Aaarrgghh! tell me its not blight!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

How did it go with your spuds Eskymo?

I have cut all the tops off the spuds now (except for the dustbin of Golden Wonder's) and I found there is a small crop of spuds in some of the buckets.

Question though is, what can I do with the compost? I normally throw it into the compost bin to help balance the other contents in there. Is this okay to do, can I dig it into the bit of bramble patch that I am converting to a veg garden (no spuds going to be planted there) or should I throw it away?

[jondanie]

Shirl,
This compost isn't a real risk for next year not unless you're really unlucky and you've had both the A1 and A2 mating types mate to produce a very resistant spore! Chances of that is slim!

Most blight outbreaks come from wind-borne source like an unsprayed neighbours plot or allotment or from old discarded tubers that sprout and initiate an outbreak or from infected seed.

Find a home for your compost as you've suggested, don't throw it away!

Hope this helps,

[moggssue]

Sorry to be really dim folks, but would it be possible for someone to post a definitive photo or description of what a blight infected potato or tomato leaf looks like? I'm having trouble identifying it from my google search, there seem to be a few differing photos, from a huge brown blob in the middle of a yellow leaf to lots of little brown spots (which a couple of my toms have, I've ignored it so far thinking it wasnt anything much as the plants are otherwise healthy).

[shirlthegirl43]

See my pics further back this thread.

[moggssue]

Now, the first photos on this thread are what mine look like,only not as bad, and if you google blight images there are some photos like that but there are other photos like yours halfway through the thread shirl, which are different! So, the little brown spots aren't blight, but the big single spots are? Sorry, I know I'm being dim ...

[shirlthegirl43]

Mine had big spots with a lighter area round them. on the back of the leaf, in damp conditions, you can see a whitish 'mould' effect. They look sick and sort of scabby if you know what I mean. Sorry, can't take any close up pics for you as they have all been cut down now! Hope that helps

[moggssue]

Thanks Shirley, that description doesnt sound like what I've got - no big spots or mouldy effects so I think I was right that it isnt anything serious, just a deficiency from being in a plastic bag! And now I know what to look for, I shall be keeping a close eye. Hope you manage to get a crop from your new seeds. Thanks for the help, Sue

[NSB]

I am new to Grapvine this week, and I have learnt so much already, my tomatos have this and I'm so grateful for the support and advice.