TOMATO BLIGHT HOW TO

Apply fungicides, such as chlorothalonil, at regular intervals beginning 2 to 4 weeks after planting. While cultural practices can help control foliar diseases of tomatoes, fungicides may also be needed. If a sprinkler must be used, water in the morning so the foliage dries quickly. Apply water directly to the ground around plants with a soaker hose, slow running hose, or watering can. Avoid Overhead WateringĪvoid wetting tomato foliage when watering. Mulching tomato plants in early June allows the soil to warm up in spring. The mulch reduces the splashing of fungal spores on plant foliage. Shredded leaves, dry grass clippings, and straw are excellent mulches. In early June, apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around each tomato plant. A wire cage 2 feet in diameter and 4 to 5 feet tall should be adequate for most tomato varieties. Gardeners can buy tomato cages at garden centers or make their own using concrete reinforcing wire or hog wire. The foliage of tomatoes growing in wire cages dries more quickly than those sprawling on the ground. Wide plant spacing increases air movement and promotes rapid drying of plant foliage. When planting tomatoes, space plants approximately 3 feet apart. There is no home garden treatment that effectively destroys the disease pathogens in the soil. However, small plot gardeners should rotate as much as possible. A 3 or 4 year rotation may not be feasible for gardeners with small vegetable gardens. In the US, there is an estimated economic loss of 287.8 million every year due to tomato blight. They spread through spores that will start to rot and kill the tomato plant and its fruits. Rotate crops so that tomatoes and other solanaceous crops (potatoes, peppers, and eggplants) are not grown in the same area for at least 3 or 4 years. What is Tomato Blight Tomato blight is a fungal disease common in potatoes and tomatoes that thrives in wet conditions.

Plant tomatoes in a different location in the garden each year. Home gardeners can reduce blight problems on their tomatoes with good cultural practices. Wet spring and early summer weather favors development of foliar diseases on tomatoes. A wet leaf surface is required for the spores to invade the plant tissue. Fungal spores are splashed onto plant foliage by raindrops or splashing water. Fungal diseases, such as early blight and Septoria leaf spot, overwinter on plant debris in the soil. Blight spreads quickly, so the sooner you harvest healthy fruits, the better.Foliar diseases of tomatoes are a common problem in the home garden. If you spot an onset of blight, 'remove all healthy fruits and ripen them on trays in a shady spot indoors,' says John. They are not, however, recommended for canning or preserving. Generally, the tomatoes from blight-infected plants will still be safe to eat if you catch them early – simply remove any black spots first. This will effectively mean the death of the plant anyway.' 'However, it is a fine balance and if too many leaves are removed, the plant has no means of photosynthesizing or drawing water up and therefore no means of providing nutrients or water to stems or developing fruits. 'But, it might be possible to slow the spread by removing infected leaves as soon as they are spotted. 'There is little you can do once the disease has appeared,' says the Amateur Gardening experts. Sadly, you may be disappointed: there is no cure.

TOMATO BLIGHT HOW TO

If you see signs of this disease on your crop, you'll inevitably want to know how to treat tomato blight.

(Image credit: Deborah Vernon/Alamy Stock Photo) What should you do with tomatoes that are infected with blight?