Yep, as in the thing that caused the Famine.
It’s been a pretty wild time for Irish weather.
The staff at Met Éireann have been working overtime the past few weeks, keeping us abreast with all things heatwave and sunshine related.
Just today, they’ve let us know about a potential drought warning which has kicked in as a result of the cracking weather, as well as informing us of the exact date when this hot spell of weather we’re having is likely to end.
A relatively new warning, which has been released for the second time this summer, has come into effect as of Friday afternoon, under the banner of Environment Warning.
Status Yellow – Blight Warning
“Weather conditions conducive to the spread of Potato Blight are likely to occur in coastal areas.”
Oh, dear.
Basically, the wet and warm conditions are perfect for a particular fungus to grow that will kick off the spread of the blight.
According to the forecaster, “conditions on Saturday night and Sunday will be conducive to the development of potato blight over parts of Ulster, in Donegal especially. There are some opportunities for spraying today.”
If you are concerned that your fields may be affected, keep an eye out for:
– Brown freckles of patches on the leaves
– Yellowish border spreading from the brown patches
– Dark patches on tubers
– Inside of the tuber is brown and rotting from the skin down
– The potatoes will eventually turn into soggy, foul-smelling masses
According to gardening experts Horkans, these are the tips to follow if you wish to protect your crop from the blight:
– The best way to prevent potato blight is to plant a good blight-resistant variety
– Make sure potatoes are well earthed up to prevent spores getting into the tubers
– Spray leaves and stems with a preventative treatment
– Be aware of weather warnings
– Check regularly for signs of infection
Looks like we shouldn’t have been so hasty when the UK announced they had a crisp shortage…
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