If you live in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, you may already know that an outbreak of fungus is threatening this year’s tomato crop.
The fungus spores are always present in the soil and outbreaks generally happen in August and September, but because of the June weather which was wet and cool, this year’s outbreak is “explosive”.
A similar strain of the fungus caused the Great Irish potato fungus in the mid 19th century and the fungus has probably been spread through garden stores to private gardens and commercial farms.
This year’s blight is believed to have come from plants sold at Wal-mart, Lowe’s, Home Depot and Kmart. Also, Bonnie plants a seedling retailer in Alabama has recalled all remaining plants as it is believed they supplied the seedlings being affected.
If gardeners are lucky, the rest of the summer will produce sunny, hot weather which will kill the blight. If the blight is not destroyed, you will have to use fungicides and possibly count this year off as a loss. (How to treat tomato blight) of Also, you will want to move your tomato plant garden next year to prevent reinfection.
This might be good news for sellers of hanging tomato planters. By using the upside down containers the tomatoes would have had a better change of draining during the especially wet weather and even if they were infected, they would not spread the disease through the soil. Any infected plants could be disposed of soil and all without worrying about cross contamination. (The spores can be spread by air, but soil contamination would be limited.)
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Also read:
Composting 101
Fall Planting “How To” on You Tube