How to Avoid Potato Blight

Many gardeners enjoy growing potatoes; they are relatively easy to grow usually give a plentiful bounty. You get pleasure from harvesting them, enhanced by the earthy smell and delicious taste. However, other people are deterred, because they have heard about or experienced potato blight. This occurs when the potatoes are attacked by a fungus: Phytophthora infestans. Those with an interest in history will know that potato blight was largely responsible for a great number of deaths in Ireland between 1845 and 1849. The population was highly dependent on the potato for sustenance, and when blight struck, devastation followed. There are steps you can take to keep potato blight away from your own crop.

Instructions

- 1
  Choose certified seed potatoes from a reputable company or nursery. Choose one of the blight-resistant varieties. Sarpo Hungarian varieties are reputed to have been developed to resist blight. Rotate your crop every three years to fight any residual traces in the soil.
- 2
  Plant your potatoes in well, tapping the soil on top, with your spade. Water them from the bottom. Recognize the signs of potato blight. Brown freckles appear on the leaves. They then become a brownish-yellow. The tubers develop dark patches on the skin and rot from the skin in. They look and smell rotten. If you notice a small amount of blight, remove the potatoes and burn.
- 3
  Be aware that potato blight spreads in the air. It particularly thrives in humid weather. Some people spray with a fungicide approved for potato blight. However, some people do not like to use sprays.
- 4
  Harvest your potatoes carefully. Take them all out of the ground, as leaving some may encourage blight. Store them in a dark, cool place, and check regularly for any signs of deterioration.

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