is this blight? (or what is wrong with my tomatoes?) Updated-I think it is blight :(

annie123

I remember when I first got hit by blight 2 years ago (been here 20) couldn't believe it at first 'till I could pop out 2 hours later and could almost watch it spreading :eek: I cut down all the spud growth on affected plants immediately this seemed to stop the rest getting it and the spuds were fine to eat.

I would pick any green tomatoes not affected and turn into chutney.
Move any potatoes in pots away from them as it can spread. If you get rid of it now you may be able to save other tom plants.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/dc20.php

topsales

Definitely blight - ideal weather for it. Get rid of all the growth - burn if possible. Won't stop you growing tomatoes there next year - though we may get another rotten summer!

hotcookie101

Gutted. First year I have grown from seed

I don't have facilities to burn really, can it go in my council garden recycling?

annie123

hotcookie101 wrote: »

Gutted. First year I have grown from seed

I don't have facilities to burn really, can it go in my council garden recycling?

You can compost it apparently.......you do have a compost bin don't you? ( I binned mine as I didn't know that at the time) it's the fruit that mustn't be composted, and no saving seeds from them either.


From the link I put in the above post;
Composting: Leaves and stems of plants affected by blight can be added to your compost heap; the fungus will not survive in dead plant material. Do not compost blighted fruit, as the fungal spores can survive in seeds to grow and reproduce next spring, carrying blight onto your new crops; either bury deeply (60cm/ 2ft) or put in a dustbin. Alternatively, take all affected plants to the local recycling centre. These centres compost on a very large scale, thus generating high temperatures which will kill the disease.

elisaves

No Don't compost it!
Take them somewhere but Don't compost them!!
Most of us had blight this year as the weather was great for it : wet and cool...

annie123

elisaves wrote: »

No Don't compost it!
Take them somewhere but Don't compost them!!
Most of us had blight this year as the weather was great for it : wet and cool...

Blight may strike if spores are present when it's warm and humidity is over 90% for at least 11 hours and for 2 consecutive days.
http://www.blightwatch.co.uk/content/bw-Smith.asp


I used to think you shouldn't compost them but the spores don't live on dead plants.

I checked on The Vine too, http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/vegging-out/do-you-compost-tomato-plants-bad-fruit_52664.html

But no potatoes or old fruit should be left lying around, they can carry it for next year.

All_eBayed_Out

I have ones growing which are red but have green/grey bottom. I am not a gardeny person so I don't know whats wrong there.

hotcookie101

I do have a compost bin, but it is currently empty as I am planning to resite it, so will shove it in the council one. especially if it will be done at high temperatures....

hotcookie101

Just pulled up 18 plants, all of them showing signs of blight. All laden with tomatoes, but most of them had some degree of blemish on them, so it has all gone into the council waste bags and are well away from my 2 remaining tomatoes (one in a basket and one in a pot outside the back door) They are about 25m away from the veg bed and currently looking OK, so fingers crossed!

topsales

All_eBayed_Out wrote: »

I have ones growing which are red but have green/grey bottom. I am not a gardeny person so I don't know whats wrong there.

As i said - blossom end rot- often caused by lack of water!