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Potato plants leaves turning brown #879194

Asked July 29, 2024, 10:00 AM EDT

Hi, I hope you can help this second-year vegetable gardener near Easton. Last year potatoes were my best producer, this year I was gone most of June (automatic sprinkler system keeps soil moist not wet in my CONTAINER GARDEN). It was really hot while I was gone. When I got back, all my potatoes had curled leaves with brown edges. The soil seemed a little dry on top, so I increased the watering a little. The plants have gotten progressively worse. I found about 50 Colorado Potato Beetles on one plant, but not on the others. It doesn't seem to affect the other plants in my garden (bell peppers, carrots, parsnips, squash, beans, melons). I'm attaching a pic. Thank you for any help you can give me.

Talbot County Maryland

Expert Response

This resembles "burn" damage from potato leafhopper feeding, a fairly common insect pest of potato. Prevention and management tips for leafhopper issues on vegetables in general are included on the linked page, though at this point, little probably needs to be done since we're in the midst of (or soon approaching) harvest season. (Depending on when the crop was started, it can run July through September.)

Miri

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