Organic potatoes and dithane

[redser]

So I'm trying to be as organic as I can but have to temper it with practical choices too.
When it comes to spuds I have tasted the sarpos and don't like them so I want to go with Red duke of York for earlies and Roosters for main crop. I cant plant them too early because I cant be running up and down to the plot to cover them at a moment's notice. So I have to run into the blight season and use Dithane (have read about bordeaux mixture but not going that way).
But I wonder what effect it would have on the soil creatures? I've been working hard to improve my soil with manure, seaweed, and compost and avoiding fertilisers and pesticides. So will using Dithane kill off life in the soil and undo my hard work so far? Can it be used with organic growing?
Thanks for any insights!

[Thelma Sanders]

You can't buy Dithane any more and it's certainly not organic. The only thing you can buy now is
Bayer Fruit & Vegetable Disease Control which is copper based the same as Bordeaux mixture, I think

[redser]

Thanks Thelma. I've actually seen it recently. I think there was some licensing issue last year but that's sorted out and renewed now. I've never used the stuff before. I understand it is a chemical but i wonder what damage it would do to other life apart from killing the blight spores. I decided against copper based as i read it kills earth worms. Just haven't found anything about dithane doing something that bad.
Cheers

[Thelma Sanders]

I'm sure the only Dithane still on sale is for farmers/professional use, perhaps you can buy that where you are

[Potstubsdustbins]

I pretty sure Thelma is right about its withdrawel in the UK, though you may still be able to get it.

I have just googled the word dithane, the forth or fifth hit is a data sheet given you details of any side effects to other plants and creatures. From what I read the only real problem is the aquatic enviroment it is deadly to fish etc.

Potty

[solway cropper]

I found a box in the greenhouse that I've had for about five or six years and never really needed but I wouldn't use it on principle now as it's produced by Bayer and I have some serious reservations about their activities. Anyway, FYI, it's main ingredient is mancozeb which is quite nasty and HIGHLY TOXIC to amphibians. As I have a healthy frog population in my garden that's another reason for never using the stuff.

[chris]

Build another tunnel just for spuds dude

[SarzWix]

I don't think you should write off Sarpos so quickly; they've brought out a couple of new varieties and are trying to get another listed at the moment. Just because one of them didn't suit you doesn't mean the others won't

[redser]

Thanks all. I really don't like the idea of using chemicals but spuds seem to be a special case of their own with the blight. Wouldn't it be great if you get a pick and mix to try lots of varieties was reading that lady Balfour has great resistance but then mixed things about the taste. I read also that red duke of York can give a big yield for an early and stores well and I'm planting a bag of them. Might be an option to go all earlies next year if they work out well.

[Alison]

Personally I wouldn't use it and don't like any of the Sarpo varieties I've tried. I go for types that are naturally blight resistant and cross my fingers. Usually works fine and the spuds have been OK even when the nearby outdoor toms have been hit.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Quickcrop do a pick and mix on seed spuds and I think they are in your part of the world.

Potty

[redser]

I lost everything last year Alison by not spraying. So what to do!?
That's great pots, thanks a million, found them online.

[veggiechicken]

I'm sure this is discussed on here somewhere but.........
If you cover spuds with fleece does it prevent blight - or lessen its effect - or do no good whatsoever. I lost all of mine this year - but I don't grow many - so wondered whether covering them would be worthwhile?

[darkbrowneggs]

I don't like the Sarpo types, but found Toluca a good one - pretty blight tolerant and nice tasting potatoes plus reasonable cropper

Any reason you are against using Bordeaux Mix?

[redser]

Thanks VC! Read something like that but i think you have to be on hand to cover them, I just can't commit to running up and down to the plot at a moments notice.
What I read bout Bordeaux mix strangebrowneggs is that the copper really messes with the soil fauna even though organic gardeners give it the ok. Attitudes seem to be changing.
I can see myself spraying this year to be honest