planting in beds after blight

little sweetpeas · « **on:** February 23, 2009, 13:27 »

Last year i got blight in the polytunnel as well as outside, I cleared the tunnel at the end of last summer and left the tunnel empty. I've just topped up the beds with another 4 inches of very, very rotted manure and mushroom compost.

So my questions are

1. Am I ok to plant tomatos into the beds, making watering easier, or should I plant in pots or growbags

2. I wanted to plant some spuds in there now, would that be asking for trouble. They have been chitting fo almost 4 weeks now so are ready to go in now.

Trillium · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2009, 16:04 »

I'm not a blight expert as we don't get it here, but from reading a lot of experiences by others, blight spores will live in the soil for a long time as well as cling to structures as its a wind-born spore. I'd recommend the grow bags for the toms and a watchful eye. Same with the spuds, or even do a barrel with bagged compost. Purchased compost is usually 'cooked' at a high temperature which should kill off blight spores and make growing a bit safer. But even using these techniques, the spores can still blow in on the wind so you'll need to check regularly for the first signs.

little sweetpeas · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2009, 17:34 »

Quote from: Trillium on February 23, 2009, 16:04

I'm not a blight expert as we don't get it here, but from reading a lot of experiences by others, blight spores will live in the soil for a long time as well as cling to structures as its a wind-born spore. I'd recommend the grow bags for the toms and a watchful eye. Same with the spuds, or even do a barrel with bagged compost. Purchased compost is usually 'cooked' at a high temperature which should kill off blight spores and make growing a bit safer. But even using these techniques, the spores can still blow in on the wind so you'll need to check regularly for the first signs.

I was hoping that everyone was going to say plant in the beds. Guess I'll be buying loads of growbags this year then.

penance · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2009, 17:46 »

I would not be planting toms or pots on a bed that had blight last year.

have you checked the PH after adding the mushroom compost? It normally has added lime and may be to alkaline for pots.

little sweetpeas · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2009, 09:39 »

Would it be ok to plant in an area of the tunnel that hadn't been used before but only a few feet away from where the beds which had the blight last year?

Salmo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:01 »

If you plant tomatoes or potatoes you should not grow them closer than every 3 years in the same place. This is not for blight but other diseases.

Blight can only survive for any time on living tissue so if you were diligent in removing all the small potatoes from last years crop you should be safe.

Blight spores will arrive on the wind. A polytunnel is often the ideal place for the spores to develop, high humidity and above 10 degrees C.

Make sure that you and your neighbours have not got a source of infection. This can be potatoes surviving in a compost heap or ones that were left in the ground and start growing among other crops.

little sweetpeas · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:19 »

Quote from: Salmo on February 24, 2009, 10:01

If you plant tomatoes or potatoes you should not grow them closer than every 3 years in the same place. This is not for blight but other diseases.

Blight can only survive for any time on living tissue so if you were diligent in removing all the small potatoes from last years crop you should be safe.

Blight spores will arrive on the wind. A polytunnel is often the ideal place for the spores to develop, high humidity and above 10 degrees C.

Make sure that you and your neighbours have not got a source of infection. This can be potatoes surviving in a compost heap or ones that were left in the ground and start growing among other crops.

I think you've made a great point. thinking back there were two plants growing which turned out to be old potatoes growing. I guess that might have made a huge part to play in the blight attack.

I think it has to be growbags then with pots on top this year, I can't loose another crop to blight and as we are fast approaching March I might aswell forget planting the potatoes in the tunnel and just stick them outside.

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planting in beds after blight

little sweetpeas

planting in beds after blight

Trillium

Re: planting in beds after blight

little sweetpeas

Re: planting in beds after blight

penance

Re: planting in beds after blight

little sweetpeas

Re: planting in beds after blight

Salmo

Re: planting in beds after blight

little sweetpeas

Re: planting in beds after blight

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