Potatoes - Yellow & Brown Leaves

 

Hi all

I have 3 2m rows of early potatoes sowed about 2 weeks apart - sorry can't
remember the variety.
The rows are close (about 18").
All looked healthy until about 4 weeks ago The leaves of the older plants
have yellowed with brown spotting.
I have googled and find it may be iron, potassium, calcium deficiency - not
clear which.
We have dug 2 plants which yielded reasonable size, but low number of
potatoes.

Is there anything I can do at this late stage to recover the
situation/improve the quality or volume of yield?

The youngest row has not yet succumbed.

TIA

Phil

 

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:02:06 +0100, "TheScullster"


Mine died because I sprayed stuff on them and don't know what it was.
There's some right bobbly spuds come out though - someone said that
was excess lime (didn't put any on) and someone else said it was
blight and someone else said he has blight on the brain... (Spuds had
some brown mushy bits on and were black underneath if you cut them...)
--
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

 



Could it be that the potatoes are ready to dig?

My fathers potatoes were always as you describe, mine are too.

Your youngest row would support this arguement.

I think the theory is that foilage dies off to put all energy into maturing
the potato, though the low yield you mention may be due to lack of
nutrients THROUGHOUT their growing life ie: manuring/enriching soil prior
to planting and feeding /watering regularly until harvest.

I am only in my second year with potatoes, and my first year was not too
successful so I manured a plot last autumn and left another plot without
anything but water. The manured plot is about 5 times more successful, with
more potatoes and MUCH earlier.

I don't think you can remedy this situation now, but think of next year!

I hope this helps you and good luck.

Part_No