Tomato Time

Ahhhh tomatoes. I grow more tomatoes on my property than any other vegetable and for good reason. Throughout the season I gather bushels full of tomatoes and take them down to my buddy Ted at Mother’s Deli in Unionville. Ted is a great cook and makes the most amazing tomato sauce from these tomato bushels (and whatever else I bring him). He sells the sauce and the proceeds go to the local food bank. It’s a mutually beneficial trade-off.

But tomatoes can be full of woes. Blight woes to be exact and early and late blight are the reasons most home farmers do not succeed in producing lovely ripe fruit.

What Causes Blight?

Blight is an airborne fungus that causes black sooty spots, leaf death, and potentially plant death. Early blight will not kill a tomato plant but rather cause the lower 18 inches of leaves to wither, turn yellow, and fall off. Because early blight does not coincide with fruit development, it’s unlikely to affect the fruit. Late blight, however, can cause serious damage to ripening fruit and can eventually kill the plant.

Preventing Blight

Prevention is the easiest way to avoid blight problems – once the tomato plant has contracted late blight, it’s only a matter of time before the plant can no longer withstand the fungal attack. To avoid blight, water at the base of the plant. In other words, keep the leaves dry. Blight needs a hot, moist environment to propagate and by keeping water off the leaves, you make it more difficult for the fungus to become established.

I also use Bordo Copper Spray on my tomatoes and while this does mean applying water to the leaves, the water is mixed with a compound that helps to prevent a variety of tomato blunders. Always apply this early in the morning so the heat and sun during the day can quickly dry off the leaves.

Finally, ensure good air flow through your plant by tying it to a stake or keeping the leaves off the ground in some other fashion. A pair of pruners may come in handy as well to trim away excess unnecessary foliage.

Managing Blight

If your tomato plants do succumb to early blight, simply cut off the affected leaves and discard them away from your tomato plants. If your plants happen to contract late blight, keep a close eye on it and trim off any affected leaves, disposing of them far from your tomatoes.

Choose Wisely

When deciding which tomato plants to put into your garden this year, choose those that are blight resistant. This does not mean they cannot get early or late blight – they are simply less likely. Try these varieties:

Defiant

Plum Regal

Matt’s Wild Cherry

Jasper

Mountain Magic

As the season rolls on, I will be providing you with more helpful tomato tips – it is one of the most popular home garden veggies, after all!