[Sheena]

Noticed black/brown freckles on my potatoes last week and asked other allotment holders if they thought it was blight, most shrugged and other didn't seem to know, however I noticed that their potatoes all had the same.

Anyway, returned to plot today to find my remaining earlies with much more advanced symptoms than before, yellowing leaves, large brown patches etc. (will post photos later when I go this evening)
The tubers themselves are fine, I ate a few for lunch   I also have tomatoes and maris piper's that are not ready and as WG says, they probably have the virus, I'll keep watch for now.

Just returned from Homebase in Walthamstow (don't know if any of you have allotments in Waltham Forest) and noted with horror that all their tomatoes, especially the bigger plants bearing small fruit, had rampant blight and were nearly dead with large nasty black patches on the stems. I bought a few plants from there a few weeks ago... I informed the checkout lady that they would need to bin them very carefully, I think she took it seriously as she went out to have a look after I left.

My understanding is that the virus can carry on the wind for several miles so I'd be on the lookout if you are in the vicinity, we live 3 -4 miles away.

[philmay]

We have got it on our potatoes here in Greenhithe. my Pentland Javelins are very badly effected, but on the Charlottes it barely shows.

[peanut97]

I had these black spots on my leaves too, I noticed them last week after that heavy rain, my potatoes and tomatoes where affected but this week they seem better, the new growth on the tomatoes is very healthy and no more spots on the potatoes, I was thinking early blight when I saw it but Iam not too concerned now.

[percy thrower's cat]

i hope it doesn't carry to tottenham, we've got enough troubles already. seriously though that's bad news, all your hardwork rubbed out like that. thanks for the warning.

[mkhenry]

At this time of the year brown patches can mean a lot of things other than blight,but if you do think it is blight then make sure you earth up your potatoes well.This can help to stop the spores from reaching your tubers.Do not try to store them,and always use certified seed.A lot of people will tell you that they have been growing with uncertified seed for years without any problems but this is just luck.Its not worth the risk. :?