This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. What could be more satisfying than the f
16.06.2023 - 03:35 / epicgardening.com
We’ve all heard about “the blight,” and some confusing and conflicting information exists. Does it live in the soil? Can you get it from your neighbor’s garden? Some say it moves up the coast during rainy periods and can travel miles in the wind. Is it a bacteria, a disease, or virus?
As with anything in gardening, it is important to understand what is happening and why so you can better understand how to treat and prevent it in the future.
Understanding late blight and how it spreads is key because it can devastate your tomato and potato crop very quickly if proper care is not taken. Here you’ll learn how to quickly diagnose, treat, and prevent tomato late blight.
Tomato blight (also called late blight because it occurs later in the season than “early blight”) is caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, which have fungus-like qualities. This pathogen attacks tomatoes, potatoes, and other nightshade crops.
Oomycetes (organisms of the phylum Oomycota) used to be classified as a part of the Kingdom fungi due to their filamentous growth pattern and the fact that they feed on decaying matter.
However, after years of research and studies, it has been determined that these organisms are actually more closely related to algae and green plants. Oomycetes are now included in the kingdom Protista.
Oomycetes are also called “water molds,” which makes sense because they usually show up during extensive wet periods and travel in water. Other water molds include damping off, root rots, and downy mildew.
Late blight infects your plants through structures similar to spores. They spread by wind and rain. Simply put, oomycetes produce sporangia that look like brown spots on the leaves or petioles of tomato plants.
Zoospores are produced
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. What could be more satisfying than the f
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Late blight is not a treatable disease and it wi
Zinnias are annual summer flowers that originated in Mexico and other areas of South and Central America. These daisy-type flowers are found in a variety of bold colors, including red, orange, pink, purple, yellow, and white, and they have hundreds of tiny petals surrounding a yellow-bordered central disc.
Create a magnificent, towering plant with this dumbcane growing guide. From the right pruning techniques to optimal fertilization, discover all the tips you need for growing a big and beautiful dieffenbachia tree.
By Stacey Kelleher
Are your homegrown carrots forked, branching, twisted, or knobby? While they may make for amusing photos, these deformed vegetables can make food preparation a challenge – try turning a twisted carrot into carrot sticks!These odd-shaped vegetables can also be a sign of serious garden problems. But what causes these d
Growing ‘Costoluto Genovese’ tomatoes is one way to experience a taste of Italy without a passport or plane ride.This heirloom tomato variety hails from Genoa, a Mediterranean port city in northwestern I
You nurture your tomato plants until you have beautiful fruit maturing on the vine.Upon closer inspection, you discover that somet
Late blight is a serious disease that may affect tomatoes and potatoes. It can rapidly destroy entire fields and ruin a farmer’s income for the year. And it may affect crops in home gardens severely as well.You may not realize it, but you are probably already familiar with the
USDA Zones— 4 – 10
USDA Zones: 10-12, 2-9 (As an Annual)
Last spring, I dutifully watered my carrots and got overly excited as the seeds began to germinate.The tops grew to an impressive size and looked pictu