Blight - is it my fault?

[grannymem]

Following other threads about blight, I discovered brown spots and patches on my potato leaves. I've cut off all the foliage and dug up most of the potatoes (they look pretty good at the moment but from what others have said, I'm presuming they won't store _
Most of my tomatoes are in the greenhouse but I did put a few in black Morrisons flower buckets and have kept them at the back of a sunny border.
And to my horror... one of the plants has got nasty black spots on the leaves. I can easily remove it and hope that spores have not reached the other plants but in this dry hot spell why has it occurred? I have watered the toms quite a bit - could this have been the problem?

It's been a very good learning experience for me but I could cry at the loss of the potatoes and just have to hope I haven't lost all my toms.

Please cheer me up someone!!

[Nicos]

I'm sorry- but it happens
Just be glad you're not in Ireland 150 years ago- you'd have starved to death

Nope- tis not your fault.
Blight spores are airborn- they could have wafted in through the greenhouse door.
Greenhouses often escape blight- or get it a few weeks later than outdoors.
Is your water butt covered?
I do wonder if - as the spores are air bourne- that a few spores can land in the water- and then be accidentally transfered to the greenhouse plants.
Just a thought

Pull off the affected leaves- and burn them

If it looks like it's settled in the greenhouse- then remove fruits asap , cook and freeze so all is not lost.
or-Try spraying with Bordeaux mixture- but try to avoid the fruit.
Yes it's a pain- and very frustrating- but you can eat the toms off an affected plant so long as there is no brown on the tomato.
Yup- it happened to me a few years back- at least I had a few green toms for chutney - so all was not lost.

Every year is different- never expect the same results each year.
Plant lots of different fruit and veg, and something will do exceptionally well!

For me ,this year will be rubbish for all fruit, spuds,shallots and rhubarb.
Next year will probably be totally different!

[grannymem]

Dearest Nicos,

You HAVE cheered me up! I will remove the leaves, look on the bright side, and hope I do better next year.

Thanks and hugs

[Nicos]

Aww..bless... xx

That's the thing about gardening- ya take it as it comes- you can't fight nature- only try and manipulate it slightly!

good luck- let us know how you get on eh??

[solway cropper]

I see from blightwatch that there are suspected cases in Cornwall but is everyone claiming to have blight actually sure. My tatties have looked pretty ropey this year due to the combination of late frosts and dryness and toms can show all sorts of symptoms due to a variety of conditions from underwatering to trace element defficiency. It might be blight but it also might be something else.

[Shadylane]

If your spuds look and smell ok then they may well store just fine. Just check them regularly for rotting ones and remove. It is possible that you've misdiagnosed though so try and get it confirmed. Some photos maybe? And Nicos is spot on. Last season the phrase of the year for me was 'next year will be better' and this year I'm saying it again. Some stuff does great and some doesn't, you just have to not take it too seriously and remember to just enjoy what does go well

[grannymem]

Thanks everyone. I'm notg entirely sure I'm right that it is blight - but as I still have a few more potatoes I didn't want to risk losing the lot.

So far I haven't smelt anything awful (I keep remembering lurid descriptions of the Irish potato famine and the smells and sights of the rotting harvests) so I've stored what I've dug up and will keep a watchful eye on the rest of the crop.

Once again, thank you for all your wise words - and I'll let you know how I get on.

xx

[Nicos]

Blight on the actual toms smells very sweet. It's obvious when it gets to the fruit because you get brown patches which get bigger.
Such a waste .