[Fat Hen]

Leaves/flower stalks start to dry up and turn brown, covered with a fine dusting of brown spores, if not careful when removing you get little clouds of "smoke".  Cut off stalks get it.

I have been removing affected areas but have finally given up on a losing battle and removed all fruit off toms and consigned the plants to the recycle bin.  Not wanting it to affect my chillis (something like this wiped out my overwintereing chillis last winter).

How can I combat this and stop if affecting my chillis.

[richyrich7]

Sounds like Botrytis, usually caused by high levels of humidity. Are they in a greenhouse ? if so ventilate more, or run a fan to keep the air moving this may help.

[Fat Hen]

yeah in small overcrowded green house, I open vent when I get up and leave door partially open, though not enough to let my chickens in.

Live on west coast so air pretty humid.

[richyrich7]

Thats your problem then open the door wide and let the hens in no probs then  
You may have to make a mesh outer door to stop the invading hoards in their jackboots. :roll:

[Aunt Sally]

I used to put a piece of trellis over the greenhouse door to keep the chooks out.  I don't bother any more as they stay on the floor, and only peck a few tomatoes.  There's plenty enough to share  

[splodger]

the chooks are probably more interested in worzels nethers aunty       - especially if you don't go there anymore ( cross post answers - sorry)

[Fat Hen]

Ok door left open it is then, i'd better move mealworms as chooks'll be helping themselves.  I have visions of them nicking chillis n toms and making mealworm burritos.

[muntjac]

a bit of wire on a frame wil keep em ouand allow air right through ... it wont hurt to cut the bad stuff off carfully without shaking em all over ,straight into a bin bag . then leave the door open permanantly like wot i do ,shut em if a gale comes  

[Fat Hen]

It feels airyer in the greenhouse already, now toms have gone out.  Managed to rescue 4 of the tom plants, all affected areas removed and are now in their new temporary quarters under my kitchen windowsill.

Just chillis, and a ginger plant left in greenhouse, and i'm sure they're smiling.

What do you do to maintain air flow during winter?

[richyrich7]

Bit tricky depends if you have anything growing, my greenhouse heater is electric so it has a fan so that stirs it up a bit. It's a juggle between keeping the temp stable and it getting mouldy. But don't forget in cooler temps that also grows slower.
And a good clean out also helps, mine gets sprayed with Jeye's late autumn time.

[Fat Hen]

Hm, Jeyes that's not a bad idea.  I'll be overwintering chillis, but I could empty Greenhouse for a day n give it a good scrubbing with Jeyes before putting them back.