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Tomato/potato blight
I signed up for that blight-watch site and have had no warnings as
yet. The site assumes you are a commercial grower. Perhaps they didn't think I was eligible for warning! Today one chap on our allotment site pulled up all his tomato plants; at least 2 dozen. They looked a bit brown 2 days ago but today they were much worse. I pulled all the tops off my potatoes, leaving the spuds in the ground, well covered until I have time to dig them. Pam in Bristol |
#2
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Tomato/potato blight
"Pam Moore" wrote in message ... I signed up for that blight-watch site and have had no warnings as yet. The site assumes you are a commercial grower. Perhaps they didn't think I was eligible for warning! Today one chap on our allotment site pulled up all his tomato plants; at least 2 dozen. They looked a bit brown 2 days ago but today they were much worse. I pulled all the tops off my potatoes, leaving the spuds in the ground, well covered until I have time to dig them. Pam in Bristol There were no Full Smith Periods today, so no warnings. |
#3
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Tomato/potato blight
On Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:49:00 +0100, "Russel Sprout"
wrote: "Pam Moore" wrote in message .. . I signed up for that blight-watch site and have had no warnings as yet. The site assumes you are a commercial grower. Perhaps they didn't think I was eligible for warning! Today one chap on our allotment site pulled up all his tomato plants; at least 2 dozen. They looked a bit brown 2 days ago but today they were much worse. I pulled all the tops off my potatoes, leaving the spuds in the ground, well covered until I have time to dig them. Pam in Bristol There were no Full Smith Periods today, so no warnings. You can also use that site to see previous months and years. They will email a warning if the temperature and humidity are above or close to (near miss) those that allow late blight to spore and spread. Two sucessive days, and that's a Full Smith Period. The info is then for farmers to start spraying fungicide. I use Dithane 945 as it's slowed the blight's advance long enough to usually get a crop. I've had mostly healthy plants while my next door neighbours have a brown dying mess. It doesn't kill the fungus, it protects other leaves from infection if they haven't been already. One Smith Period isn't a reason to panic. It's when they come about a week or so apart eg typical wet weekends. That suits the blight's reproductive cycle. Otherwise it stays dormant. Bides it's time : ( Btw there are plans to ban mancozeb (vital part of dithane) in the EU from 2009. With our weather we wouldn't stand a chance with toms and spuds. Please consider writing to MP's, Defra, etc. I don't like chemicals and this is the only one I use, for a reason. Removing infected leaves helps early on, as does covering the soil with black plastic (other benefits). Above all, don't water the leaves.! Some varities seem more susceptable, Roma and Krim in my experience, with Gardener's Delight (sob) not far behind. This year I'm growing a few Fastico, supposed to have some resistance. Also try some early varieties like Stupice, 4th July, Glacier etc. They'll start producing tomatos before late blight can get a real hold (Sept) I'm over here in the usually drier Bedfordshire though. Late May-early June were Smith Periods, as was a week ago, no blight yet seen. Though I'm going to spray asap. This site's photos are useful for deciding what's attacking the plant now ; ) Early blight isn't a reason to pull plants, as only leaves are affected. Late blight looks different, it looks like the Black Death....in a brown sort of way! http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/t...ver/index.html Good luck! |
#4
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Tomato/potato blight
On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 tony newton wrote:
Btw there are plans to ban mancozeb (vital part of dithane) in the EU from 2009. With our weather we wouldn't stand a chance with toms and spuds. Please consider writing to MP's, Defra, etc. I don't like chemicals and this is the only one I use, for a reason. Dithane is the only chemical that seems to prevent powdery mildew on vines! David -- David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk |
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