[houseboy]

Hi,

These are my Duke of Yorks, they were chitted in late January, and went in the ground on the 11th March. I'm just outside Lisdoonvarna, and we haven't had huge amounts of rain since Paddy's Day, so they haven't been waterlogged.

There were some frosty nights a couple of weeks ago though...

If it isn't blight can anyone identify it? And can you suggest (organic) solutions?

I've got Charlottes, Pink Fir Apples and Jersey Royals too, but no sign of lurgy on any of those (yet...)

Help!

[breezyacre]

I would say it is frost damage almost certainly. It has been too cold for blight. They should recover. If you hear it is going to be frosty you could get up early and gently sprinkle cold water from the watering can on the stalks thus thawing any frost on the leaves and avoiding frost damage when the sun comes up.

[michael brenock]

breezyacre is right this is frost damage and the stalks will grow out of this quickly. The leaves that are damaged will become the lowest leaves and these will quickly be replaced by bigger and higher leaves.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[houseboy]

Phew!

That would make sense as none of my other spuds have this damage, and they all sprouted after the last frost.

Thanks for setting my mind at ease, folks