potatoes Anya had blight, dig up now or leave in ground

[vegelady]

I have had so many potatoes this year! Unbelievable! I grew swift, vivaldi and Charlotte in six Dobies potatoes tubs and each tub was full from top to bottom and also ordered Anya in error so chucked them in a spare bit of garden and they also have loads of spuds. However all potatoes got blight three weeks ago so I cut off all the top growth and have been harvesting from the ground. My question is should I now dig up all the Anya from the ground (we have heavy clay) or should I leave the potatoes in the ground until I need them. I cannot find in any of my books whether salad potatoes can be stored out of the ground or whether they would be better left in the ground
thanks
Alison

[rustylady]

According to this site Anya will store, so it's up to you whether you dig them now or not. Harvesting Anya Potatoes etc

"I’ve been harvesting my Anya second early potatoes.

Now last year was awful, blight hit the potatoes and the crop was poor. This year has been my best ever so far. From 4 rows (60 foot row total) we’ve had 2 wheelbarrows full. I don’t know the weight – but maybe 50 Kg.

Few damages, the slugs haven’t been bad at all this year (so far). Anya store well but I can see us giving a load away. Val spread them on the lawn on an old shower curtain to check them and remove any that would not store, before bagging up for the shed."

[vegelady]

thank you I think I will leave half in the ground and dig up half to store/give away to family and friends! As you say so far slugs have not made any inroads into them yet. My first year growing potatoes and very successful! I knew you could not store earlies but will see how the Anya get on.

[Two_Sheds]

Are you sure it was blight? (black, smelly slimy rotting stems and leaves?)

[FionaH]

We have had two near miss periods round here TS so it could be. Vegelady is not far from me

[Aberdeenplotter]

rotting stems sounds a bit like more like blackleg than blight where although the stems will rot eventually, the leaves go down first after showing spots of fungsus affected areas. whatever, if the tops are off(we call them shaws, south of the border they are haulms) they should keep ok in the ground unless you have a problem with keeled slugs. if you do have such a problem, lift them and store in hessian sacks or thick paper bags in a cool dry airy place with light excluded.

[binley100]

Blight already.......

[Two_Sheds]

stoor in hessian sacks or thick paper bags in a coll dry airy blace with light excluded.

lol
somebody was on the fizz early

[Aberdeenplotter]

lol
somebody was on the fizz early

Sheesh, proof readers

I'll slink off and edit.

[sewer rat]

Blight already.......

I signed up for Blightwatch three years ago and I got the first bllight warning via text for this year this afternoon.

[binley100]

lol
somebody was on the fizz early

and there was me thinking it was written in Scot........

[sewer rat]

and there was me thinking it was written in Scot........

Lol, quite quick witted for a sassen.....

[binley100]

I have me moments ..........*takes a bow ...

[Aberdeenplotter]

and there was me thinking it was written in Scot........

Tsk, tsk

[Germinater]

Blight watch???what that then??bit like spring watch where Kate hummble rings u up and let's you know it might affect your crop??