Tomato blight

I just watched Edible Garden on BBC2 and was shocked to see that Alys had had her toms destroyed by blight 3 years running. Is it really that much of a problem? Anyone have any tips for avoiding this (organically). Thanks

 

Sorry Russell, but it really is a big problem.
It arrives about August if the weather conditions are right - warm, damp summers.
So here are your options.
Pray for a hot, dry summer - doesn't work for me.
Start spraying the plants with Dithane in July - doesn't sit easy with me. I don't want my tomatoes sprayed with fungicide, but everything you buy in the shops is.
Plant early, nurse the plants and get your crop before August. That's the option I go for and it can be done. By planting in January - I have a heated conservatory - I can be eating my tomatoes in June.
Good luck.

 

Yes its been a real problem the last few years, but I find a spray with copper fungicide in July helps to keep it at bay, another spray in August if its damp.

I had not seen blight in 30 odd yrs of growing toms till about 3yrs ago, had it in varying amounts since then.
Its a big problem.

 

Oh dear, I was afraid youd say that. Thanks for response.

 

We lost 90% of our outdoor toms in 2008, so last year I started spraying with dithane as soon as I saw potato blight (it's the same virus) reported in the local area. Result was no infection. Fingers crossed for this year!

Here's a link though it may be out of date >

http://www.potato.org.uk/department...blight/index.html?menu_pos=knowledge_transfer

 

I've grown tomatoes for 2 years, and had blight last year but not before. Its pretty devastating when it happens.

 

That dithane doesnt sound great, I think Ill try the Bordeaux if thats organic. Thanks

 

Hi,

We had blight last year, and we don't want it again! Not sure whether I'm going to spray or not yet, but thought I would mention that Bordeaux Mixture is pretty nasty as well. A fair few think it shouldn't be classed as organic - sorry to rain on your parade. The others are right though, it's either spray or pray. The other thing is really strict greenhouse hygiene if you are growing any indoors. Blight can survive in there over winter you see. The greenhouse/poly tunnel needs to be cleaned and disinfected at the end of every gowing season - or in spring if you're like me and kept putting it off last year. That includes every surface in there - all flower pots etc etc. I use diluted Jeyes fluid, but there are friendlier-sounding products out there. Good luck, whatever you do.

 

I maybe stating the obvious but Blight also affects Potatoes.

 

If you register with 'Blight Watch' (it's Potato Blight Watch) as per the link I posted earlier you can get access to maps showing blight in any area of the country as well as email notifications of outbreaks in your or any chosen postcode area/s. If you see (potato) blight flagged that is the time to spray or pray.
The site is really for commercial growers but there's nothing to prevent amateurs using it.

 

I was led to believe that blight survives from one season to another on living tissue, so foliage even if blighted can be composted. Potato blight survives on overwintered tubers. I would think disinfecting is more likely to clear up other things like boltrytis.

 

On a local radio gardening phone in show, the chap said to one punter,

To guard against blight, he swears by spraying with full cream milk mixed 1 part to 10 water. every couple weeks. I think they were on about spuds, but may work with toms? Anyone tried this afore?

 

I must be the lucky one, no blight ever! Not on my spuds or toms.......

Now if that ain't tempting fate?

I keep a supply of Bordeaux at the ready but also generally grow early which was a problem with my spuds this year, the soil has just dried out sufficiently to plant them, my toms however have already started flowering :D

 

Nasty ? In what way ?