Potato leaves - diseased or deficiency

[nckgarvey]

Hi

Have searched the forum and browsed thru 17 pages of results, I am still unsure.



I taken this tonight, I have checked the stems and about 3inches below soil and they are green and firm. Leaves feel normal.

Varieties this is visible on is 1st Early Nicola, and 2nd Early Maris Peer and kestrel

Would appreciate any help on what the yellow is.

Thanks

[nickdub]

Bit of a deficiency for my money, but nothing too serious - what sort of soil/compost mixture are you growing them in ?

[nckgarvey]

hi,

well rotted manure 50%, b&q verve multi purpose compost 50%

when seeds planted used potato pellets and blood, fish & bone - 2 handfuls of each

[It never rains..it pours]

Looks like green veins but yellow in-between which indicates magnesium deficiency. If agree it's fixed by adding some epsom salts to watering can and putting on in an evening when no rain is forecast to 24 hrs +

[nickdub]

Planting mix sounds v good - I agree with the previous suggestion of Epsom salts as a good first try - I wouldn't use much, as they are in a container. If you feel its worth it give that a try, and if its not fixed after a week or so then post again please.

[It never rains..it pours]

Odd if there is any deficiency with that mix

[nickdub]

Yes I'm a bit puzzled - none-the-less plants are sometimes unable to access certain nutrients for various reasons even if they are present in the growing medium - Epsom salts may not cure the problem, but as long as it is applied weakly it won't do any harm.

[WalterWhite]

I doubt the plants have nutrient deficiencies with all the additions (fert/manure) you have added to the compost substrate. Furthermore its very early on in the plants growth to be indicating a deficiency.

I am quite sure what you have is known as 'nutrient lockout'. You have over saturated your substrate (compost) with nutrients. This causes an increase in salts thus making it difficult to take up nutrients from the substrate. Also the increase in fertilisers may have negatively effected the ph and also contributed to lockout.

Solution is to either 'flush' the substrate or re-pot and go easy on the fertiliser.

Good luck.

[nckgarvey]

I've done nothing different this year and never had any issues last year, so assumed soil was good for the season, but that said, i had read about plants not taking nutrients that are present. I will pick some epsom salts up tomorrow. Thanks everyone

[nckgarvey]

Used epsom salts 3 times in the last 10 days or so, and it appears to have done the trick, all the yellow leaves are now green.

[It never rains..it pours]

Used epsom salts 3 times in the last 10 days or so, and it appears to have done the trick, all the yellow leaves are now green.

Thanks for letting us know the outcome

[WalterWhite]

I really doubt it was magnesium deficiency.. The increase of adding fluids with your epson salt intervention has probably assisted in flushing your substrate.

[bikermike]

How are they getting on? I've got a couple of Charlottes that are quite yellow. No spots, just yellow. I fed and watered them yesterday, so fingers crossed.