Ask Gerry
Vegetable Growing : Potatoes
See more questions on Potatoes
Potato dieback
I've just read nearly all the answers on spuds. I"m not sure any of them answersed mine. My potatoes are in various stages of dieback, some completely, some half way ect. My problem is, I have started to dig them and I"m finding good ones and rotten ones under each stalk, their Roosters, and I have sprayed for blight on a regular basis. The stalks don"t look blighted, can I save the good ones and are they safe to eat? Also, their only medium to small size.
hatch, Lanesborough, Co Longford Posted: 27/08/2012
This is more than likely caused by potato blight, various plants are at various stages of withering due to varying levels of disease attack. Potatoes being lifted and already rotting is a sign of attack by blight spores that were washed down the stems a few weeks ago.
Despite spraying, the weather was washing sprays off as soon as they were put on.
The best bet is to now cut away all remaining foliage and hope for the best. Rotting can spread underground as potatoes touch and secondary rots set in after blight damage in damp soil conditions. If this is happening, you will need to consider lifting the ptoatoes early. 'Rooster' is a maincrop storage variety and not normally lifted until late September or October.