Hobby gardeners keep asking themselves why they shouldn't compost the dead plant material after the potato harvest. The reason for this is a fungal disease that can spread further. However, composting is not completely ruled out.
Diseased potato tops should never be composted
healthy herb
There is nothing wrong with composting healthy potato tops. The small cut parts of the plant rot very quickly and enrich the substrate with valuable nutrients. Alternatively, the material is suitable for mulching beds. You can leave it on the harvested area and work it into the soil the next time you dig.
diseased foliage
As a nightshade plant, potatoes are susceptible to potato blight. In the past, the affected foliage was burned in the garden to prevent the spread of such diseases. Today, in many places, fires are no longer permitted on one's own property, or only permitted at certain times. If plant parts or potatoes are disposed of in the compost, the fungus can continue to multiply. Its spores survive in the substrate.
Counteract the spread of disease
The Phytophthora fungus was carried from the American continent to Europe by global trade. Scientists suspect that a new type of late blight has been spreading since 1976. This is particularly well adapted to the Central European climate.
prevention
Needs-based fertilization ensures healthy plants on which the fungus finds fewer points of attack. Too much nitrogen weakens the potato plants, which encourages fungal attack. Wet weather in late summer ensures optimal growth conditions for the spores.
prevent tuber blight
Cut off the cabbage before harvesting the potatoes so that the fungus does not settle on the tubers. Alternatively, you can carefully pull the entire plants out of the loose substrate. Since the disease peaks in late summer, the beds should be completely weed free when harvesting late potato varieties. Remove the above-ground parts of the plant two to three weeks in advance.
Harvest and storage:
- Harvest potatoes before temperatures drop below 15 degrees
- Leave tubers to dry in the sun for one to two hours
- store in crates or on slatted frames at four to eight degrees
tips
Plant the seed rows in the direction of the wind. This allows the potato tops to dry better after rain, which the Phytophthora infestans fungus does not like.