Potato Blite

[Plotlady]

Just another problem, I've got the dreaded Blite. Can anyone tell me if it's safe to eat the potatoes I've dug up, also can I compost the tops or should I burn them? Thanks Julia.

[silver8]

Safe to eat but wont store. Cannot compost so best to burn.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Plot lady,

If the tubers look ok they will be fine to eat, burn the tops do not compost them as the spores will continue to spread.

Do you have tomatoes on the go? If so I would give them a spray to try and protect them.

Mandy

[Plotlady]

Hi Plot lady,

If the tubers look ok they will be fine to eat, burn the tops do not compost them as the spores will continue to spread.

Do you have tomatoes on the go? If so I would give them a spray to try and protect them.

Mandy

Hi Mandy,
Yes got Toms, but they are a long way from the spuds and in the greenhouse.
Most of the tubers look fine, just one or two with slug damage. What about saving for chitting next year?
Julia

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Julia,

Not sure about that if you have blight, think it might cause problems next year? Someone else will be able to advise better. I have just eaten mine and bought new seed potatoes for the autumn.

Mandy

[SueA]

Hi Julia, I think you'd be better getting fresh potatoes for next year. I wouldn't save any of the ones which have blight, they may have got spores on them from the haulms/leaves etc. when you harvested them & could possibly carry it over. You would be better saving from an unaffected crop or buying proper seed potatoes which should be guaranteed pest/virus free. I'd eat the good ones you've got now & either throw the tops in a bag in the dustbin or burn them.

[Barry at Bristol]

Potatoe Blight

Hi,
I also have potatoe blight as well as blight on ALL my toms in the tunnel on the plot next door to the spud plot, I did spray the toms and spuds with "DITHANE 945" spuds dont look too bad but the toms seem to have got worse though, the ones I have in a the greenhouse appear uninfected though I have sprayed them as a precaution, does anyone know of the success rate of "DITHANE 945" also I have read somewhere that bordeux mix helps, I blame it all on our glourious summer of liquid sunshine we are currently having, Last season I was constantly watering this season I am moaning about too much water?
Does any of you experianced gardeners no the best prevention or cure for blight other than to grow a blight resistant crop? I have heard of blight resistant potatoes but not Toms?

[Lance]

Barry
Blight resistant tom varieties are Fantasio and Ferline
cheers
Lance

[Waffler]

My 2 rows of maincrop potatoes have the blight (at least I assume that's why they've blackened and withered?) I'm guessing they'll be nothing of substance below the soil, so does that mean it's game over for my potatoes? We've got a whole load of earlies, but they won't keep.
I'm so mad with this damn weather! Last year our maincrops got us through to April, so this year I grew extra to see us right through the year. Guess I'll have to pay the shop prices which will be going through the roof!

GRRRRR! Not a happy bunny!

[jersey royal]

Prevention is better than the cure! If we all had the benfit of hindsight....
I had a fantastic crop of Jersey Royals this year and planted some French earlies as well. The Jersey's were fine but the French ones got blight and I just couldn't stop it. I had been spraying with a systemic mancozeb based spray which normally does the trick (but it didn't!) and then moved on to tin (copper). I use the same program with the toms in the greenhouse and they are fine thankfully.
I wouldn't keep the tubers for chitting (you'll probably lose a few anyway) but would rather get a clean stock in next year and build up again.