Potato blight

[Dorothy rouse]

Have just been to allotment and the Earlies, Rocket, have been affected by blight, they were OK on Thursday, so very recent. I've chopped the foliage and removed from area, need to go back and put it in sacks. I removed about 4/5 plants and filled a carrier of potatoes, marvellous crop!

But have just looked at RHS and it says, you should leave the tubors for about 2/3 weeks, and then dig them up.

Would you advise the same?

I know Earlies don't store well,so friends and neighbours will be getting some!

Thanks for any advice.

[Martin H]

The advice to wait a couple of weeks is in case blight spores have dropped off the foliage onto the soil surface. So if you dig the potatoes up while the spores are still alive, they may stick to the tubers and attack them in storage or next year.

For new potatoes I wouldn't worry, you are going to eat them all before blight can take hold on the tubers.

[Dorothy rouse]

Thanks Martin, think I'll be ok then, and my neighbours won't have to be buying potatoes!

Once potatoes are removed, is the ground then ok to plant other crops? Do you know?

Thanks

[Martin H]

Yes, ground will be fine for other crops. You can get your leeks or your winter cabbage in, for instance.

I'd avoid tomatoes though, that's the only other crop that could be affected by the potato blight.