[chris172]

Only the second year on the lotty and I think I have blight   

Leaves curling and going black and stems going soft and black... classic symptoms from reading online.

They have only just starting to produce flower buds but should I cut to ground level and keep my fingers crossed something has grown?   I have noticed my neighbour has cut all his to the ground so guessing he has it too.

They are King Edwards...

Should I also chop the rows that are not showing anything.... yet...??

TIA

[DD.]

Given the soft, black stems, you ought to have a look at this before you assume it's blight:

Blackleg

[brokenglass]

Is it definitely Blight?

If it is Blight then remove the Haulms carefully bag them immediately and either remove from the site and or burn.   Do not place the infected material on the compost heap.      The spuds that aren't affected keep an eye on, some people would spray, and if necessary deal with them as above if they end up blighted.    Leave the tubers in the ground for a couple of weeks to reduce the chances of them picking up blight spores and spoiling.      The spuds will still be edible aslong as the spores haven't reached them.

[brokenglass]

Yes just what I was typing when you responded DD

[chris172]

Doesn't look like Blackleg... They are a good 2-3ft high, very green and just starting to produce flowers... well they were until a couple of days ago.

Noticed top leaves starting to curl with dark patches on them  then running down into the stems.  Not had any rain for over 10days here and it's been really sunny and warm.

Will try and get a photo tomorrow.

[strider84]

Here is a pic of my blackleg from last year

[chris172]

got a pic yesterday...  Not sure now if it is blight and not blackleg....  problem is starting at the leaves then working it's way back.  as you will see neighbours plot in the background he's cut all his down.  The spread on mine seems to radiate from there.  had a chop out of all damage and managed to leave a few stems and leaves but will see later if it's still spreading.

[mumofstig]

That's blight 

[chris172]

We was a little late in planting and it's not been damp/wet here for ages.  we've only had a shower in the last 3 weeks!!

They were planted with plenty of room but the next door looks like he did his too close so perhaps this caught it first and spread to mine.

Will take another look later to see if I've managed to halt it spreading further.

[strider84]

chop him down if you haven't already ! good luck!

[chris172]

Well... have chopped out most of the blight and have left them a few days to see how they faired...  Not too bad as it seems.  Started to produce leaves again so hopefully all is not lost. At least it hasn't spread any further either!