[Limey153]

Hi there folks,

 I have noticed that my potatos have blight! Lots of black spots appearing over the leaves. About a third of my potatos are second earlies which are nearly ready anyway, so I could just lift them but I was wondering what I should do about my maincrop. I'm thinking that maybe I should cut my losses, pull em all out and quickly use the space for something else. But if I do that, what is there that I am not too late to plant?

Any suggestions welcome...

 

[Ropster]

you could spray them with Diathane or Bordeaux mixture should give a bit of protection

[peapod]

If it is blight you need to take off the affected leaves and burn them.  Your mains will probably have it too, but check carefully..no point pulling them until you have to.

But Id wait and make sure its blight first...has anyone else got it?

[DD.]

you could spray them with Diathane or Bordeaux mixture should give a bit of protection

That's shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

If it is blight it's too late, those two are used as preventative measures.

[DD.]

Do you have a photo?

A lot of things get mistaken for blight & as far as the British Potato Council are concerned, the only confirmed outbreaks are in Cornwall.

Blight Incidents

[Aunt Sally]

Spray with Epsom salts (2oz per gallon) just to make sure it's not magnesium deficiency.

[Limey153]

I'll try and get some photos when I'm down there later. One consolation is that I'm actually not on an allotment plot, my grandmother has a large garden and my veg is in her garden. It is a very isolated rural area so at least if it is blight then I won't be spreading it on to everyone else.

[JWK]

Have a good look under the leaves Limey, you might see a white mould growing on the infected areas or a yellowish tinge on the outside of the dark spots. If it is Late Blight then spraying the rest of your uninfected main crop with Dithane or Bordeaux mixture will provide some control. You will have to keep spraying every two weeks once you start, and keep a close eye on them.

[Lady Lottie]

I had a panic thinking my potatoes had blight as well (due to the fact I haven't a clue what I'm doing as its my first year and its probably the only potato disease I've heard of anyway!)   Anyway, thanks to help from folks on here I deduced it was far more likely to be a magnesium deficiency - blight makes the leaves a lot more manky (scientific expression there) than just a few little black dots - is the black speckling mainly around the edge of the leaves - like this?

[Limey153]

Ah....
Lady Lottie, that picture does look very similar to what I have (my first year as well, hence I'm a bit clueless).  Maybe I might be OK.

[peapod]

Dont panic uness you have to, it burns too much energy 

[Lady Lottie]

Dont panic uness you have to, it burns too much energy 

  I'm ALL for saving energy...

[Lady Lottie]

Ah....
Lady Lottie, that picture does look very similar to what I have (my first year as well, hence I'm a bit clueless).  Maybe I might be OK.

I bought a box of Magnesium from my local garden centre and have applied some so we will see what happens - I can try and remember to let you know if you like.