November 6, 2009, Newsletter Issue #418: Attention! Late Bight Outbreak 2009 - Tomatoes and Potatoes
Tip of the Week
According to an AP article, "Tomato plants have been removed from Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Lowe's and Kmart stores in all six New England states, plus New York. Late blight also has been identified in all other East Coast states except Georgia, as well as Alabama, West Virginia and Ohio".
If you have infected plants in your garden it is best to remove them immediately. There are sprays designed to deal with this but the outbreak has caused major problems in the past. Late blight is the fungus that caused the potato famine in the 1850's.
The spores can rapidly spread through both home gardens and farmers fields.
Do not compost plants infected with this disease or send them to the landfill. It is best to burn them if possible.
For more information including photos please visit Cornell University at http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/blight/
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