The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on September 15, 2011, 12:13:51 pm

Title: Tomato blight!
Post by: northfifeduckling on September 15, 2011, 12:13:51 pm
I've been badly hit this year in the tunnel with half the fruit rotting before they turn red. What can I do to avoid this happening again as I do want to keep growing tomatoes in there!? I posted early in the season when the first green fruit rotted away and I now believe that this was blight already, not mould although it looked like it...help! :&>
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: ellisr on September 15, 2011, 03:53:58 pm
Burn all plants fruit etc.

Disinfect the tunnel or use one of them smoke bomb things. Don't plant tomatoes in the same soil try using growbags etc next year.

Do not use compost from around the tomatoes on potatoes either.
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: egglady on September 15, 2011, 04:57:17 pm
yup, I'd say the same. Some years i dig out all the blighted compost and put it on bed where tomatoes and strawberries won't be and put fresh in the greenhouse.  it's a real pest but given our recent weather it's not really a great surprise i suppose......back to outdoor varieties next year Kerstin! :(
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: northfifeduckling on September 15, 2011, 06:37:39 pm
someone who studied agriculture told me today that it doesn't make a difference if you burn stuff - the spores have settled and they are there to stay from now on....you're limited to damage control - not a promising prospect :o :&>
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: deepinthewoods on September 15, 2011, 07:02:09 pm
its the same as the potato debate, i only now grow blight resistant spuds, and there are resistant tomato varieties.
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: Fleecewife on September 15, 2011, 07:03:22 pm
There are a few blight resistant tomato varieties available now which helps in the fight.
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: deepinthewoods on September 15, 2011, 07:17:13 pm
it does seem pointless to fall to blight year after year. the sarpo varieties of spud are fine. i didnt grow toms this year for various reasons,one being i made more from selling the young plants than i ever would from the harvest. ferline is supposed to be resistant from memory.
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: homesweethome on September 28, 2011, 03:19:58 pm
i suffered really bad with tomato  blight last year and the only thing i had done differently was plant potatoes in direct wind line of the greenhose door.
so there one tip.
and just keep your chin up and start nextyear with all clean compost pot everything and hope.
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: Fleecewife on September 28, 2011, 04:58:23 pm
The 2012 seed catalogues are just coming out so you can check for resistant varieties and plan carefully.
Title: Re: Tomato blight!
Post by: Blonde on October 16, 2011, 08:39:09 am
I've been badly hit this year in the tunnel with half the fruit rotting before they turn red. What can I do to avoid this happening again as I do want to keep growing tomatoes in there!? I posted early in the season when the first green fruit rotted away and I now believe that this was blight already, not mould although it looked like it...help! :&>
Air flow in the house daily will help the problem.  Lots of problems occur when the house is closed up, so this is the only option.    Fresh air is so important :wave: