Tomato Blight Update from Rodale News

[boggybranch]

http://www.rodale.com/late-blight?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_06_21-_-Top5-_-NA

 

[vfem]

I see a lot of contradiction online from places saying its not likely to be wide spread.

Now is the conclusion that this is just a return of last years, or a whole new epidemic that started from elsewhere?

I'd love to see a strongly opinioned discussion?!

 

[boggybranch]

I see a lot of contradiction online from places saying its not likely to be wide spread.

Now is the conclusion that this is just a return of last years, or a whole new epidemic that started from elsewhere?

I'd love to see a strongly opinioned discussion?!

All I know is that it has hit me much harder, this year, than last year.

 

[lesa]

I've seen both ideas stated, vfem. Since we have freezing temps here in NY state, the blight cannot survive the winter. I am in favor of a ban of all plants transported from other states. I hate rules and regulations, but this will be never ending, if we don't get a handle on it...
This is all very complicated and it seems we can do very little, but hope for the best. I am terrified every time I walk out in the garden!! Here's hoping we are spared a repeat of last year!

 

[lesa]

boggy, so sorry to hear about blight in your garden. I know how hard you worked! I am sure in your warm temps it will be very difficult to control. I hate feeling helpless!!

 

[boggybranch]

boggy, so sorry to hear about blight in your garden. I know how hard you worked! I am sure in your warm temps it will be very difficult to control. I hate feeling helpless!!

Thanks lesa....I reckon that being able to garden, pretty much, 12 months out of the year does have it's drawbacks. Just gotta lower our heads and plow forward.

 

[vfem]

I am very sorry too boggy... really I am I had it last year and I'm hoping the we survive this year. In fact, I was concerned last week that we got it... in new beds none-the-less, as I did not plant potatoes, or tomatoes in the beds that were infected last year. Luckily, this past winter was very cold, and we got lots of snow, and even our pond froze solid (2 acres). So I though there was a chance it didn't survive... but instead I had onions and garlic planted there and now 2 pumpkins just as a filler.... this winter will be a cover crop.

Anyways, we mulched like CRAZY anyways this year.... $70 in truck load after truck load of mulch! Then I see what I think its blight last week! ARGH!!! You've got to be kidding me?!

I do believe now after some research it is not blight though, but mildew, which I DO have on my squash and zukes anyways.

Disease is going to happen, and its WORSE then insects, and harder to control.... but agree with Lesa, I think some of the imports need to stop... though almost ALL of my plants are started from seed for safety, its not seeming to make a difference for me.

 

[elf]

When I went to the part to look at pics. it said take infected plants to the landfill. Wouldn't it be better to burn them? Oh, maybe they're talking about a landfill where they burn. Ours doesn't anymore.

 

[vfem]

When I went to the part to look at pics. it said take infected plants to the landfill. Wouldn't it be better to burn them? Oh, maybe they're talking about a landfill where they burn. Ours doesn't anymore.

No, fungi can survive the initial burn (You know when the leaves start scattering around and burning a little but sending some up into the smoke that hadn't caught yet) and anything that gets blown up into the air sends the fungus airborne and back into the wind into someone else's garden.

 

[boggybranch]

Yep......DON'T burn