[purplebat]

well, I don't have all the info, but I just wanted to run this by you all to see if anyone else has got any idea of what I'm on about; an old boy was telling my hubby the other day that rhubarb leaves can be used either as a cure or prevention for blight (I'm not sure which) he said to soak the leaves in water and then dilute 20:1, but he didn't say whether to spray before the blight strikes or when it is present, is this an old wives tale, or has anyone else tried it or even heard of it?

[Jim T]

well, I don't have all the info, but I just wanted to run this by you all to see if anyone else has got any idea of what I'm on about; an old boy was telling my hubby the other day that rhubarb leaves can be used either as a cure or prevention for blight (I'm not sure which) he said to soak the leaves in water and then dilute 20:1, but he didn't say whether to spray before the blight strikes or when it is present, is this an old wives tale, or has anyone else tried it or even heard of it?

Well Purplebat, I believe Rhubarb leaf tea gives you oxalic acid which is a poison and I guess could be a treatment for blight - which I guess is a fungus disease affecting spuds and tomatoes. Think you would just sprinkle with a watering can.
I saw some on my tomatoes and got it just in time with Bordeaux mixture puff powder.

[WG.]

Blight is a water mould and not a fungus.  

I'd be very skeptical of the rhubarb tea.  Why would such a simple solution to such a serious disease remained such a well-kept secret?

This link suggests foliar feeding to combat blight organically. http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/lateblight.html   The theory is that a build-up of friendly organisms on the leaves means that the blight has nowhere to attack.  I was planning to try it this year but blight hit a full month earlier than usual.

[Jim T]

Blight is a water mould and not a fungus.  

  In the taxonomical classification of living things, molds are placed in the Kingdom of Fungi ........... Hence the term fungicide for chemicals to combat the blight.

[WG.]

molds are placed in the Kingdom of Fungi

I stand corrected.  I stand by the remainder of my post.    

[purplebat]

thanks for the replies, and I found that link really interesting WG thanks, I guess the answer is that anything is worth a try (next year of course, no point this year)  

[Plot No 2]

Blight is a water mould and not a fungus.  

I'd be very skeptical of the rhubarb tea.  Why would such a simple solution to such a serious disease remained such a well-kept secret?

This link suggests foliar feeding to combat blight organically. http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/lateblight.html   The theory is that a build-up of friendly organisms on the leaves means that the blight has nowhere to attack.  I was planning to try it this year but blight hit a full month earlier than usual.

I watered only my pink fir aplles with a comfrey stew to improve the yield. Now that blight had struck the potatoes, the pink fir apples were still strong. Some leaves were black, but the plant as such survived. The rest of potatoes were reduced to the normal blight nothing. Feeding the leaves could be a solution to blight or keeping it at bay a little longer.

As for rhubard being kept a secret, possible, because no huge amount of  money can be made selling chemicals.

[purplebat]

As for rhubard being kept a secret, possible, because no huge amount of  money can be made selling chemicals.[/quote
good point Plot No 2  

[WG.]

Feeding the leaves could be a solution to blight or keeping it at bay a little longer.

Interested to hear about the comfrey liquid - was it watered on over the Pink Fir foliage?  That would have a similar effect to manure tea but I'm still not keen on the rhubarb idea.  I reckon the oxalic acid would actually decrease the fauna on the leaves rather than increasing it.

[Plot No 2]

Feeding the leaves could be a solution to blight or keeping it at bay a little longer.

Interested to hear about the comfrey liquid - was it watered on over the Pink Fir foliage?  That would have a similar effect to manure tea but I'm still not keen on the rhubarb idea.  I reckon the oxalic acid would actually decrease the fauna on the leaves rather than increasing it.

WG. The leaves were watered to give the potatoes a boost.
I've dugged up two plants and were amazed at the harvest.