Controlling potato growth in outgrade piles can help reduce the risk of blight spreading to crops this season, advises the Scottish Agricultural College.

Growth on outgrade piles can be a significant source of blight inoculum, especially early in the growing season, says SAC’s Simon Oxley.

“Ideally, any treatment should begin before there is any haulm growth because this will be more effective than treating established shoots.”

See “Potato outgrade hygiene” at www.potato.org.uk for more.