Pests – Potatoes

Potatoes are susceptible to a lot of fungal infections, threatening crop yields and profits. Understanding the causes and treatments of these diseases is crucial for growers. From environmental factors to effective control methods, this guide provides insights into combating fungal infections in potatoes, ensuring healthier crops and sustainable farming practices. In the UK, the top […]

In the world of potato farming, chemical pesticides stand as vital tools in the battle against pests that threaten crop health and yield. However, with this reliance comes the critical need for safe and responsible pesticide application practices. This article aims to explore the essential safety considerations for potato farmers engaged in chemical pesticide spraying.

Anyone who has tried to grow a plant will know firsthand how important it is to educate yourself about the pests that can wreak havoc on our beloved plants. Today, let’s dive into the world of potato leafhoppers, tiny insects that can cause significant damage if left unchecked. Identifying potato leafhoppers Potato leafhoppers are small,

Growing potatoes can be a rewarding experience, but it’s essential to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for the most common pests and diseases that can harm your crops. In this article, I’ll share with you the top 10 most common pests and diseases that affect potatoes, as well as some helpful tips on

Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne disease that affects a wide range of crops, including potatoes. The disease is caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, which invades the plant’s water-conducting system, leading to wilting, stunting, and reduced yield. The fungus can survive in the soil for up to 10 years, making it difficult to manage. Fortunately,

Organic potato farming is a sustainable and eco-friendly way to grow potatoes. However, it can be challenging to cope with pests and diseases without the use of synthetic chemicals. Organic potato farmers need to be proactive in preventing and managing pests and diseases to ensure a successful harvest. One of the most important steps in

The Colorado Potato Beetle, also known as a potato bug, is a common insect pest found primarily on potatoes in North America. This destructive insect devours the foliage (and blossoms) on potato plants and can strip them bare in a few days if action isn’t taken. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep potato bugs

Growing potatoes in your backyard or garden isn’t difficult. With proper care, you can expect to harvest two to five pounds of potatoes from each plant, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Sometimes, problems arise, like the tops of the potato plants falling over. This can happen for several reasons. Let’s look at the

After months of careful planning and preparing seed, soil, and nutrients to plant your potato crop, the last thing you want to see are the potato leaves curling, stunted, and knarly. There are many things that can cause your potato plants to have curled leaves. In this article, I will discuss the possible causes and

If you have noticed chew marks on the leaves of your potatoes in the morning but can’t identify the culprit, you may have slugs and snails eating potato plants. These garden pests come out under the cover of darkness and slip out of sight when morning arrives. Look for glistening trails on the foliage as

Blight is a common fungal disease that affects potatoes. It can destroy the entire crop in less than a week if left unattended. Unfortunately, there is little you can do to save your potatoes once they have been infected with blight. This makes prevention key to raising healthy potatoes. While the best prevention for potato blight

Potatoes are an easy-to-grow vegetable that can be planted in the early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. They typically produce well and provide you with an abundance of tubers. While they are generally disease-free (as long as you buy certified seed potatoes) they are not immune to all diseases. Tobacco Rattle

Eelworm is a parasitic nematode that lives in the soil and feeds on plant roots. Its host plants are nightshades and they particularly like potatoes and tomatoes. If you’re growing potatoes, it is extremely important to educate yourself on eelworms. If you like to grow a lot of potatoes and tomatoes, you’ll definitely want to

The season is almost over, autumn is around the corner and the cool temperatures at night are really starting to set in. Even with all the fun of growing a garden, it is still a lot of work and you are ready to reap the rewards. Grabbing your trowel and gloves, you head out into

At times, history classes may not have been easy to pay attention to, yet we have all heard of the potato famine that took place in Ireland. A disease that wiped out much of the population of the country is definitely worth taking a second look at. Each plant and vegetable has its own personal

Your potato fields should be sprayed with a broad-spectrum herbicide 6 weeks before ploughing and tilling. The planted area should be sprayed again with a broad-spectrum herbicide before the potato plants come through the ground -this is known as a pre-emergence spray. The spray should have residual activity – meaning it continues to work for