[barbarella]

My neighbour has already sprayed her tomatoes as a protection against blight - I think she uses a copper fungicide.  I sprayed mine with dithane last year but much later at the end of July, when I spotted the first signs and it did work.  I am wondering whether to copy her and spray mine now in plenty of time, although it does say on the packet 'spray at the first sign of blight'. 

I am going to make up a litre of spray anyway to do the roses, but how long would the protection last on the tomatoes and would I have to do it regularly?  What do others do?

[DD.]

In my opinion, it's pointless at the moment, when there hasn't even been one reported outbreak of blight in the whole country.

If you've not seen it, have a look at this thread. It should help a lot in deciding when to take action.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=56717.0

[Salmo]

Regardless of whether you decide to spray now or not, the sprays available to gardeners only protect the leaves they cover. As the plants grow the new areas of leaf are unprotected so you need to spray again about every 2 weeks, or every week if there has been a "Smiths period" when conditions are ideal for blight to spread and blight warnings have been issued.

Rather than worry about spraying when there is no blight warning you should concentrate on garden hygiene. If there are any potatoes growing out of compost heaps or volunteer plants sprouting where potatoes grew last year destroy them. This may help but blight is most likely to be blown in on the wind about which you can do nothing.

When you water tomatoes or potatoes try to keep the water off the leaves and fruit.

[Dave Mack]

Yeah i've got a box of dithane at the ready ... but i'm hold fire till i hear of out breaks of blight first 

[barbarella]

Thanks for the good advice - I will hold fire on the dithane for now. 

[corynsboy]

Top tips Salmo.  Thank you sir.

[madcat]

blight watch have just notified me of the first full Smiths period for here this year.      Now to watch - I can't spray today as it would be washed off as fast as it went on ...   

[Aunt Sally]

Recieved my first Blight warning today 

Alerts form BlightWatch have been found in your watch areas as listed below. 
 
Area: ME14
Warning: Near Miss Period

BlightWatch Alerts:
for more detail please visit www.blightwatch.co.uk

Luckily not a Full Smith's  Period
 

[Filament]

Smith Period alert for Bristol from Blightwatch

Area: BS3
Warning: Near Miss Period

Area: BS39
Warning: Full Smith Period

Area: BS6
Warning: Near Miss Period

Protect yr toms and tats

[MoreWhisky]

Ive just got my alert FULL SMITHS period    YO10 area.

Ive got my dithane in the lotty shed not used it before any tips please??? im a total blight novice.

Also is it ok to use in the rain or is it pointless? i feel like finishing work now and rushing down and spraying!  Also does it keep if i dont use it all up?

Cheers MW

[mumofstig]

Area: TN24
Warning: Full Smith Period  

Because of the late spring the spuds haven't even been up very long...and we have to start worrying already...earlier than last year as well I think

[MoreWhisky]

So are you rushing down and spraying Mumofstig?

[mumofstig]

I am not spraying now, no.
This is the first year I've grown maincrops and I still haven't made up my mind if I will spray or not, but I wouldn't until we have an actual blight warning in Kent anyway.
There were a few outbreaks this way last year, but it didn't reach the allotments or my garden........and I really don't want to spray unless I really have to decisions decisions 

[DD.]

Full Smith Periods, LE1, LE10, LE11, LE13.

LE11 - that's me! Doh!

Still no outbreaks reported other than the suspected one at Elgin.

[Salmo]

 - MoreWhisky
When applying dithane read the box.
Mix carefully as instructed.
You will need to keep shaking the sprayer
Do not apply in strong sunshine
Cover the leaves thoroughly especially down between the rows where it remains humid.

*** crops must not be harvested for 7 days after application. That means that it is probably not practical to spay earlies.