Why did the potato tops lay down and wilted: late blight or is it time to dig? I tell you 2 obvious differences

Fiery fireworks, fellow gardeners!

The sight of wilted tops on a potato field often introduces a summer resident into vague doubts. Maybe the harvest has already ripened and it's time to call relatives to a ceremonial harvesting event? Or is it the damned phytophthora - the scourge of all Solanaceae gardening - tried again and "burned" the plantation?

I will tell you 2 correct criteria for recognizing late blight and distinguishing it from the natural aging of potato tops due to the desired ripeness of tubers.

№1. You can act by exclusion method

The situation when the tops of the potatoes turned yellow ahead of time looks suspicious. But we can easily find out that the reason lies in the ripening of the tubers, which for some reason this year came a little earlier than usual.

Dig a couple of bushes for testing from different ends of the site. AND... Shake it well. If the tubers fall off themselves, it means that the tops have died due to full ripening. Yes, comrades, it's time to get the shovel. And, as you probably already guessed: the potatoes are not ripe, and the tops have withered and lay down - the same phytophthora.

There is another obvious way. My favorite.

№2. "Differential diagnosis" on the sheet

Late blight (in the world - "late blight") is an aggressive disease of plants of fungal nature. The hero of the occasion, significantly reducing the yield of Solanaceous garden crops, bears the Latin name Phytophthora.

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The activity of harmful microorganisms does not pass without leaving a trace. Put on your dacha gear, walk along the potato rows and inspect the underside of the wilting leaves of the crop. White bloom is the main symptom of late blight. Naturally withered tops do not and should not have it, comrades.

Was it helpful? Please put "Thumbs up" in response! And you can read a lot of material about the timing of cleaning here: When to dig out potatoes: we determine the optimal period for exact signs. It's time to sharpen your shovels