Potato blight or something else???
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raisedbed Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 25 Mar 2010 Posts: 20
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:30 am Post subject: Potato blight or something else??? |
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I noticed some of the leaves on my Queens going like this,is it blight or could it be something else with the amount of rain we have been getting?
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Hammer Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 08 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Dunmore East
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:08 am Post subject: |
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I,m sorry to say that looks like Blight to me, i had it last year. Others on this forum will confirm. If it is blight, this is what i did last year.
1) Cut down ALL folioage from potatoes and destroy, do not compost.
2) Leave spuds alone for two weeks, the spores will still be alive on the soil, but with nothing to feed off they will be dead within a fortnight.
3) Dig spuds and use as you need them, you can leave them in the ground untl you need them. or store, the blight will not get to the tubers with all the foliage gone, i take it the leaves only started to go brown today.
4) make sure you get every last spud out of the ground to prevent contamination for next year.
This is what i did last year and was able to dig spuds for two months after cutting off the foliage.. Also the same disease will transfer to Tomatoes, if you have any Tomatoes growing spray with Dithane straight away.
Best of Luck- i hope i am wrong but i don,t think so!
Regards Hammer
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raisedbed Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 25 Mar 2010 Posts: 20
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Sive Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 1731 Location: Co.Wexford
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:49 am Post subject: |
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We've had a lot of wind lately, and I would think that looks more like wind damage to me....I'm no expert, but I've seen blight, and I thought it first showed as dark patches on the leaves.
More experienced punters will tell you for definite......just wanted to say don't panic yet !
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michael brenock Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 1275 Location: cork
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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does not look like blight to me, check the underside of the leaf and see if there is white mould there. If the mould is present then it is blight. Looks more like weather damage to me.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)
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medieval knievel Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 1010
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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is it a bit cold for blight at the moment?
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James Kilkelly Rank: Site Admin

Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2173 Location: West of Ireland
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raisedbed Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 25 Mar 2010 Posts: 20
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the great replies, there's no mould under the leave and with the healthy looking fresh leaves I'm hoping it is only the cold that has done it,fingers crossed it turns out a good ending for them
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Gautama Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree

Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 172 Location: Cork
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:24 am Post subject: |
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To the best of my knowledge there has been only one blight warning this year. That was a weekend, about three weeks ago, and was in the south Munster area only. What pare of the country are you in?
I would advise against taking blight measures (such as cutting the haulm) until blight has been identified. There's no advantage in losing the crop due to blight paranoia rather than losing it to blight. Either way you lose.
I've written a few posts here on blight paranoia.
I've been growing potatoes in an allotment for the past five years, including Lumpers and Pink Fir Apple (both prone) and I've never seen blight and I've seen lots of blight paranoia. I didn't even spray last year.
I think I've actually got a paranoia about Blight Paranoia
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sirpsycho Rank attained: Pedunculate oak tree
Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 341 Location: Stamullen, Co Meath
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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Just a small bit of info I stumbled across on blight. Might come in handy and help everyone figure out when blight conditions are occuring in your area.
Blight forecasting has often been based on the occurrence of "Smith periods". A "Smith period" is a 48 hour period in which the minimum temperature is 10°C or more and the relative humidity exceeds 90% for at least 11 hours during the first 24 hours and for at least 11 hours again during the final 24 hours. However, any period of warm, humid weather increases blight risk.
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Hammer Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 08 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Dunmore East
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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Very glad to be wrong on this one.
Good Luck - Hammer
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