Yellowing potato plants (King Eddie)

[Chippy Minton]

Hello, a bit new to this lark and I have this year for the first time planted spuds in the ground (always done them in pots before). Planted a few Blue Danube, some Pentland Javelin and some International Kidney, all good so far.

Also planted at the same time some King Eddie's but I have a problem. About 25 - 30% of them have just gone yellow and are now withering and dying. Not a spreading yellow but the entire plant went pale green / bright yellow. Looked in good Dr Hessayon's book and it doesn't look like any of those diseases.

Drought? I live in the North-West so find that hard to believe

[SarzWix]

Very odd. What date did you plant them? Any chance of them being ready? If not, have you checked the stems right the way down into the soil? Some diseases cause the stems to rot where they go into the ground, so you don't notice it. I had a Blue Danube plant with what I think was 'blackleg' but didn't notice it til the plant started dying off - the stems didn't fall over or anything.

[Chippy Minton]

Hmm, will have a look tomorrow. Oddly it's kind of every other plant, no obvious clumping. Don't think they're ready but will investigate closer and at the base of the stem.....

[SlugLobber]

My desirees are ready early this year. I thought same as you - disease, but when I had a furtle, I found lots of lovely spuds. Trouble is, I've now got a glut!!!

[SarzWix]

Blackleg comes from the seed potato rather than the soil or the environment I think. It's not unheard of to end up with one sneaking through, but bad management on the part of the seed company if it turns out that quite a few have got through with that problem.

[binley100]

My King Edwards are starting to die down as well ...I just assumed they were just about ready .....

[gothmaga]

My desirees are starting to go yellow as well I am going to pull them I think or risk loosing them, looks like my family and friends are going to be getting spuds off me to get rid of the glut lol

[Potstubsdustbins]

Desiree are a main crop and if stored correctly should last well into next year, hang on to em.

Colin

[bearded bloke]

My cara's are all green but a single rocket went yellow yesterday & started to keel over today,will dig it out in the morning & have a good look

[Florence Fennel]

I'm waiting for mine to show any signs of dying off. They're International Kidney and first time in the ground, so I'm hoping for great things. Have harvested the others from the tubs, but I've forgotten what variety they were!

[Chippy Minton]

Blackleg it was, spread to the others now there's nothing at all to see However working on the principle of SlugLobber I'm off for a dig about to see if anything had matured before the slaughter. Otherwise it's the Pentland Javelins and the International Kidneys from the other bed!

We live and learn, this time next year .........

[VirginVegGrower]

My desirees are ready early this year. I thought same as you - disease, but when I had a furtle, I found lots of lovely spuds. Trouble is, I've now got a glut!!!

They're a maincrop so cut the haulms, leaving the potatoes in the ground for a couple of weeks - this sets skins so that you can store them in a paper or hessian sack = no glut!

[VirginVegGrower]

Desiree are a main crop and if stored correctly should last well into next year, hang on to em.

Colin

SNAP Colin - sorry was reading from the top for a change!

[Chippy Minton]

After a quick furtle about 2.5kg of small but good King Eddies. Peeling is a bit of a chore (need peeling as they have a bit of scab) but they make great wedgies! The Pentland Javelins are still giving though....

[northepaul]

Mine have done the same, (died back and went yellow) I just assumed they were ready and dug them up....