[sunshineband]

Highly delighted with the Picasso, really heavy crop of good size spuds, most of them bakers.

For the second year running to to circumstances I didn't get around to planting until May (12th), it's not worth the panic everyone seems to be in to get them in, then start worrying about frosts!

Which did the slugs prefer -- Ambo or Picasso? Or of course neither 

[DD.]

In truth - neither - there don't seem to be a lot about, harsh winter, dry summers and all that. I did grow Picasso a few years ago and they did have a bit of slug damage. Only really grew them this year as initially I couldn't get any Ambo.

[sunshineband]

Our Caras, whilst massive have had quite a lot of sluggo holes 

So looking for a variety that does the same job (huge spuds for bakers and fluffy roasties) that slugs do not have on their preference list 

[Debz]

I don't remember most of the varieties planted this year but the slugs have enjoyed a bit of all of them.  Will try Picasso next year as I love a good baker.

[operabunny]

DD - I think I have your slugs. Would you like them back?

[DD.]

You know what you can do with yer slugs!

[sunshineband]

One of my fellow plot holders was almost in tears tonight, as his whole spud crop (two full size plots' worth) has been decimated by blight.

Almost every tuber is marked badly with it  -- all Desiree.

[DD.]

What would he have done with two plots worth? That's one heck of a lot of spuds!

[sunshineband]

He doesn't usually grow quite that many 

He was poorly at the start of the season, so thought planting spuds around May would at least keep the ground occupied.

They were to be donated to a local old folk's home, where his wife works 

[Growster...]

That's so sad KC.

They seem to cut down all the halms round here; assume this may make blight less intrusive on the crops?

[sunshineband]

That's so sad KC.

They seem to cut down all the halms round here; assume this may make blight less intrusive on the crops?

The idea is to stop the blight spores from travelling down into the tubers.

Sometimes you get it in time (we were lucky) sometimes not (he was not) If you then leave the spuds in the ground for two weeks after cutting off the haulms, spores on the surface have died and then do not infec the potatoes as you dig them up.

Otherwise of course they start to rot later 

[DD.]

This is like what I wrote, then got the warning someone had already posted, but I'll post it anyway as it agrees with what Sunny says:

If you notice blight on the halums and chop them off before it gets a chance to invade the whole plant, the crop should be OK. You have to give it a couple of weeks so that any blight spore on the soil don't survive.

[Redgoat]

King Edward tasty and dependable

[sunshineband]

This is like what I wrote, then got the warning someone had already posted, but I'll post it anyway as it agrees with what Sunny says:

If you notice blight on the halums and chop them off before it gets a chance to invade the whole plant, the crop should be OK. You have to give it a couple of weeks so that any blight spore on the soil don't survive.

So that's three of us now then 

[Richard S]

Was very late planting, mid May and then mid June for most, planting Sarpo Mira, and I'm now getting over 4lb per plant, with the haulms still growing (well still green anyway)
Am just going to dig some more up now.