Potatoes again ?

[Roy Bham UK]

Was watering my spuds today and noticed a couple of holes in all that greenery of the second early department, crept up between the rows and had a look, the stems were black and collapsed and the leaves had holes in them :o is this the dreaded lergy? or just insect attack?  :-\

[Roy Bham UK]

[LesH]

     Hi Roy       Sounds as if you might have two problems.
One is Blackleg, tell tale sign is the blackening of the stems at and below ground level. The leaves turn yellow and wilt, finally the haulm withers. This disease attacks early in the season and is worst in heavy soils and rainy weather. No treatment. Burn affected plants. The holes in the leaves could be Capsid bug. 

[Roy Bham UK]

>:( Oh dear and I noticed several other leaves are turning lighter and bowing over, this is my first year, this shouldn't be happening to me, it's unfair, shoot! I am now assuming there are no spuds below ground or if there are will they be inedible? ???

[Robert_Brenchley]

Dig them up and see.

[Roy Bham UK]

Well if there are will they be safe to eat? I don't want to kill anybody :o

[Wicker]

Oh, Roy, heartfelt commiserations :'( Been there!  We've been growing tatties for many years and virtually never water  especially when the weather is hot as it has been believing that it raises the humidity under the foliage and increases the risk of blackleg, blight etc. and anyway the the heavy foliage does help retain the moisture deeper down where the tubers are growing. We could be wrong and the experts may tell you different but can only speak from our own experience.

This year especially we have been having some (very) small doubts as we have large flattened areas where the foxes have been resting and the soil does look very dry and dusty so today Mr W bravely gripped the fork and dug up the first couple of shaws of Lady Christl - absolutely fine, good size and plenty of them - SORRY and really hope that doesn't sound smug but keep fingers crossed for the rest of your crop.

PS just noticed your question - if there are tatties and they aren't rotted then I'm sure they'll be fine - hope you will get better results than you expect, Roy  :-*

[Roy Bham UK]

:( ooh err! :( thanks for the sympathy and information Megan ;) You may well be right, as I have only been watering my spuds since the beginning of the heatwave, dang! I wish I had known this B4 :( shoot shoot and double shoot >:( ;D

Edited to say, thanks to Lesh and Robert, stayed up too late last night :)