This week’s issue of Spud Scoop was published earlier today. Spud Scoop is a growing season newsletter compiled by specialists at NDSU Extension and University of Minnesota, combining information for potato growers.
In the introduction, Dr Andy Robinson, Extension Potato Agronomist at NSDU and the University of Minnesota, says it’s been a week of warming temperatures and more rainfall in many areas. In general, the potato crop seems to be progressing well.
Weather conditions continue to be favorable for late blight, as can be seen in late blight model severity values increasing this week. Late blight spore DNA was identified in the Lisbon, ND trap. Dr Robinson says some things he has noticed this week as a result of the heat is that tuber sets seem to be lower, causing the remaining tubers to size up quickly.
As a result of hot temperatures, Dr Robinson has seen Red Norland tubers have knobs or bumps developing on them. Nitrogen stress is showing up really nicely in research trials. Symptoms of nitrogen stress is yellowing or chlorosis of lower leaves and reduced plant size.
