There are lots of different opinions over what you should do next, once you have blight on your potatoes. Given that we opt not to use bordeaux mixture - part of our chemical free gardening policy, and also the potatoes being next to the grazing we keep the sheep in. Bordeaux mixture is copper sulphate.. and copper is bad for sheep. Next, standard advice is to cut the tops off, and burn them, which we have done. but to dig or not to dig? well, we have decided to lift them.
The spuds are a decent size, but the questions are - are they already blighted? and will they store. Ideally , maincrop should stay in the ground much longer, this ensures they grow to full potential, and the skins toughen and they are more likely to store. However, I don’t see ours growing much more now, they have no greenery, and they are more likely to pick up the blight if they stay there. We might not be doing the right thing - but we have decided. So each day we are digging two rows of spuds.. which is the amount we can only just carry back from the veg patch to the house. Then spreading them out on vegetable racks (mushroom containers. the greengrocer throws them out) in the dark to dry off a bit. Then as opportunity allows, I wash them - which might seem over the top - but hey it worked last year, and you really notice which ones have folk damage, or slug holes etc and those can be set aside for eating first. Then dry them off, and then sorting into brown paper bags.
We like to use small bags, as if they go off - only a small amount is effected. We collect them from various purchase, friends and family etc. Spuds are sorted into baking size, and variety, then stashed in our box room, which is cool and dark, and vermin free.
It all seems a lot of fuss, but as I said, it worked last year - but we shall see. At the moment we are harvesting too much of everything, and freezing preserving and storing are all part of this growing your own veg malarky. The French beans are coming in strong now, and we have surplus to freeze, which is ace as the runner beans are way behind. the mange tout keep coming and the courgette mountain is growing…
I’ve cut the tops of my blighted spuds and was going to dig them up this afternoon. May not wash them but storing in small bags is an excellent idea. Of the ones I dug yesterday just one had any obvious signs of blight so I am hoping the others will store OK. Next job is to find a dark, cool, mouse free storage area. “lol”
you too eh? boo.
I think washing them might be overkill, but it is a good way of noticing the ones with damage etc, and then you eat those first.
must dig the rest up today…
All mine now dug - small and damaged ones to be cooked up for the chickens and others put into storage. The land freed up by the spuds has been planted with winter cabbage, broccoli and leeks. I’ll probably plant some green manure on any left over clear ground. Usually I did the spuds too late to use the ground so the blight has helped in that way!