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In recent years, potato early blight [Alternaria solani(Ellis & G. Martin) L.R. Jones,A lternaria alternata(Fr.) Keissl.] has occurred with increasing frequency in European potato fields, including those in northern regions. In our study, early blight was evaluated during the two years 2010–2011 on potato plants in a conventional farming experiment. Both growing seasons were very favourable for early blight development and evaluation. Our study indicates that, despite chemical treatments, potato early blight is a great problem for potato growers in conventional farming systems in the North-East region in years when temperatures are higher than average. In 2011, early blight damage was particularly high on the untreated (N0P0K0) treatment plots where severity increased abruptly from an initial 2% to 91%, and killed the potato haulms within five weeks. In 2010, the most severely infected plants were also recorded on the untreated (N0P0K0) plots, where 70% of foliage was destroyed by the end of the growing season. Results showed that a more efficient chemical strategy is needed against this disease on susceptible cultivars. Breeding and growing more resistant cultivars of potato is considered the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly control method for sustainable cultivation in conventional growing systems. As an increase in the frequency of warmer summers is predicted, greater problems from this pathogen are to be expected in Northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]