[3759allen]

i posted on here a few weeks ago about a sad looking potato plant, all the replies suggested black leg.

i immediately removed the plant and all the tubers to hopefully prevent spread. however doesn't look like it worked. now removed a whole row and think i can see a few from the next row with early signs.

could anybody look at the pics and confirm it is black leg again and not me being paranoid? however the stems still look healthy.

if it is black leg will it be best to remove the plants as i see them being effected, or just cut my losses and lift them all? i am reluctant to lift them all as there is quite a few, i usually grow enough to get me right through the winter.

if i do lift them how long will they store? i have an option of trying to keep new potato's or mains (that may have black leg), any body have opinions on what will keep best?

any help appreciated.

[mumofstig]

The thing to look for to 'prove' it is blackleg, is for stems to be rotting or weak/black at soil level.

I have in the past lost a couple of rows of one variety where in the next row, a different variety remained unaffected. Which suggests either that the unaffected variety was more resistant, or that the infection was already in the potatoes that grew with black leg.

I'd just carry on removing infected plants/rows  and keep my fingers crossed for the rest.

[3759allen]

thanks for the reply. the stems aren't affected yet, but they do seem to have fallen away from being upright but the other plants that i think are ok seem to be stand quite tall. this drooping and tip growth dying away is how the ones i started before i knew what the problem was.

all the potatoes are the same variety and from seed brought from the same place. i am beginning to think that it may be poor seed, not holding out much hope but fingers crossed.

[JoshP]

The second photo looks like stem blight to me

[Tracybutton]

The thing to look for to 'prove' it is blackleg, is for stems to be rotting or weak/black at soil level.

I have in the past lost a couple of rows of one variety where in the next row, a different variety remained unaffected. Which suggests either that the unaffected variety was more resistant, or that the infection was already in the potatoes that grew with black leg.

I'd just carry on removing infected plants/rows  and keep my fingers crossed for the rest.

I pulled a couple of plants with rotting mushy stems today. They were in the middle of a row so didn't notice until the foliage flopped. The smell was awful. The potatoes from the plants look ok, would you still eat them ?

[mumofstig]

The potatoes from the plants look ok, would you still eat them ?

Cut one in half to make sure they are white inside, if they are then yes, I would.

[3759allen]

the stems don't look black and aren't rotten, so maybe it isn't black leg.

what do i need to do if it is stem blight?

[Tracybutton]

The potatoes from the plants look ok, would you still eat them ?

Cut one in half to make sure they are white inside, if they are then yes, I would.

Yes they are fine thanks, we'll eat them . If I never post again you know why ...try not to feel guilty.. I know you were just trying to help 

[snowdrops]

the stems don't look black and aren't rotten, so maybe it isn't black leg.

what do i need to do if it is stem blight?

Cut the stems & all foliage off,bag it & bin it. Leave potatoes in the ground up disturbed for at least 2 weeks in the hope that the potatoes don't get infected from any spores on the tip of the soil