On Tue, 4 May 2004 15:43 +0100 (BST), (Steve Harris)
wrote:

Thanks for the response to this.

I'm wondering, can we use the power of this Internet thingy to provide
early warning service? Here's how it might work:

- I set up a mailing list (say)
- Those growing toms/pots in the open join
- Anyone getting blight in their garden posts "I've got blight and I
live in (name of town).
- Nearby gardeners rush out and spray their plants with the potion of
their choice.
- All free of charge
- List is STRICTLY for blight reports. No wibble

What do you think?


I think you'd be re-inventing the wheel! There is already an alert
system which is intended for commercial growers of potatos which has a
blight-alert service. You have to sign up but it didn't mind when I
said I grew 0.02 acres of spuds! Alerts come by email and SMS to your
mobile phone. Based on post-code it warns you if your local conditions
are right for blight (something called a 'Smith period') which IIRC is
a certain minimum temp/humidity for 48hrs. As someone said in another
thread, last year was exceptionally good and no smith periods were
reported for my area (just a couple of near misses).

http://www.potatocrop.com/

hth Derek