My Potatoes Have Fallen Over! Now what?

[susieq100]

You folks have given me some good advice recently, so here goes again. Last year I planted potatoes straight into the ground, earthed up etc and although we had some spuds they weren't great. I'm in the Potteries so soil is very heavy clay.
This year I made raised beds and planted earlies. They have grown like triffids and have fabulous greenery,the flowers have formed but not opened yet. I have earthed them up, but because they are inside these raised beds, it's quite difficult to mould them up as high as you would in a 'conventional' plot. The wind and rain over the weekend has cause them to 'fall over' and they look like a herd of wildebeest have rampaged through them. Is this because they are not supported enough by the moulded up soil? Or is it because all the energy has gone into producing haulm and not the good stuff under the ground?

is there anything I can do? Should I do anything?
I would welcome advice.

[kirsty b]

Mine have fallen over too. It could be the weight of the water on the leaves cos the rain has been pretty heavy lately. If the rain ever stops they should perk up again, mine did last year. Failing that, an additional earth up sure wouldn't hurt

Kirsty

[momol]

Hi Susieq100,

Like Kirsty said, it is ok.mine has fallen too but it creep up again when it no longer rainy.

Momol

[terrier]

Mine are determined to grow out of the side of the mounds anyway so they are at the moment resting on the soil. As long as the leaves are green and the stems arn't broken off, I'm sure it's just 'rain fatigue'. They'll perk up in a few days when the rain stops.

[jondanie]

Susie,
Over fertilising potatoes does produce lots of foliage which is often at the expense of the developing tubers. Also, lush thick foliage that falls over is really susceptible to blight. I would think the rainy weather in the past few days will have brought blight to the UK. Now would be a good time to apply a preventative spray to protect the foliage and developing tubers.

[Cutecumber]

I think it's a bit early, and a bit cold, for blight - it needs to be a bit warmer for it to really get going.

[jondanie]

True,
Still early for blight to hit. Warm and humid is what blight likes. The forecast s for unsettled weather right into next week so vigilance is needed.

[Alice]

Your potatoes should be OK Susie even if the foliage is flat on it's face. I've seen whole fields like that and np problem with the potatoes.

[susieq100]

Thanks everyone, I feel better now! And, oh joy, it's raining again!