Blight Begone! Tips for Preventing the Dreaded BLIGHT.

Love growing tomatoes but end up with blight issues? We hear this from a lot of our customers when they come looking for solutions for their tomatoes. In order to resolve and prevent blight it helps to know what blight is. 

Here is scoop on blight-

"Common on tomato and potato plants, early blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani and occurs throughout the United States. Symptoms first appear on the lower, older leaves as small brown spots with concentric rings that form a “bull’s eye” pattern. As the disease matures, it spreads outward on the leaf surface causing it to turn yellow, wither and die. Eventually the stem, fruit and upper portion of the plant will become infected. Crops can be severely damaged.

Early blight overwinters on infected plant tissue and is spread by splashing rain, irrigation, insects and garden tools. The disease is also carried on tomato seeds and in potato tubers. In spite of its name, early blight can occur any time throughout the growing season. High temperatures (80-85˚F.) and wet, humid conditions promote its rapid spread. In many cases, poorly nourished or stressed plants are attacked. " From https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/early-blight/

Blight is best managed by reducing exposure to moisture. A nifty and affordable way to do that is by using straw bales for tomatoes. We created the EZ Foldout just for this reason. Straw bale gardening gives you an affordable and resourceful option for growing your tomatoes. Be sure to irrigate using a soaker hose or drip line to keep the foliage dry. A bonus is you can reuse the straw next growing season as mulch or trying the lazy bed method for growing potatoes. 

Not keen on trying straw? No worries, you can easily grow tomatoes in soil and still prevent blight. Here is a stellar list on tips for preventing blight- 

Treatment

• Prune or stake plants to improve air circulation and reduce fungal problems.
• Make sure to disinfect your pruning shears (one part bleach to 4 parts water) after each cut.
• Keep the soil under plants clean and free of garden debris. Add a layer of organic compost to prevent the spores from splashing back up onto vegetation.
• Drip irrigation and soaker hoses can be used to help keep the foliage dry.
• For best control, apply copper-based fungicides early, two weeks before disease normally appears or when weather forecasts predict a long period of wet weather. Alternatively, begin treatment when disease first appears, and repeat every 7-10 days for as long as needed.
• Containing copper and pyrethrins, Bonide® Garden Dust is a safe, one-step control for many insect attacks and fungal problems. For best results, cover both the tops and undersides of leaves with a thin uniform film or dust. Depending on foliage density, 10 oz will cover 625 sq ft. Repeat applications every 7-10 days, as needed.
• SERENADE Garden is a broad spectrum, preventative bio-fungicide recommended for the control or suppression of many important plant diseases. For best results, treat prior to foliar disease development or at the first sign of infection. Repeat at 7-day intervals or as needed.
• Remove and destroy all garden debris after harvest and practice crop rotation the following year.
• Burn or bag infected plant parts. Do NOT compost.

From https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/plant-disease/early-blight/