Numerous Smith Periods and frequent blight outbreaks mean potato growers should stay alert for signs of trouble this summer, the British Potato Council has warned.
Inspect crops regularly, maintain appropriate spray windows wherever possible and be prepared to alter blight programmes if spray windows are stretched, advised BPC agronomist Mark Prentice.
Growers should also stay vigilant for signs of blight, especially on volunteers and outgrade piles, and above all use the BPC-funded free alert services to stay abreast of developments.
“So far we have had over 180 reported outbreaks of blight in British crops. That’s similar to last year which was the highest number reported to date. But the hot dry weather in June and July last year helped keep the disease at bay.
“This year the weather could not be more different at the moment, resulting in difficult spraying conditions and almost continuous Smith Periods in some places for the last two or three weeks. As a result we have fairly high disease pressure in many parts of the country.”
The BPC’s Fight Against Blight (FAB) service, which alerts growers to actual blight outbreaks in their area, is now run as a joint service with Blightwatch, which uses weather data to assess blight risk.
Free to use, subscribers receive email and SMS text alerts if either an actual outbreak or Smith Period is triggered in up to ten postcodes of their choice - see www.potato.org.uk/blight for further details and sign up.
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