Gem Star Russet

Late blight (often starts on leaf tips and spreads quickly with brown, water-soaked patches) is one of the most damaging problems for potatoes. Remove and destroy infected leaves as soon as you see them, keep foliage as dry as possible, and rotate away from other Solanaceae crops for multiple seasons; if blight pressure is high, use a labeled fungicide that specifically targets late blight and apply according to the label schedule. For prevention, avoid overhead watering and don’t overcrowd plants so air can move through the canopy.

Harvest when the plants’ foliage turns yellow and begins to die back naturally—typically around 95 days from planting. Before lifting, gently scrape the soil and check that tuber skins are firm and don’t rub off easily; if skins are still thin, give them another week. Lift carefully with a fork to avoid cuts and bruises, and let tubers dry in the shade for a short time after harvest.