[jeancrosbie]

Hi, I'm up in Cumbria and planted maincrop Arran Victory this year.  I wasn't expecting to harvest until at least Sept.  The haulms grew unbelievably long but very healthy looking - till this morning.  Half the crop was brown and flopped.  I panicked.  Blight!  I pulled 1/2 the tops up and dug up some spuds . . only to find them firm and healthy looking apart from tiny white pimples which I could scrape off with my nail.

What were these?  How can I tell if it was normal dieback or blight (I looked at http://www.potato.org.uk/department/knowledge_transfer/pests_and_diseases/ref.html?item=28
but couldn't be sure.

Advice of what to do would be much appreciated.  Thankyou
Jean

[HilaryG]

I dug up all my Desiree mains yesterday and today. A good crop with a few slug damaged. Some of mine also had little white spots on which I rubbed off and them left them in sun! to dry. An experienced plotter told me this was the first sign of blight but, like you I can't find any good proof of this so I'm hoping for some advice too. Esp. whether they are alright to store.

[mumofstig]

Don't know about white spots, but do know that if your potato tops show signs of blight you are supposed to cut the tops off and either bag up for rubbish tip or burn. You then leave the taters in the ground undisturbed for about a fortnight.....reasoning is that underground they should escape the worst of the blight spores.

[Yorkie]

White spots are unrelated to blight, mine have them every year and not blight.  They don't affect the spud's taste or keeping at all.

[HilaryG]

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul Plots]

Two reason for leaving spuds in the ground after removing blight damaged tops:
1. Blight spores are less likely to go onto the potatoes if you leave them in the ground for a while
2. This the one I was told was worth noting: Potato skins have a chance to harden / thicken so the crop will store for longer....but this depends on whether or not you will be eating them straight away or drying and bagging for longer term storage.

The little raised pimples (a bit like goose bumps) are, as has been said, nothing to do with blight as far as I know.

I have heard of this before but can't for the life of me remember what causes it - fat lot of help, eh?? I'll look it up and post again if I manage to find out. 

[jeancrosbie]

Many thanks - I feel re-assured.  As Hilary said - Phwew!!!!
I'm going to enjoy this site - it's like having a plot on an allotment instead of all alone in the middle of nowhere.