Potato plant wilt!!!

[nooby]

Hi,

I suspect that I already know that my potato problem is terminal as I have done a bit of research on the internet but I thought I would ask to clarify.

I planted some maincrop International Kidney in huge pots early april and they have wilted almost overnight. It started last week and I put it down to the hot weather we have been having here down south. I watered them and usually by the end of the day they have perked up. Then by mid morning they have wilted again. They were apparently certified scottish seeds and they were looking lovely and lush. I found this post on Bacterial wilt of potato: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatr...terialwilt.pdf

I suspect this is my problem. They have only been in a short time so I suspect there will be nothing worth digging up... Any advice? Should I just rip them out and burn them

Also I planted some King edwards and they are next to the offending IK's, they seem ok at the moment but is this something that will "jump" plants?

I have also had a couple of Full Smith warnings recently in my area...

Over to you guys... Any ideas?

Thank you in advance....

[chris]

Mine wilted too, but I gave them a good watering (a REAL good watering) - they perked up and so far so good. I've had a full smith alert too, but no signs of blight yet.

Could you post a pic, maybe some more knowledgable folks could help.. there's a spud expert on here 'tattieman' - he may have furhter info.

[nooby]

Thanks for that!

I do water them often but I havent given them a good soaking since our last bout of rain, I was under the impression that you were not to over water them. I will give them a good (really) watering this evening and see how they are tomorrow and if need be take some photos...

The leaves seem to be in good condition, so maybe its just they are dying of thirst in this weather! Poor things...

[chris]

Yeah, that thread int he newshoots section I think mentions little and often..

I'd checked my soil in the bags (probably should have mentioned this) and it was bone dry, so no wonder

[Two_Sheds]

Several of my spuds have collapsed this year. I am sure it's just drought and nothing more sinister.

btw, I would go for watering really well once or twice weekly, rather than little and often.

[womble]

Mine are starting to wilt from the bottom up on most stems, I found blackleg on one stem of one plant, a few weeks ago, pulled it up and it doesn't seem to have spread. So I don't think it's that. I can't see any problems on the stems anyway.
It's not watering, because i've given them a good water.

It could be natural die back, but it seems a bit early yet, I think they've been in for about 12 weeks.

I've left them for the moment, I suppose I could try digging one plant up and having a look.

[OllieMartin]

Drench during dry periods rather than little and often.

Potato - WikiGardener Wiki

[tattieman]

This has been a strange year for potatoes to grow in.
It was too cold at the start of the year and many people got theirs nipped with frost.
Now we are faced with high temps and it is putting the potato plants under great stress.
In this kind of weather you should try and keep the bag or ground moist because if it dries out then it is very hard to get the moisture levels correct again.

If the haulms are under real stress feed them with a high nitrogen product.
I use a tomato product in a watering can aswell as maxicrop and I apply the mixture direct to the compost/soil around the base of the plant.
The nitrogen will boost the foliage as a quick fix.