Major potato diseases: treatment and prevention

In order to save your crop in time and prevent the appearance of viruses and harmful microorganisms on potatoes, you need to know what diseases are. Let's take a closer look at those that are often found:

late blight is perhaps the most devastating disease of potatoes. Not only stems and leaves can be affected, but the tubers themselves. If you look at the lower leaves of the plant, you can see dark brown spots that quickly increase in size. The leaves begin to turn black, dry out, and in rainy weather they rot. On the tubers themselves there are characteristic depressed dark spots with brown uneven smudges.

Potato diseases can be prevented by spraying the plants with Bordeaux liquid or a solution of copper sulfate. This must be done before the potatoes bloom. You can also use folk methods, for example, iodine with milk. For ten liters of water we take one liter of milk and 15-20 drops of iodine. As a preventive measure, you can spray the tops of plants with infusions of garlic. It is necessary to grind 100 grams of cloves, pour a glass of water and leave for a day. Then dilute it all in a bucket of water and spray. Such sprays can be carried out throughout the entire period of potato growth at intervals of 8-10 days;

in the photo - late blight of potatoes

Fusarium (dry rot). Plants can get sick at any stage of development, but as a rule, signs become very noticeable during the flowering period. The upper leaves begin to lighten, the stem turns brown, and rots during precipitation. A diseased potato dies in just a couple of days. On the tubers you can see gray-brown spots of various shapes, which are slightly depressed. Inside, a void is formed in which the mycelium of the fungus is located.

in the photo - fusarium (dry rot) on potatoes

Before planting, it is advisable to pickle the tubers with Fitosporin-M or Bactofit to avoid soil contamination. This disease is facilitated by the spread of late blight in the early stages of development, so fighting it will save you from problems with ear rot;

common scab. In most cases, tubers, plant roots are affected. Wrinkled dry sores form on the tubers, which can merge into one large rough spot. As a rule, the disease spreads through the affected land.

In such cases, the soil must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, and the tubers themselves should be sprayed with Maxim. It is advisable to do this before planting potatoes in the holes. Crop rotation is recommended, as fungal spores of this disease can persist in the soil for up to five years. Be sure to use green manure in the area with further digging.

in the photo - potato scab

Medvedka- this malicious pest, popularly called "earth cancer", never bypasses the ridge with potatoes, eats young shoots or the tubers themselves. Medvedka prefers sunny, well-warmed places where he builds his nests. They are usually located at a depth of no more than 15 centimeters, where the insect lays a large number of eggs.

in the photo - a bear eats potatoes

Dusting the tops of potatoes with ash is considered effective. It is best to do this in the morning when the leaves are still damp from dew. It is also considered a good remedy: cut potatoes into slices (1 kg), pour one glass of urea, two liters of water, close tightly, leave for a couple of days. Then lay out the bait in a convenient container (for example, cans), arrange between the rows. You need to do this once a week.

If you notice a diseased plant in your garden, you should immediately remove it, burn it, or place it in a bleach pit. The wells need to be plentifully treated with urea. Do not let the soil deplete, the nematode will easily settle in such areas. There are drugs such as Nemabakt and Bazudin, they will help you if the earth is already badly affected.

in the photo - potato nematode

wireworm- a small worm, about two centimeters in size, hard to the touch, usually yellow or brown in color. If your garden is too damp, there is a lot of shade, weeds grow, then wait for the wireworm to visit.

To get rid of the wireworm, add chalk, ash or eggshells to the ground. Thus, reduce the acidity of the soil, which this worm does not like so much. Plant peas, beans, beans, chickpeas on the plot. Marigolds can be planted along the perimeter, the smell of which will scare away not only the wireworm, but many other insect pests. Dig up the garden for the winter, then the larvae remaining in the ground will freeze.

Take preventive measures in time, monitor the condition of the soil, remove weeds from the beds. What will be the potato if the diseases of the tops and tubers spread, and no measures are taken. As the proverb says: "Do not throw ashes on the road, but carry a little to the garden" ...