Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi all. I have just received an email from the Fight against Blight team warning that there has been a full Smith Period in my area though no incidences of blight reported yet.

Does this mean I should spray my spuds with bordeaux as a precaution? I lost everything to blight last year and I am blowed if I am going to suffer the same this year.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

No! It's much too early for blight. Someone is just trying to flog you some chemicals!

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Not so Two_Sheds, BlightWatch is for the spud farmers nobody tries to sell you anything, they just send out alerts if the conditions are right for the nasties. I did think it was early but it has been very very warm here the last few days and was wet last night and the night before - prime blight conditions.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

Anyway, why are we both indoors on the Pootah, instead of outside digging and planting? Or drinking and BBQ-ing?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

I am catching up on laundry and ironing, and alternating that with pootling in the garden (too hot for much digging) and the soil is a bit sticky after the rain too.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

For anyone wanting to get warnings regarding blight in your own area, here is the website for BlightWatch.

Blightwatch.co.uk - the essential service for professional potato growers

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

Early blight is a recognized problem along with southern blight for tomato's. If you google early blight you will get more details.

I would take heed Shirl .

Wren

Cheers Wren. Think I will make up some bordeaux mixture and spray just to be safe. I would be gutted to lose the spuds a second year in a row.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

If you look at the potatoes and grapevines in my garden, you'll notice a pretty blue sheen on them. We have had a run of good weather here and tomorrow the forecast is rain and, like you Shirley - I'm not taking any chances

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A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! (Thomas Edward Brown)

I has a blight alert yesterday in camborne


Marion

I had a look at blight watch, but it asks for business details etc. Can we join as non trade?

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A bad days fishing is still better than a good day at work!

I am not trade and I joined.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

Just put n/a in the Job titile and company detail sections - it'll work.

Done that, it works

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A bad days fishing is still better than a good day at work!

I was only thinking about blight earlier today but like Two Sheds thought it was to early. It usually hits here just as the first earlies are ready for harvesting. However I take the point that it is the conditions rather then the time of year that is the decider. However the number of potatoes I have planted spraying isn't really an option. Just have to keep my fingers crossed.

Shirl - how do I make the bordeaux mixture that you mention

I bought it at a garden centre.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

Does anyone know if this site is any good though or is it still just marketing? Are they postcode aware or just county or flippen country based?

Post code aware - they ask for first part codes.

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The weeks and the years are fine. It's the days I can't cope with!

Is bordeaux mixture fully organic?

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Cheers

T-lady

Apparently many do consider it "organic" (although not according to last month's Garden Organic mag) but it is a bactericide and fungicide and will presumably target the good as well as the bad, so personally I would be concerned about using it for that reason.

Wikipedia says:
Bordeaux mixture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Bordeaux mixture is a combination of copper sulfate and hydrated lime, invented in the vineyards of the Bordeaux region of France and known locally as Bouillie Bordelaise. It used mainly to control garden, vineyard, nursery and farm infestations of fungus, most notably vine fungus. This fungicide has been used for over a century and is still used, although the copper can leach out and pollute streams."

Some other web page says:
Using Organic Fungicides
"Although not the oldest fungicide, Bordeaux mixture has been successfully used for over 150 years, on fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. Unlike sulfur, Bordeaux mixture is both fungicidal and bactericidal. As such, it can be effectively used against diseases such as leaf spots caused by bacteria or fungi, powdery mildew, downy mildew and various anthracnose pathogens. The ability of Bordeaux mixture to persist through spring rains and to adhere to plants is one reason it has been so effective. Bordeaux mixture contains copper sulfate, which is acidic, neutralized by lime (calcium hydroxide), which is alkaline.

Bordeaux mixture comes in several formulations... These formulations were developed in recognition of the fact that copper, like sulfur, is phytotoxic and that the level of toxicity is related to the age of plant tissue being treated... Application of Bordeaux during hot weather (above 85°F) may cause yellowing and leaf drop. Additionally, leaf burn can occur if it rains soon after a Bordeaux application... Some sensitive plants require diluting the product to one half strength (depending on the product used – see label) to avoid phytotoxicity. These include geraniums, ivy, pansy, celery, strawberry, azaleas, dogwood and juniper.

Care should be taken when applying this fungicide to young, tender leaves of apple, pear, plum or rose. Do not apply Bordeaux to corn or ornamental sorghum, which are described as copper-sensitive plants."

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Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.