[yorkiegal]

My spuds have succumbed to blight. I was hoping it was just the foliage but dug down and found rotted tubers so the whole lot are going to come out next week when I get back to the plot. I know I need to dig down and find every last rotten spud but what about planting afterwards? I was thinking of just putting a green manure in for now and obviously wouldn't put potatoes in again due to crop rotation, but is this a bed which I'll have to avoid putting them in for many years to come?

[mumofstig]

Try to get as many out as you can, and make sure to pull out any volunteers that grow in the spring, then normal rotation rules apply

[devonbarmygardener]

I'd give it 3 seasons before planting spuds/toms/aubs in that spot, but anything else can grow there next year.
Green manure is a good idea overwinter

[shevington]

Obviously you should follow the standard three year rotation (at least) but make sure you grow from now on a blight resistant variety of spud. I have grown Sarpo Mira for the last three years alongside other varieties and they are  really resistant even when grown alongside affected varieties. They also make great mash, roasties, boiled and Chips. And store well into the new year.

[kirpi]

I agree with the idea of Sarpo Mira - we are still eating these from last years' harvest; though a little soft now. They still eat well, probably better now they are older actually - sweeter than when they were crisp.

[gavinjconway]

My Pentland Javelin and King Edward were totally wiped out with very early blight... My Sarpo Mira are in the same bed and still growing madly... So only going to grow SM from now on.

[Salmo]

Blight can only live on live plant material and will not persist in your soil. You should still not grow potatoes in that bed for 3 years but that is for other diseases, not blight.

Most of the affected tubers will rot away if left in the soil but a few may survive and it is these that can carry blight over the winter to affect next years crop.

Dig out as many tubers as you can and destroy them. Do not add them to the compost bin as some may survive. They would not affect your compost but if some survive the winter and start to sprout in the Spring they will be infected and spread spores to nearby crops. Also make sure that you dig out any that do start to sprout in that bed next year.

Freezing is a good way to destroy them, either put them in the freezer over night, or, if there are too man,y put them in a plastic bag and stand them out in the open over winter so that they are frosted. Alternatively send them to council green waste for composting where high temperatures will kill them

[yorkiegal]

thanks for the advice everyone xx