Blight?

Hi

I've tried my hand at growing some spuds for the first time. I have very little space in my garden, so I have grown them in containers. I have grown Pentland Javelin, I had a couple of little flowers last week which have died down. I had a little peak through the harvesting flap and I can see a few. However, when watering tonight, I have just noticed this on a leaf. There are a few others too. Is this blight? Will this mean I can't eat any of the spuds? Please excuse my ignorance!

 

Hiya
Pretty sure it's not blight. Probably a deficiency of some kind, but my guess nothing to worry about

 

I dont think its likely to be blight, and yes you can still eat the potatoes.

 

Don't look light blight, give em a feed

 

Thanks Everyone, I have given them a good soaking and a feed tonight. Any ideas how much longer I should leave it, until I harvest?

 

I was always told "wait 'til the flowers die",
Jenny

 

If you want to eat em as new potatoes then get the pan boiling before you pick em.

Otherwise, let the halms die down for a few weeks so the skins can harden

 

I think Pentland Javelins are earlies? I'd start harvesting as soon as they're of a reasonable size, probably golf ball size.

 

Thanks all, I'm really impatient. So this morning I pulled a few to see how they were going. I think I have probably left them a bit too long. Some are the size of jacket potatoes ha ha. Still, not a bad harvest having only planted three seed potatoes. If I'm able to get some more main crop seeders, how long would they take to be ready? I'm guessing I won't be able to get hold of any at this late stage. But I am feelin slightly obsessed now!

 

Decent little nuggets. Happy days

 

I'd be chuffed with those! Well done.

 

It's almost July, so harvest dates below are based on 1st July planting.

First earlies 10-12 weeks from planting to maturity. Harvest mid to late September.
Second earlies about 16 weeks. Harvest end October.
Maincrop 18-20 weeks. Harvest mid to late November.

Although I have put harvest dates, you must bear in mind likely first frost date in your area and what protection you can offer them, where they are grown. Best bet would be for you to grow a first early if you can find some, ask in the garden centres, they may have some left over from spring, but may not be out on the shelves.

Some people plant as late as august September to grow new potatoes for Christmas, but this is generally done under cover in a greenhouse, polytunnel, porch or conservatory etc.

Unwins, Suttons, Dobies and Marshalls sites all sell spuds for autumn planting along with many others.

Steve...