tomatoes and blight prevention ...

[amortize]

Hi folks...

Last year, the wet weather meant that all my tomatoes died very suddenly of blight. It was awful to see, just as the fruit was starting to set.

I know that blight is a risk when the weather is warm and the humidity is high. My books tell me basically a wet July spells trouble. I guess I am wondering what *exactly* that means. It's been showery here in Birmingham for the last three days --- heavy showers, with interludes of sunshine. The forecast for the next five days seems to be more of the same.

Does this mean that I ought to be using Bordeaux mixture on the tomatoes (and my potatoes too, for that matter...) ? Or is it only really an issue in dreadfully wet summers, not ones with heavy showers.

I am sorry if this is a hopeless newbie question: I guess my issue is I *think* I know what I ought to do to help prevent blight (I am not naive enough to think it will stop it). My problem is that I am not *entirely* sure of the circumstances in which I should take some action!

[Odsox]

Sorry I can't help you on this other than to tell you to keep an eye on the humidity.

What I would like to say is that it is interesting the difference between England and Ireland.
England is of course an industrial society and all the interest is in commerce.
In Ireland it is still very much an agricultural based society.
What I'm trying to point out in my ham fisted way is that we get blight warnings on the Irish weather forecast for a few days in advance, something that I have never seen on the UK Met office forecasts.

[Lady Willow]

I am using Bordelais mix already. Having had to take up over 30 tomato plants last year I don't want a repeat performance.

Tomatoes that are well spaced and have very good air circulation around them are less likely to be effected, so never cram your tomatoes together.

I ate my first red tomato yesterday

[Peggy Sue]

we get blight warnings on the Irish weather forecast for a few days in advance, something that I have never seen on the UK Met office forecasts.
something that I have never seen on the UK Met office forecasts.

Wow I love that idea, all we get is 'don't drive to work' warnings when it snows

[amortize]

odsox: that is really interesting! I've never seen anything like that on any weather forecast here, even the more in depth ones you get on Sundays.

Lady Willow: that is good advice that I had not considered. Ours are pretty cramped, really, so I must try and do something about that.

[amortize]

:-) Unfortunately, the wet August seems to have done for the tomatoes. I guess the lessons learned are to make sure we grow at least some under some kind of cover. I guess another thing is that we really need to be on the ball with preventative spraying. I don't particularly like the idea, but I like it a lot more than the idea of having to destroy all our plants, fruit and all!

[MINESAPINT]

I am sure as with potatoes there is a blight league table for tomatoes which I have yet to come across. Organic growers should grow varieties that are less susceptible to blight. Anyone aware of any blight resistant varieties?

[amortize]

I can't find much, but the RHS suggest that:

"There is very little resistance in most cultivars, but 'Ferline', ‘Legend’ and ‘Fantasio’ are believed to be resistant."

[Mrs Moustoir]

I'll second the "Fantasio" recommendation. We had first signs of blight last month in our greenhouse but this one has weathered the blight storm and is producing a decent crop of large fruits. I counted 26 fruits on one plant which isn't bad for me (that's the tomato growing not the counting!).

I've also got one Black Crim plant which has survived and had the first ripe purple tomato this morning. Very pretty but purple...sort of put me off!

[MINESAPINT]

I will be trying one or all of those 3 recommendations next year then. I have had an acceptable crop this year off the usual suspects, alicante, moneymaker, ailsa craig etc but some plants seem to succumbing to blight now. What I can definitely report is that for the first time I bought a grow bag and grew a couple of tomatoes in it alongside others planted in the beds. The ones in the beds have dramatically outcropped the ones in the grow bag. I feel it is very difficult to get the watering right in the bag?

[Peggy Sue]

I've had the same experience with lots of plant re growbags- I think in reality plants like real soil too (who can blame them)

These three varieties, are they tasty? I am rather reluctant to grow someting that tastes as bland as shop tomatoes. The Tigerella I ahve grown are pretty but really not exciting, not like gardeners delight (who have not suceeded through my own stupidity- planting them where the J Arts grew and shaded them)

This is good timing though as I was about to order next years seed

[Millymollymandy]

We had tomato blight in 2005 during a drought with no rain whatsoever. We then got it on the spuds in 2006 which was another very dry year.

So I don't actually believe this thing about humidity and rain and blight.

[Cheezy]

My out door allotment tomatoes now have blight, except the Ferline ones I planted. I blame myself for not pulling of the leaves to allow air in and amongst them. Interesting to note the Ferlines I will definitly be doing more of them.As they are touching blight effected plants.

THe ones in pots up against the house wall are so far OK, and I'm tempted to spray since they're taking forever to ripen with out any sun!.

Ahh and here come the rain again!

[chadspad]

Im with u M3. We have had rain this year but not much, the ponds pretty dry again so dont go with the rain and blight thing.

I planted lots of plants all over the veg patch and theyve all got blight. The only ones that have been fine are the ones in pots.

[Millymollymandy]

Glad I'm not the only one! All my toms are in pots this year beside the house walls and I haven't had any blight probs but I don't trust the veg patch for the toms any more!