Blackened Potato leaves

[Big John]

Hi, does anyone know why the leaves/stems of my early potato's would start to turn black & die off. The plot holder next to me has very healthy looking plants and the main crop in one bed down (about 10ft) are all looking healthy. Could it be lack of water?

[Capsid]

Frost damage?

[Big John]

That's what I first thought but no other plants seem to have been affected. Including other potato plants?

[Hans Mum]

are some varieties more susceptible than others as it does sound like frost damage

[Big John]

In that case you may be right as the affected bed has 2 different varieties of earlies and the unaffected bed is main corp. I'm not sure what my neighbour has. Do you think it's likely I've lost them all?

[OllieMartin]

If the blackened leaves have gone crispy and turn to dust if you crush them in your hand:frost damage.
Early varieties are more susceptible to it.
Check closely, if you've got some new green leaves growing you should be okay. I doubt the frost was harsh enough to get right down to the tubers, it will probably just set them back a little.

Here's the frost damage on mine:

[Hans Mum]

we had this discussion on site yesterday, and decided we were all going to leave them & see what happens, you dont see spud farmers out with fleece was the general point of view

[Big John]

Thank you all for your help, especially as you've already gone over all this. I'll join you in leaving them.