[Goneterseed]

Sad to say that I have discovered blackleg on my spuds. Leaves turning yellow and blackness rising up the main stems. All seed spuds were certified, two packs of Desiree and one of Anya from Wilkinsons, and one pack of Kondor from JBA.

Going to have to lift them all tomorrow and dispose of them.
As I have only been on this plot for one year, and I've been growing for 12, I'm wondering if this has been in the soil from the previous tennant.

Any thoughts, please?

[Ivor Backache]

I have experienced the odd plant with blackleg but not the entire crop. In the past I have just removed the infected haulm and destroyed it.
You have bought from respected suppliers and to have infected seed from both must be rare.
Blackleg can be passed on through volunteer potatoes. Do you think you may have planted in the same place as the previous tenant?
Other factors could include poor drainage resulting in wet conditions. I always trench my potatoes and always fork over the bottom of the trench to improve drainage.
You must remove the haulms but I don't think the crop is lost, because you seem to caught it at the early stage. You don't say what your location is,  other people in your area may be experiencing the same problem.

[Goneterseed]

Do you think you may have planted in the same place as the previous tenant?

I'm begining to think that this may be the reason. The haulms have gone in my incinerator bin and I'll have a furtle under the soil to see what the potential crop is like.

[LottyLouis]

Please excuse ignorance of newbie lotty-type...but what exactly is a volunteer potato? I have gurgled it and got a mixed bag of responses.   

[ARPoet]

Please excuse ignorance of newbie lotty-type...but what exactly is a volunteer potato? I have gurgled it and got a mixed bag of responses.   

When you dig potatoes from a patch you never get all of them out of the soil. Those that you miss might grow up to make new plants the following year... where you dont want them. These are volunteers.

[LottyLouis]

Ah...many thanks AR. Have found oodles of these on my 'new' lotty. Didn't know they had a name.
I neglected to weed round my newly planted veg - and because of this found several bonus beetroot plants! So - many thanks Previous Tenant.