Help - potatoes going dark and floppy!

Hi

It's my first time growing veg. I put in some seed potatoes mid March and they've been coming up well - looking really healthy.

But today the leaves have darkened and the look a bit droopy!

It was a bit cold last night but surely not colder than nights a month ago?

Please advise...


Photo attached

 

That`s caused by the cold nights, Roger, either earth them up, or cover with fleece at night.:gnthb:

 

Thanks! I'll tuck 'em up with an old blanket now!!

 

I would say they have been frosted. Recently I have been going along my early potato rows and covering any leaves or shoots by earthing soil over them. As it would be difficult for you to do that you do need to put something over at night.
Just a thought - have you any compost that you could pile round the stems? One of the reasons for earthing up is that the potatoes grow off the stem so if you earth them up you increase the length of stem that can develop potatoes

 

Thanks guys

I gave them some emergency cover last night with some blankets (old ones! I didn't strip the spare bed...)

I also brought inside some pansies which were also looking worse for wear - they now look healthier this morning.

I'll mix up some compost and sold and cover the potatoes.

Thanks for your advice!

 

Well it seems my tatties got the same treatment but look to have recovered lets hope the frost didn't get into the tatties themselves.