What to do with potatoes to leave them ready for harvesting

[Andyt880]

We have 2 acres of main crop Maris pipers and a few drills of pinks which we will be hoping to harvest towards the end of the month. In terms of the size and crop we are happy with where they are at now. Tops are still very green and we would like to take the tops off soon and let the skins set a bit before harvesting.
We have enough Diquat left to do them and then top afterwards when they die down, but around here the opinion is that the Diquat leaves a taste in the potatoes.
We are selling at the farm gate so taste and flavour is fairly important to use.

Our spray sales man has told us he could sell us a spray called spot light or shark to spray on immediately after topping and that would avoid using Diquat. We haven’t done this before so wondering what our best option would be?

Or could we get away with just topping them without any sprays or would we be at risk of blight getting down to the potatoes afterwards?

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Can you still use Diquat over there?

 

[Andyt880]

Can you still use Diquat over there?

Well it’s off the market now as of last year so I’d say officially the answer is no. As far as I know the sales of it where fairly high in it’s last year so I’d say there’s a fair bit in store around the country yet

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Always used to use it and never heard of it tainting the flavour?

We just use Gozai now in 2 passes (don’t flail) if you have a flail then maybe chop and spray with Spotlight?

 

[Andyt880]

Always used to use it and never heard of it tainting the flavour?

We just use Gozai now in 2 passes (don’t flail) if you have a flail then maybe chop and spray with Spotlight?

Is Gozai a similar product to Diquat?

 

[Andyt880]

This will be our first year using the flail so we are new to that too

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Is Gozai a similar product to Diquat?

Yes, but works slower and needs oil with it.

0.8L Gozai, 1.5L spray mate, 0.5 Ranman per ha x2 at a week interval.

Not a good option on 2 acres though I guess?

 

[ridger]

I'd leave them another 2 weeks to mature then they will be easier to kill

 

[Bogweevil]

NI is part of UK so:

In the UK, the Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health and Safety Executive has now given a date for diquat products to be withdrawn from the market by 31 July 2019, with a use-up period for growers up to 4 February 2020.

Your diquat should go to a licensed waste disposal firm - you are committing an offence by storing the material.

Good advice above on Gozai

More here: https://ahdb.org.uk/news/the-cost-of-desiccation-without-diquat