Second cropping potatoes

My second croppers (Carlingford) are developing black stems/leaves - too early for frost.

Does anyone know what this is please ?

Many thanks

RT

 

Sounds like the dreaded blight to me . If it is get them dug up and burn them ASAP.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news .

And welcome to Gardners Corner

 

GF's,

Thanks for the response and welcome.

Hope it's not Blight - scoffed some of the affected spuds on Saturday - they tasted great, doh!

Thanks

RT

 

If the potatores themselves show no signs of blight and believe me you would soon notice the slime on them, then they are ok to eat. If it is Blight then they will not store for any length of time. So, remove the tops and burn or dispose of anywhere but on your compost heap. Dig up the potatoes and rather than sacking them, store as you would apples. Get hold of some apple boxes from the Supermarket with the plastic innners. That way you can see if the spuds are rotting without a bad one affecting the others. Keep frost free and in the dark. We cover ours with layers of newspaper.


PS. Just been pointed out to me that it you have the Freezer space, you could peel, par boil and freeze them and that way there is no chance of any of them rotting.
The spores of blight by the way live in the soil and do not persist on the tubers.

[ 01. November 2006, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Palustris ]