Blue Light Special in Aisle 9- Late Tomato Blight

As if a lot of us did not need another reason to hate on the ( insert your favorite brand) big box stores, it looks like they sold tomato plants infected with late tomato blight fungus to consumers, and now we might have an epidemic on our hands, err in our gardens. For those who remember high school history class, this is the same fungus that caused the Irish Potato famine. While it would be fun to go and bash on big box stores, I'd rather get you the signs and symptoms of the blight, so you can protect yours and your neighbors tomatos. Since this is a fast spearding, airborne fungus, your care for your own plants will help minimize the devestation all around you.

From the Reading Eagle

Disease facts

Late tomato/potato blight: Late blight has irregular, greasy-appearing, grayish areas and white mold on leaves that can expand rapidly. Not to be confused with early blight, a less-serious disease noted by dark brown spots on older leaves.

If you suspect it: If white mold is not obvious, put leaves with suspicious spots in a plastic bag with a moist paper towel. Hold for one day and check for mold.

If you have it: Do not put infected plants in compost piles. Put plants in plastic bags, seal them, put them in the sun for several days to kill them and then put the bags out for trash collection.

Eating: You can eat tomatoes from blighted plants as long as they are not moldy or rotten.

Prevention: Difficult because infection can spread by windblown spores. To reduce the odds: Don't moisten leaves; place plants far enough apart to allow air circulation; and don't plant tomatoes and potatoes in the same spot each year.