Potato Blight
Dave1510
Posts: 9
Hi,
I have always used "Bordeaux Mixture" to control Potato Blight in previous years. I have always been able to find this readily in Garden Centres and in my allotment shop.
However - It seems to be coming increasingly difficult to find, (All I seem to be able to find is Vitax Copper mixture. which leads me to think there must be a more modern method to control blight.
I am growing Sarpo Mira this year (I grew a row last year and the Blight resistance was not 100% (I never sprayed this row) but was probably 95%) The yield wasn't the best ever, but I am growing 2 rows in 2016.
I do have enough Bordeaux mixtire to do a few sprayings this year (being on an allotment, blight usually is rife).
With the recent very wet weather, and the promise of drier, warmer and humid conditions, I will start this week.
Any ideas for an alternative and/or source of BM appreciated.
Thanks
Last edited: 20 June 2016 19:59:15
Posts
I wish ....My potatoes have just been decimated by blight. The only ones that are not too badly affected are the Sarpo Axona. I have tried the copper spray but it is a preventative not a cure. I grew the potatoes fine last year with -0- blight but this year is so upsetting.
Hasn't Bordeaux mixture been withdrawn from the market in the UK? It's still available in France, not that that's much help.
I think that's the problem why I can't find it;
the only alternative seems to be to grow Sarpo varieties or cut of the foliage if we get blight.
On eBay, I have bought a "Copper Sulphate and Lime Mixture", which claims to be similar to BM. It comes as two separate substances that you combine according to instructions.I haven't tried ityet, as I still have some illicit BM to use up.
So little known fact, using semi skimmed milk on plants showing early signs of potato blight can help. 1 part semi skimmed milk to 7 parts water. Trust me it works (I used to work in an agricultural lab and was part of a research team into this).
Ooh thanks, allotment lady. I am less bothered by it on the potatoes, as I grow Charlotte, which seem to survive it, but does milk work on tomatoes in the. same way?
I have never tried it on tomatoes as I haven't had any issues with blight, but it fights the fungus so I am assuming it would work the same? It won't do any harm at least.
Lost all mine this year, tubers seem Ok though. Interesting the milk cure , I'll try that next year, but I think I will be growing Charlotte next time.
I grow Charlotte because although the tops get blighted, the tubers seem unaffected. One particularly bad year, the tops died back so soon that the tubers didn't grow much, but they have never shown signs of blight.