"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ...

In article ,
Bertie Doe wrote:



Looks like damp weather due to adj Jet-streams are going to be a feature
of
our climate but I guess the obvious answer is to have a get-together
with
the other allotments and agree to a ban on spuds - but for how many
years?

Forget it. Blight is hosted by too many wild plants for that to work,
and is carried by the wind. We used to lead the world in agricultural
research, but the DTI always loathed that, and Thatcher allowed them
to destroy it. Breeding resistant varieties is the only long-term
solution, though Bordeaux mixture can help.

Ah thanks Nick, I'll pencil in Bordeaux for next year. I assume you spray
as soon as haulms/leaves poke thru'?

No. Sign up to Bligh****ch, and spray when a Smith period (or the
equivalent) is forecast. I don't grow potatoes any longer, because
my soil has spraing and both kinds of eelworm.

Hi Nick just an update. Got a Full Hutton Period Blight Alert today. It has
been a bit muggy :-)

Took your advice and sprayed with Bordeaux Mixture at 23g with a litre of
water. As you suggest, probably won't cure blight but if I can delay it for
2 or 3 weeks, I may get a decent crop.

After last year's disappointment, there's only 3 allotments growing spuds
this year. I'm the only one using Bordeaux, it'll be interesting to see how
things pan out.