Testing potato plants
It takes a long time and a lot of effort to grow potatoes - and blight can ruin the crop in days
Whether you are growing potatoes to eat this year, or for next year's seed, keep a sharp look out for diseases. Blight is the one to watch out for, particularly if the weather is wet. If you are growing for seed, you also need to be alert to virus diseases.
Pocket Check tests cover these diseases:
Symptoms of all of these diseases will be seen on the leaves and stems, so it will be easy to find samples for testing. If the weather is warm and damp, blight is very likely. If there are many aphids around in your garden, Potato virus Y is the one to watch.
If your plants show symptoms, but the tests have a negative result, it might mean your crops are infected with one of the many other diseases which attack potatoes. Consult a reputable source of garden advice such as the RHS for more information.