Blight warning sounded (From Gazette & Herald)

Blight warning sounded

THE high proportion of potato crops that have been planted late this season are set to produce soft, rapidly-growing foliage in June that is highly susceptible to blight, warns BASF potato specialist Phil Brown.

His advice is that crops emerging late in warm weather will need special attention to protect them against the disease. Growers should consider an early start to the spray programme (from rosette stage onwards); close spray intervals (even if they have been relaxed on established crops); the use of a robust fungicide with systemic activity such as Invader.

"Less persistent fungicides that could be used on established, less vulnerable, crops at this time will not give adequate protection to rapidly-growing late-planted crops," he said. "Growers with both types of crops on the same farm should be prepared to operate a two-tier spray programme until the late-planted crop catches up."

Updated: 11:45 Wednesday, June 02, 2004