Blight Warning 01.06

[simonj]

Conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will affect parts of Munster, Connacht and Leinster during Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. There will be opportunities for spraying on Friday.
Issued at 09:00 on 1-Jun-2012

[yehbut_nobut]

Has anyone tried Horsetail (Eqisetum Arvense) as a preventative for blight?

Equisetum arvens, the bottlebrush like plant in pic, commonly known as Horsetail or Mare’s Tail, hated by many people as a pernicious weed does have many benefits.

For the organic/natural gardener it is Horsetail’s fungicidal properties that make it a useful plant. It is particularly useful as a preventative spray for blight on Potatoes and Tomatoes. To make the preparation collect the whole plant, foliage and stems. For each oz pour on 2 pints of hot water and allow to stand for 24 hours. Strain and use undiluted. If you have dried Horsetail 2ozs makes 10 litres of spray.

[Kitty O'Shea]

Has anyone tried Horsetail (Eqisetum Arvense) as a preventative for blight?

I've heard of horsetails used against blight, never actually did it though. Apparently most types of potatoes nowadays are blight resistant, the old fashioned types might be prone though.
Also, a word of wisdom, if you are growing tomatoes plants don't wet the leaves only the base, I did and ended up with a blight-type fungus on the leaves.

[simonj]

Used a blend of horsetail and Dithene today - although I prepared the horsetail differently - left to rot in water for a few weeks - and it STINKS