Late Blight

[Petee]

Late Blight on Bittersweet.

 

I think we've all had this pestilence growing in our gardens!  Ugh, a carrier of Late Blight if the fruit ends up underground for the winter.  Go to the bottom of the photo section.

http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm

[terrdog]

Late Blight on Bittersweet.

 

I think we've all had this pestilence growing in our gardens!  Ugh, a carrier of Late Blight if the fruit ends up underground for the winter.  Go to the bottom of the photo section.

http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm

So is it best at the end of season to make sure no fruit gets tilled under?

[Petee]

Yep, clean that garden like you're cleaning the kitchen.  Spotless clear down through the top layers of soil.

 

Check out these photos to see if it looks close to the bottom leaf damage that you mentioned.  This is Early Blight.

http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/early_blight.htm

[terrdog]

Yep, clean that garden like you're cleaning the kitchen.  Spotless clear down through the top layers of soil.

 

Check out these photos to see if it looks close to the bottom leaf damage that you mentioned.  This is Early Blight.

http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/early_blight.htm

Yeah that looks like it petee, all the plants have it

[Petee]

Then you have an infected soil problem that will last from year to year.  You need to make sure none of the soil ever comes in contact with your tomato plant leaves.  Taking off the bottom branches helps as does some sort of barrier to stop soil from splashing up onto the bottom leaves when it rains or you water from overhead.  Newspapers or mulch works good.  Just make sure it doesn't touch the stem.  

 

You will still get good tomatoes but the amount will be smaller, and it will affect long season varieties (bigger tomatoes) worst.  

[terrdog]

Will treatment for the soil work?

[Petee]

You could try solarizing your soil in the spring but it does a job on your microorganisms too.

 

Maybe solarize and mulch.  Rotate blight susceptable crops so you don't grow them in the same spot every year, and buy plants that have as many letters after their names as possible.

 

There's more than this but here's a short list:

http://www.tomatodirt.com/blight-resistant-tomato-varieties.html

 

Note that smoking in the garden or having tobacco residue on your hands can cause diseases too.

Alternaria is Early Blight.

 

Disease Resistance Codes

V Verticillium Wilt

F Fusarium Wilt

FF Fusarium, races 1 and 2

FFF Fusarium, races 1, 2, and 3

N Nematodes

A Alternaria

T Tobacco Mosaic Virus

St Stemphylium (Gray Leaf Spot)

TSWV Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

 

 

 

[terrdog]

You could try solarizing your soil in the spring but it does a job on your microorganisms too.

 

Maybe solarize and mulch.  Rotate blight susceptable crops so you don't grow them in the same spot every year, and buy plants that have as many letters after their names as possible.

 

There's more than this but here's a short list:

http://www.tomatodirt.com/blight-resistant-tomato-varieties.html

 

Note that smoking in the garden or having tobacco residue on your hands can cause diseases too.

Alternaria is Early Blight.

 

Disease Resistance Codes

V Verticillium Wilt

F Fusarium Wilt

FF Fusarium, races 1 and 2

FFF Fusarium, races 1, 2, and 3

N Nematodes

A Alternaria

T Tobacco Mosaic Virus

St Stemphylium (Gray Leaf Spot)

TSWV Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

 

 

 

Thank you for your help.

[Petee]

You're welcome.  I hope it helps.

[Delta]

Thanks, Petee. I was planning to ask you about this.