Potatoes are a very productive harvest if properly grown and can bestoredfor long periods . Fungal disease , either in the field or in storage , can mean a complete loss of the harvest . Growing shape make a remainder , as does the choice of disease - resistant varieties . white potato vine should also be properly cured before storage to preclude disease .
About Fungal Diseases
Fungal disease of the white potato includeblights , scale , juiceless rot , powdery scab , wilt and scab . Some primarily affect the foliage , while others disfigure genus Tuber and make them inedible or decrease yields . Fungal disease can occur only in the fields , mainly in computer storage or – as is the subject with cushy rot – at all stages of growth and repositing .
Potato Blight
Although there are other fungal diseases of potatoes , for many gardeners , the number - one concern is blight . recent blight fungal disease was the cause of the devastating Irish potato shortage in the 1800s . former blight can be an as serious problem . blight , diffuse by spores , can waste the integral crop and remain in the dirt for year . affectionate winters and wet summers can make the job worsened .
Resistant Varieties
While no potato is tolerant to all fungal diseases , some have resistance to one or more – scab and blight resistance are most vulgar . resistive varieties include :
Using a Fungicide
Conventional gardener often treat their seed white potato vine with a fungicide prior to planting . Organic gardener in blight - prone area do have another option . Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and ½ teaspoon of cooking crude or bleach - destitute liquid liquid ecstasy into one gallon of H2O . Mix well . Coat yourseedpotatoes with the mixture and also work it into the soil where you will plant .
Growing Conditions
Irrigation management is one of the major key to managing fungous disease in spud . inveterate wet soil promotes the growth of fungus . Do n’t over - water your potatoes and ensure the soil drain well by mixing in plenteousness of humus and rough-cut sand prior to planting . Acidic soil will also help prevent some fungal diseases , such as former blight – keep the pH around 5 to 5.5 .
Other Strategies
Good garden sanitation is one of the most important of all disease - bar strategy . Always withdraw and burn any plant that bet diseased ; do n’t put it in the compost pile . Clean up weeds and burn or compost . Keep copse piles away from the garden . Do n’t get out piles of cull tater in the garden . Ideally , you should rotate your potatoes , although in a small garden , this may not be much aid .
