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Tips for growers and gardeners on late blight

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 31, 2009 02:02 PM

Michele McDonald for The Boston Globe

James Southcott throws blighted tomatoes onto a pile to be destroyed at Lindentree Farm in Lincoln.

By Bina Venkataraman, Globe Correspondent

A fungus that rapidly infects tomato and potato plants is hitting hard in New England, wreaking havoc with some produce growers, the Globe reports today.

The crop disease -- the same that caused the Irish potato famine -- is not unusual, but arrived in the region early this year, in the middle of the tomato harvesting season. It has also spread more rapidly than in years past due to the cold, rainy weather.

Late blight is a fungus with tiny spores spread by the wind that rots tomato and potato plants. Organic farms are especially susceptible since they don't use strong, synthetic fungicides.

Experts offered these tips for growers and gardeners who might be confronted with the disease:

-- If you suspect your tomatoes or potatoes have late blight, consult the photos and information on UMass-Amherst's website to see if if your plant's symptoms fit the plant disease description.

-- Inspect your tomatoes and potatoes frequently. You may need to pull up your tomatoes and mow your potatoes (but potentially can still harvest the tubers later) to contain the spread of late blight. Tomatoes from home gardens that are infected with late blight should be bagged and put in the trash so that the fungus does not survive the winter in living plant tissue.

-- If you are a farmer, report late blight to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' website, or call the MDAR Plant Pest Hotline at 617-626-1779.