Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Comfr3y on May 31, 2015, 18:13

Title: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: Comfr3y on May 31, 2015, 18:13

Evening All

I don't know much about  growing toms - this one's in my unheated polytunnel I think it has blight - shall I get rid of it?

your wisdom much appreciated

yours v. grateful

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: Beetroot Queen on May 31, 2015, 18:15

Surely not my toms havent even flowered yet  :(

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 31, 2015, 18:16

Looks rather like blight to me  :(

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: snowdrops on May 31, 2015, 19:45

Sorry to say but I fear Aunt Sally is right :(. Get it out & burnt or disposed of quickley,don't compost it though.

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: LotuSeed on May 31, 2015, 22:35

I'd get rid of any support canes you might be using for that plant too. Twine or any material used to tie it in as well.
I'm sorry, that's a real bummer. Be sure to keep a lookout for signs of it on any other toms nearby. Best wishes.

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: JayG on June 01, 2015, 08:27

Hard to believe it could happen so early and under cover, but I agree with the others that it does look like blight.  :(

Apart from removing and disposing of the plant and its supports, after washing your hands remove any leaves on other plants that have brown spots (although they aren't always caused by blight by any means), try to minimise the number of leaves touching either the covering/glass or each other (traps condensation) and don't wet the plants when watering (I suggest using tap water, which can be 'matured' for 24 hours in an open container to equalise the temperature and allow the chlorine to disperse. Ventilation-wise, do all you can to keep overall humidity levels as low as possible.

Good luck.  ;)

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: BabbyAnn on June 01, 2015, 12:27

I'm wondering if it is bacterial canker (google and select images) - similar symptoms and equally as bad as blight so the same course of action is to remove sick plants and be vigilant with any other.

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 01, 2015, 13:40

It could be, but in this instance it looks more like blight to me.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/IPM/english/tomatoes/diseases-and-disorders/bacterial-canker.html

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: Headgardener22 on June 01, 2015, 18:42

I thought tomatoes could survive early blight, reduced crop but not as fatal as late blight.

Are we getting more early blight in the UK?

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: mumofstig on June 01, 2015, 19:28

It looks like late blight, but it has struck early  ;)

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: Headgardener22 on June 01, 2015, 21:22

Looks like they've been unlucky, we've only had one Smith's Period so far this year in Notts.

Title: Re: Early Tomato Blight
Post by: Comfr3y on June 02, 2015, 16:42

thanks all

ho hum. allotments really are pest-central aren't they. Normally OH oversees toms in the garden ive never bothered before on the lot-  some great tips there. cheers