Potato frost damage?

[idiotwind]

My earlies started to come up last week but today they are looking decidedly unhealthy.
Most but not all of the growth looks battered and yellowed, even dead in patches. Some plants seems to be unscathed but most are affected to various degrees. I had a peek at a neighbour's plot too and her spuds looked similarly afflicted.

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I assume this is frost damage from the cold snap over the weekend rather than something nasty and fungal? If mild frost damage they should bounce back without too much concern from what I have read?
many thanks,
Ed

[Martin H]

Yes, that's frost damage. They'll come back, it'll just have set them back a week or so. See if you can protect them from the next cold snap!

[lottie dolly]

Yes, that's frost damage. They'll come back, it'll just have set them back a week or so. See if you can protect them from the next cold snap!

a repeat from me,but just add,see about earthing them up,as it will help.

[idiotwind]

Thankyou, good to know that they should recover.

Despite the gorgeous blue skies today the forecast for the next week is showing again some night time lows hovering around freezing. Would you recommend I earth them up now before giving them chance to recover?

[Bigmallly]

Yes, keep earthing them up until all risk of frost has gone.

[Knight of Albion]

Not doing spuds this year, but what I've done in the past when growing them (when a frost is afoot) is cover them with a flower pot - earthenware, not plastic. I always found that worked.

[MarkPelican]

Cover them with fleece or earth them up.

[idiotwind]

Have earthed them up today. They actually looked a lot better and were clearly bouncing back. Fingers crossed this next week is the last risk of frost!

[Dalrimple]

I earth mine up when I plant them ! it seems to work for all those farmers in Lincolnshire .
Dal.

[WendyC]

Have earthed them up today. They actually looked a lot better and were clearly bouncing back. Fingers crossed this next week is the last risk of frost!

Where are you? I reckon on at least another month here.

[idiotwind]

Herts.
Most guides say last week in April/ first week in May as lost frost date but we haven't had a late April frost for a few years, although this week will change that!

Have earthed them up again today as below zero predicted for Wed night.