[shaun]

yellow/brown leaves spuds/toms turning to mush

[Janeymiddlewife]

Put simply, it means the weather conditions have been favourable for more than a certain length of time 9someone will tell you exactly how much in a mo!) to promote the growth of the blight spores - IE - warm & humid
Funnily enough I was looking at 2 leaves on my spuds today and thinking "hmmmmm"
So I dug it up - spuds the size of..........broad beans 

[gobs]

Very true bb, I know early blight is seldom much of a problem.  I just thought it interesting to have a Full Smith Period so early in the season.

I also thought I give members the opportunity to sign up for blight warnings which are very useful later in the summer.

stupid question, but was does a "Full Smith period" mean?

Almost 2 days of above X temperature and Y humidity. 

[Janeymiddlewife]

Very true bb, I know early blight is seldom much of a problem.  I just thought it interesting to have a Full Smith Period so early in the season.

I also thought I give members the opportunity to sign up for blight warnings which are very useful later in the summer.

stupid question, but was does a "Full Smith period" mean?

Almost 2 days of above X temperature and Y humidity. 

ta gobs - thought so!

[mashbintater]

Thanks for advice Aunt Sally, after last year's tom fiasco, I have duly signed up for said alerts, much appreciated 

[Aunt Sally]

For tomatoes you should consider treating for early blight.  If you don't use fungicides you should mulch the soil well to prevent any rain splashing the fungal spores from the soil onto the plants.

[mumofstig]

No email for me

[mashbintater]

Thanks again Aunt Sally, I'll check in the morning, can't do much at mo unfortunately

[Howard]

stupid question, but was does a "Full Smith period" mean?

All you need to know.

[Kristen]

"Very true bb, I know early blight is seldom much of a problem.  I just thought it interesting to have a Full Smith Period so early in the season."

Looking back through previous years we've [in East Anglia] had 2 days in May pretty much every year in the last half dozen ... some as early as 1st May - so provided there are no more I think it will be "average"