Why do i always have to learn things the hard way ?

[Hammer]

I had to cut down all the foliage on my Spuds yesterday as they have the dreaded Blight, i,ve removed all the foliage from the garden. I dug a few spuds up and the tubers are o.k. so far. How long can i leave them in the ground ? Next year i will have to spray them as a precaution, but it came on so quickly, 2 days and they were shot!
I know i can,t plant spuds in that bed next year, i am working with a three year rotation system, will that be o.k.? is there anything else i need to do to the soil in that bed?
Also lost some Dwarf French Beans to Halo Blight, no connection with the spuds, Halo Blight if i understand it right is due to bad seeds?
Any help appreciated.

Hammer

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Hammer, that's rotten news. Blight really is dreadful when it strikes. You did the right thing by cutting the foliage down to the ground and then I would burn it. But don't dig any spuds up for at least two weeks because the spores from the potato blight will still be resting on the ground. These blight spores will die without any plant tissue to live on - so ensure that any bits of leaf or stem are removed from the ground. If you dig up any spuds now the blight spores will be able to attack the potato tubers - so hang on for two weeks. Check the tubers when you do dig them up for any sign of rot and if you are going to store the potatoes you will need to keep checking them incase some do start rotting. You must remove every single potato from the ground when you finally dig them up. This job is dreadful when the blight has reached the potatoes as the tubers turn into a stinking, rotting, mess. Some tubers look okay but when you pick them up, your hand just goes straight through the stinking, rotting tuber. Potatoes accidentally left behind could be hosting the blight spores. Good luck Hammer!

Rotation is important and a four year rotation is better than three. Don't grow tomatoes in that spot either for three - four years.

As you said halo blight is brought in on contaminated seeds but the bacteria doesn't stay in the ground so won't be a problem next year. But buy fresh seeds for next year.

[Hammer]

Lesley,
Reading back over some posts i realised that i had neglected to thank you for your advice.
Thanks and apologies - Hammer