WSU: Potato Growers Watch for Late Blight

Potato growers on the Columbia Basin need to be on the lookout for Late Blyte this summer.  Washington State University's Tim Waters says there is a greater than 95% chance we’ll see Late Blight this year.

“The reason for that is, the cool wet conditions that we’ve had to date this spring.  So, late blight is a water mold, so it needs water basically to survive, so a moist thick canopy and cool conditions are going to be ideal for sporulation of Late Blight”

Waters told the Washington Ag Network the hotter weather over the next couple of days will help stave off Late Blight, but he said it’s still very likely, because of the large about of irrigation water put on the crop.  Waters added now is the time for growers to act.

“Protective fungicides are very important for fungicides, and it’s very important to get on a schedule or a program basically to prevent Late Blight getting into the field.  When late Blight is found in the area. We typically encourage growers to shorten the interval between applications.”

Waters added in the event that you come across Late Blight in your field, you are asked to contact WSU so other growers can be notified.  Waters said the exact location of the Late Blight wont be shared, so growers have anonymity when reporting.

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