Saturday, July 18, 2009

Outbreak of Fungus Threatens Tomato Crop

From Julia Moskin in The New York Times:

"A highly contagious fungus that destroys tomato plants has quickly spread to nearly every state in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic, and the weather over the next week may determine whether the outbreak abates or whether tomato crops are ruined, according to federal and state agriculture officials...

...Authorities recommend that home gardeners inspect their tomato plants for late blight signs, which include white, powdery spores; large olive green or brown spots on leaves; and brown or open lesions on the stems. Gardeners who find an affected plant should pull it, seal it in a plastic bag and throw it away, not compost it."

For the full article click, here.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh no, we will have to look in the morning. This is bad news. Thanks for the info.
QMM

Anonymous said...

Dear Heirloom there is cake for you on my blog in honor of your flowers.
7/18/ or 7/19.
QMM

Unknown said...

My plants are looking terrible, but the fruit is fine on my tomatoes this year. I have had a lovely supply but not tons like I normally get. Is this the same problem that you're talking about?

Julia Erickson said...

Ciss B,

From your description, no this sounds like something different, where the plant fruits, but the fruit then is infected on the vine.

-Heirloom Gardener

Unknown said...

Thanks! Though much of the description sounds similar, I was confused since my fruit is simply perfect, and has continued to grow fairly well and rippen.

GardenJunkie said...

I heard about this the other week in an organic gardening and pest management course and promptly came home to look at my tomatoes. One is wilting - but doesn't look like late blight. I can't figure it out (can't see any sign of disease or insect damage). Anyway, thanks for the warning - gardeners can never be too careful.

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