland Javelin. - Both planted on St Patricks Day.

[WendyC]

You can just cut off all the stems and harvest later.

[binley100]

My mains are all dying down now so I'm just watching them like a hawk........any signs and I'll just cut down any haulms that haven't died off naturally . Watching my toms too........

If you have signs and cut them down then leave for a couple of weeks before harvesting so the blight can die off on the soil before disturbing it..

[Dorothy rouse]

Ok will do, thanks, the Romano have almost all died down and I have dug up a couple already, but the Pink Fir, are still (well 2 days ago) they were, still looking v green and quite tall, so just cut the foliage down and remove it? I know you can't compost it, presume remove it.

Looks like I'm gonna have a busy day!


DottyR

[rustylady]

Course you can compost potato foliage

[Dorothy rouse]

Oh, that's strange, we are being told to 'remove any blighted foliage' from site and burn or dispose.


DottyR

[rustylady]

If it's blighted then remove from site, but you said it was looking healthy.

[Dorothy rouse]

Well they were looking healthy a couple of days ago, then we received this message about Blight! So have just inspected, and have chopped down some that was beginning to look bit dodgy, and bagged it up. The Romana have died right down anyway,dug a load of those up, and speared a good few with the fork!


DottyR