Potato blight????

~Chameleon~

I lost most of my tomatoes to blight last year too, including the ones that were in the plastic greenhouse. This year I'm growing most of them indoors in my new greenhouse but will be putting the surplus ones outside later this month.

absfabs - yes you can propogate new plants from the shoots as I found out accidentally last year when one I'd discarded on a bit of rough ground started to grow and actually produced toms

absfabs

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Why don't you grow them in the greenhouse? Are you keeping them as backup ready to go outside?

In the past I found the outdoor ones tastier, not such a thick skin. And easier to water/more forgiving if not watered for a day or even two.

Also space is limited, got cucumbers, peppers, aubergines in greenhouse, this year trying melons for the first time.

So will be planting 6 in large pots outside - on the decking this year, as far away from "blighted" areas last year as poss in a small garden - and keeping 3 in greenhouse.

absfabs

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

yes you can propogate new plants from the shoots as I found out accidentally last year when one I'd discarded on a bit of rough ground started to grow and actually produced toms

It was you, thank you! I actually got about 3 cherry toms in January, from extremely spindly plant that had survived in frost free greenhouse. But I did start them off far too late, August or even September, they reached flowering stage, just, and then became dormant. Jan sunshine just managed to ripen 3 lttle ones before the plant gave up the ghost completely.

Lotus-eater

I also lost all my plants last year and most of those were in my polytunnel, although it did have leaks, which is why like Chameleon I now have a new greenhouse
I have honestly never noticed a difference in taste between outside and inside toms, I always use the same varieties and I do grow them inside in the soil, so maybe thats why.

~Chameleon~

Oh noooo I think I've been struck!!!

Just noticed almost all my pink fir apple crop is affected and one or two of the cara plants. Is this blight?

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chameleon.photos/PotatoBlight

kandyfloss

Hi Chameleon sorry to hear about your affected potato's.This seems to be the problem around the country now that we are having humid weather through hot then rainy weather

It looks like it is only just starting on our allotments so I make sure that I don't walk along the rows brushing the foliage as I find that causes the spores to drop down into the soil affecting the tubers.

It is too late now to spray,some gardeners use Bordeaux mixture which they spray onto their potato foliage but I just prefere to not disturbe the plants too much if they are still growing.

If your palnts are too badly affected you will have to dig up all the plants and make sure you don't use any of the crop for seed potato's next year.Burn or put in the dustbin all the greenery {Haulms} from the plants as the spores will spread if you leave the foliage on the ground.

Make sure also that you rotate your crops if you have enough room to do that and buy certified seed potato's next year...

~Chameleon~

Someone on another thread (think it was Lotus-Eater) suggested I might be able to cut off the haulms and leave the spuds in the ground. Would they be safe to eat if I did this and how long can they remain in the ground for?

I'm going to cut off all the foliage tomorrow as it's getting to dark tonight now and hope it doesn't spread to the ones I have in pots. In fact I might move those to the other end of the garden now and keep fingers crossed.

Will also keep an eye on tomatoes which are growing just a few feet away, had tomato blight last year and lost most of the plants. I made sure this year not to grow my spuds anywhere near where they had been but it doesn't seem to have made a difference :rolleyes:

Lotus-eater

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Someone on another thread (think it was Lotus-Eater) suggested I might be able to cut off the haulms and leave the spuds in the ground. Would they be safe to eat if I did this and how long can they remain in the ground for?

Yes, it was me, cut them off now and burn or bin the foliage.

I think you are supposed to leave the spuds in the ground for a few days and then dig them up. They should be fine to eat, but cut the haulms down asap otherwise the blight may spread to the tubers.

~Chameleon~

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Yes, it was me, cut them off now and burn or bin the foliage.

I think you are supposed to leave the spuds in the ground for a few days and then dig them up. They should be fine to eat, but cut the haulms down asap otherwise the blight may spread to the tubers.

Thanks! Still not been out to do it as it's been pouring with rain all morning

If I have to dig the spuds out the ground within next few days I don't think they will be worthwhile using anyway as they're a main crop and nowhere near ready yet. I pulled one of the plants last week to check as they've just finished flowering but there was just a handful of marble sized spuds

Lotus-eater

You don't have to dig them up in the next few days, but they won't grow anymore now anyway. This is exactly the reason I advised people earlier in the year to get their spuds in as early as poss.