Blight control Canopy growth of most crops should now be complete. Growers should be using translaminar fungicides, for example, Curzate, Invader or contact fungicides, for example, Shirlan, Dithane. A tin-based fungicide, for example, Farmatin, Brestan should be used for the final two sprays prior to dessication. Slug control Slug damage can result in serious losses especially in crops intended for pre-packing. Crops most at risk are maincrops of susceptible varieties such as Maris Piper and Marfona.
Most damage occurs from now on as the tubers bulk up to harvest.
Slug pellets containing methiocarb, thiodicarb or metaldehyde should be applied to susceptible varieties once soil conditions become moist. For less susceptible crops test baiting should be used to assess the need to apply slug pellets but growers should wait until soil conditions are moist before testing. When soil conditions are dry there is a risk of uptake of Reglone by the tuber. Many soils without access to irrigation may have soil moisture deficits well within the range at which damage can occur. Even if rain has fallen recently it may have been insufficient to wet the soil properly and growers should check that soil around the tubers is moist.