BLIGHT - just a bit of sympathy please

[T-lady]

Well, I'm gutted about this but ... had to strip off all of the hulms from my early and 2nd early potatoes last week. Only gone and got blight AGAIN! Two years in a row - last year it was 16th July - this year it was the 17th July (is this an indication that summers are getting better - a whole day extra growing time?)

However, it didn't get across the garden to the main crop and only one of the outdoor tomatoes has seccumbed to it (fingers crossed anyway).


So please, a little sympathy coz I'm really, really fed-up. Those poor little potato plants had fought their way through a fairly miserable Spring, recovered after the cats decided to wage war amongst them and even shrugged off the ongoing assault of the mole - only to get walloped by a good dose of Lincolnshire blight.

I'll dig 'em up in a fortnight and just hope the spore didn't get to the spuds themselves.

[smallblueplanet]

You have my sympathy, I hope we're due some better weather and that helps at least make you feel better!

[T-lady]

Thanks Manda. Looking out of the window from my office prison today has been half nice (love the sunshine) half horrid (love sunshine best when I'm out in it)

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh dear, sorry to read that T-Lady. Hope you have better luck next year.

[Comfreyfan]

Loads of sympathy T-Lady, and I hope you won't mind if I keep a little for myself. I had to cut all mine down yesterday. 2 tense weeks now to see if any of my favourite pink fir apple survived, and waiting to see if it got into the greenhouse

[mythyme]

got empathy T-Lady, in Bucks and have got blight, am hoping to get a few more edibles but not holding out much hope, there's always next year! Has anyone in a blighted area got any of the Sarpo spuds? and are they really resistant?

[gojiberry]

I have sarpo but as yet no blight on our lotties, however it is a quarter of a mile down the road so am expecting it to hit any time now. Will let you know how things go.

Ian

[vegnut]

No blight here yet , And i have sarpo's, so if and when it comes, i shall inform everyone wether or not they survive

[T-lady]

Comfreyfan and mythyme - bad luck folks, it's a miserable thing to happen but with a bit of luck they'll be some kind of a crop lurking for you. Last year even though I had to cull the hulms on the 16th July we still had enough spuds to see us through til Xmas. The main crop were small but still perfectly OK ahd the spoors didn't get through to ruin them.

I've got two types of Sarpo this year but none of the mains have been affected (yet). I'll let you know how the Sarpo stands up to it if blight strikes.

[SlugLobber]

Aw, that's crud. Sympathy from me, too. What are the first signs of Blight, so us novices know in advance?

[kentvegplot]

Oh dear, that's a nuisance. I noticed that last year I had to do the same on 26th July so I have another week to see how things are......hope the mains do well.

[Complete novice at this!]

spuds

growing anya and cut the foliage when it looked like they had blight, left them a fortnight and have baking spuds, result! in a spud sack!

[awb714]

got empathy T-Lady, in Bucks and have got blight, am hoping to get a few more edibles but not holding out much hope, there's always next year! Has anyone in a blighted area got any of the Sarpo spuds? and are they really resistant?

We grew them last year and they didnt even catch cold. Our Dessies and King Eddies went down big time with the dreaded blight, but that East Yorkshire for you.

Next year we are going with Sarpo's again, they are a realy good potato and seem to be resistant to anything.

[sewer rat]

Just want to remind all you grapes who are concerned about blight and blight resistant potatoes, that the Sarpo family are not the only varieties available. Two of the most poopular organically grown potatoes, Sante and Lady Balfour also show good resistance.

[realfood]

The Sarpo varieties are usually resistant to most strains of Blight, but can be affected by some of the latest strains of blight, as I discovered last year for the first time.
I keep a watch for any sign of blight on other plots, or if close by on the potato web site, and spray accordingly.
You can reach the blight warning site from here pests_diseases