[Michelleward]

Hi All. I am a new allotment owner and my first crop of new pots seem to have potato blight! I will try and upload a photo but anyone know how to treat it? Leaves are only just infected so I am hoping to catch it and save the crop. Thanks. Michelle

[flitwickone]

i doubt it is Blight

prob something else

[Michelleward]

everyone on the site seems to have it though...rust spot on the leaves, yellow brown edges which are curling ... i have photo so will try to post..it's only two of the plants in one of the rows so fingers crossed it's not blight

[Yorkie]

Is this thread of any use?

In order for blight to develop, you need a certain level of temperature and humidity for a certain period.  It's called a Smith period.

There haven't been any reports of Smith periods or near misses this year as it has been far too dry.

Whereabouts are you in the country?  If you could add this information to your forum profile it will help (click your username to edit the profile).

[Michelleward]

thanks everso..i am in essex nearer london than country. Will look at the link and attached a link to the photo's of the offending plants below. Once you've seen the photo's guidance welcomed!

[flitwickone]

looking at the photos it looks as if they have been nipped hard by frost
but if they were toms they need afeed  but thats not blight

[muntjac]

do not quote me on this ,but as it is wide spread on the plot. i am leaning towards potato leafroll mosiac virus . this is passed about by aphids and also by infected tubers.
 
kill all  aphids.
 burn any infected spuds or seed potaoes and haulms  
you can check fresh seed spuds   by cutting in half ,they will show a series of lines like blue stilton cheese but they are brown lines. only clearing away all the infected plots will stop the  spread of the  disease. if you hav infected spuds they are safe to eat, but are better  fresh.

[Yorkie]

Where did you get the potatoes from?

[muntjac]

my first thought was frost but on looking closer the haulms dont show  all the leaves affected by blackening.if this was frost damage i would expect that. but as i said dont quote me 

[muntjac]

oh and dont ferget there is  early blight and late blight

[Aunt Sally]

Another mineral deficiency problem in my opinion - possibly magnesium.  

Boost the plants with a general or potato fertiliser.

[Michelleward]

Potatoes were purchased from an online garden supplier. Pots said on the label blight resistant and that they came from Scotland.

Only those leaves are affected and the plant is middle of a row so if it were frost I'd have thought they would all shown signs of damage? I will check for aphids (no sign earlier) and will get some potato fertiliser .......strange that it's affecting crops across the allotment site.

[Runwell-Steve]

I am also in Essex, when did you first notice it?

We had a hard frost on Wed night / Thursday morning.  The fact you posted on Thursday makes me think that may be the cause.

A lot of people on our plot are suffering from it, me included.