[p00rstudent]

went down the plot last night and found that one of my potato varities are looking very dead, they were fine when i was down there at the weekend.

the stems and some of the leaves have turned black and are now collapsing, i have 3 rows of potatoes containing two diffiernt varities cant remember which now they are earlys though, and only one variety is affected.

so my question is a/ what is it?
                          b/ what do i do about it?

my first thought was blight but i am not sure i am now thinking it might be blackleg possibly? this is my first attempt at growing potatos, and they were doing great till this week so am a littled annoyed that they have now failed.

oh and some more info i am in southampton, hampshire, they are on a plot that hasnt been used for 10 years or more (prior to me), they were planted about 2 months ago cant remember the exact date. i will try and take a photo at the weekend to help with the identification.

thank you for any help

Paul

[DD.]

Early spud haulms are usually well dead by now - in fact all my lates are. Could simply be old age.

[p00rstudent]

they have only been in the ground for 2 months i thought they would need a bit longer yet.

[DD.]

Ah missed that bit - were you hoping for new spuds for Christmas?

[p00rstudent]

that was the intention yes.

[gobs]

Especially with late in the season, really hard to say a thing, without seeing.

[SnooziSuzi]

have you been hit by any night time frosts?  that would turn them black pretty much overnight and we are due for the frosts to start  

[p00rstudent]

yes we had a frost earlier in the week but i would have thought that frost would have affected both varites. though not just the one?