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Allentown, PA

Late blight has been found on a 2 acre organic tomato field in Mercer County. This is the first report of Late blight in New Jersey this growing season.

Even though there are no reports of late blight in PA it would be wise for tomato growers in the states surrounding New Jersey to be watchful and proactive in protecting their plants.

I live only 12 miles west of the Jersey border so I must be very watchful.

Irregularly shaped water soaked lesions can be observed on young leaves at the top part of the plant. Under humid conditions, lesions become brown and pathogen sporulation can be seen. Eventually the leaves shrivel and become necrotic and die. Brown lesions can occur on stems and leaf pedicels. The pathogen can also infect tomato fruit and causes circular greasy lesions. The fruit remain firm but spots eventually become leathery and chocolate brown and can enlarge to cover the entire fruit.

If you do observe what appears to be late blight on a plant it would be extremely wise to pull that plant as to have it not affect others in your lineup.

Organic growers of tomatoes tend to be the ones that have plants that become infected by Late blight the most and are usually the first to have their plants decimated due to their refusal to use fungicides of any real strength.

Due to this they open the door for neighboring growers that are organic or not to become infected as well and so on down the line.

Since late blight is a pathogen the organic growers infected plants act as a host for the disease. The wind carries the spores from the infected plants and spreads them to neighboring growers.

If you find yourself in a state surrounding New Jersey it would be wise to begin a proactive fungicide spraying schedule if you have not done so already.

7/18/2013 10:47:28 AM

Hamilton Nj

ive heard of a few small cases in south jersey but nothing bad, i got a few yellow leaves but think its from the heat so far so good!!! pizza hope we do okay with this!!

7/18/2013 2:50:26 PM

Allentown, PA

Yes Pizza, just be proactive about keeping your plants sprayed with fungicide and you should be fine.

7/18/2013 4:13:11 PM

Central NY

I think pa j is trying to say Quit being a scumbag and spray your plants so they don't screw up his beauty's !!!!.....

7/18/2013 9:46:29 PM

Allentown, PA

You funny Porkchop!! LOL!!

7/19/2013 7:31:19 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

http://usablight.org/

7/19/2013 8:20:25 AM

Jericho Vermont

What fungicides do you folks use that are labeled as safe for food?
Thanks
John

7/19/2013 11:07:32 AM

Allentown, PA

Hi John,

I use Daconil which is sold in a variety of different application methods.

You can find it most anywhere including the big box retailers like Lowes and Home Depot.

You can safely use Daconil as long as you are adhering to the recommendations supplied with the product.

In order to stay within the safe range for human consumption you are limited in the number of total applications per plant per season.

Since I strictly grow giants only I am not bound by the maximum dosage amount.

As long as you stay in that range you should be just fine concerning tomatoes to eat.

7/19/2013 12:07:26 PM

Hamilton Nj

yeah im lazy,lol, ill admit it, i use daconali if i spelt it rite!!!

battleing the horn worms right now found 2 yesterday and have to leave for the weekend!!! grrrr...

7/19/2013 7:07:40 PM