[Solidthegreat]

What is the general feeling on the use of either of these sprays on potatoes? I have read bad things about both of them. With dithane it contains a substace called mancozeb, which lokoing into it is not nice and is a possible carciogenic. However Bordeux mix has copper sulphate in it which lingers in the soil and is also not so good. Is it worth it or shall i leave it to nature and what will be will be?

[JayG]

You are right; neither product is remotely organic, but spuds and toms are both so susceptible to blight when the conditions are all against them that it is tempting to try anything which might improve the odds of your crops surviving (still doesn't guarantee success though!)

It's too late in the day to try and find a link I have posted on here before which lists the chemicals available to commercial potato growers to prevent/slow down/cure blight (or even sterilise a blighted crop if all else fails); it's pretty scary!

Compared with that lot adding a bit of copper to your soil is no big deal, but for many even that goes against the principles which made them want to grow their own in the first place.

[noshed]

Weirdly Bordeaux mixture is still OK as far as I know with the organic crowd. All I would say is only use sprays etc when you really have to. I've written off a couple of rows of broad beans to the blackfly because spraying would be over the top and I've got loads from the plants I sowed in the autumn.
That's show business...

[JayG]

Yes, it certainly is weird!!

Article HERE if anyone's interested.

[toasted]

ive bought some dithane to try this year thankfully its helped my pear tree its normaly bare by now
has anyone tried colloidal silver for blight?

[DD.]

Let me throw this one into the melting pot. Noticed it in Wilcos.

Bayer Fruit & Vegetable Disease Control

Active ingredient - Copper Oxychloride

[mumofstig]

You can still buy the Dithane with mancozeb in at the moment, but it seems this is being phased out by Bayer.
Their new 'Dithane replacement' product is called Fruit and Veg Disease Control and is a copper based product as is Bordeaux MIxture.

Sorry, double clicked post, so same info as DD. ooops