[Honey65]

Hi

I only got my allotment in May so haven't gone through a winter yet - it could be pretty grim as I have heavy clay soil. 

I planted some spuds to be ready around Winterval and they were doing well.  Yesterday I all the foliage has died back to almost nothing.  Any ideas why?  Also, should I leave them and hope they'll grow additional foliage?

Ta x

[DD.]

Welcome to the forums.

Late planted potatoes need protecting from frost and are very prone to blight. I doubt it's the former as  I don't think there's been any frost around as yet, (your location in your profile would help with thing like this), so I suspect it's the dreaded blight.

[Nikkithefoot]

We have had a frost last week, not particularly heavy but it did finish off one or two of my squash plants that were more exposed than some of the others. So it could be frost.

[goodtogrow]

Notwithstnding a knee-jerk reaction to agree with Nikkithefoot, I gotta agree with DD that blight is the most likely explanation.

Light frosts will  'nip' the foliage.  It takes a full-blooded blight to massacre it...

[pigguns]

Pinner  my hubby is from there....

Here south of The River, I've got the same; suddenly no foliage.  Interesting, I'd not thought of blight as I've not had it in my garden but it's my 1st allotment-autumn, and I don't usually plant spuds so late in the season.  Hmm... you live and learn.   

Don't recall even a vague frost here yet; pumpkins all ok.

[Honey65]

Light frosts will  'nip' the foliage.  It takes a full-blooded blight to massacre it...

  Oh dear..it is a massacre!

[hamstergbert]

Anything found in a quick furtle?  Might get a pleasant surprise.  Might.

[devonbarmygardener]

I planted 3 potato bags with Yule taters and have lost one of them. The other two look ok so far