![]() Picking off leaves or leaflets when just a few are affected may slow down the progress of the disease very slightly, but will not eradicate the problem Gardeners are able to access forecasts of when blight will be active in their region, check if there have been previous instances of favourable weather for the disease, or see if there have been confirmed cases - visit the BlightSpy website, developed for professional growers but providing useful information for gardeners However, early cultivars are still genetically susceptible to the disease, so if weather conditions mean that the disease gets going early in the summer they could still be affected first-early cultivars) are more likely to escape infection, as levels of the disease tend to increase as summer progresses. Infected material should be deeply buried (below the depth of cultivation), consigned to the local council green waste collection or burned, rather than composted (see 'Biology' section, below)Įarthing up potatoes well provides some protection to the tubers from blight spores washed down into the soil from lesions on the leaves or stemsĮarly-harvested potatoes (e.g. Malvern Autumn Show - 27-29 September 2024.RHS Flower Show Tatton Park - 17-21 July 2024.RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival - 2–7 July 2024.RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show - 14 June – 7 July 2024.Martin Draper looked at samples the workshop attendees brought from their gardens and gave suggestions as to what can be done to bring the plants back to health. There are many USDA extension offices throughout the country and research facilities on every land-grand university, so if you have further questions or concerns about tomato diseases feel free to contact one of these places. Garden clean-up is another preventative key, as the diseases’ spores can overwinter on plants left in the garden from the previous year. This needs to be reapplied regularly to maintain its efficiency. To create a solution that prevents and treats disease, add a heaping tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and a small amount of mild soap to a gallon of water and spray the tomato plants with this solution. If you garden organically, adding compost extracts or teas can be a treatment. A fungicide intended for different plants, not vegetables, won’t make a difference and may cause problems. Some fungicides can be very effective however, it is important to follow the label. Keep a watch on your garden, and pluck any leaves that show signs of disease and take out infected plants. This way, the space will make it slightly more difficult for diseases to spread quickly, and the airflow will keep the plants dry. It is also recommended to stake your tomato plants instead of caging them, and space them appropriately. Watering at the base of the plant can help prevent this if you do use a sprinkler system or similar method to water your tomatoes, do so in the morning to allow the plant an opportunity to dry throughout the day. Moisture, especially on the leaves, provides great conditions for the spores of these diseases to make themselves at home. These diseases can be spread many ways, and knowing what they are can supply simple solutions. Early and late blight affect potatoes as well, in fact, late blight caused the Irish potato famine. It looks white and fuzzy on the underside of the leaf, and destroys crops quickly. Late blight affects large portions of the leaves. Early blight can set in the stems and leaves, and is identified by legions with target-like rings. Septoria leaf spot is characterized by small, dark circular spots that often have yellow halos around them they appear on the lower leaves of the plant first. ![]() Don’t let the names early blight and late blight mislead you, they can appear at any time during the year. He discussed in detail three pathogenic diseases: septoria leaf spot, early blight, and late blight. Martin Draper, a plant pathologist through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, taught us how to identify them and what we can do to treat and prevent them. The People’s Garden Workshop topic this week was tomato blights and spots, and Dr. However, several diseases love our tomato plants just as much as we do. We are passionate about our tomatoes and savor that ripe, fresh fruit. Written by Kayla Harless, People’s Garden InternĪlmost everyone who gardens grows tomato plants.
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