Tomatoes are particularly susceptible to late blight, a devastating fungal disease. It can quickly damage a farmer's crop and wipe out his income for the entire year. How can you combat, detect and prevent brown rot on tomatoes? The answer to this question will help you get a good harvest!
Because tomato blight is fatal, early detection is essential to prevent an outbreak. In Ireland in the 1850s, millions of people starved to death due to the destruction caused by this disease. This fungal pathogen can destroy an entire tomato crop within a few days. What to do if there is tomato blight? Discover helpful tips and remedies for the disease below!
Why is brown rot a big problem?
The causative agent of brown rot of tomato,Phytophthora infestans(the wordPhytophthoraIn science it literally means “the one who destroys plants”) and can only survive in living tissue. Once the sporangia of an infected plant settle on a suitable host, which can be anywhere from a few meters to several kilometers away, germination is almost instantaneous. Tomato blight can spread within a few hours. Rain, fog, morning dew or even watering with a sprinkler system are sufficient as long as the leaves get some moisture.
Symptoms of brown rot often appear three to four days after infection. Tiny wounds can be seen all over the stems, leaves and fruits. Infection spreads around these lesions and the disease can spread to the rest of the garden and beyond in conditions similar to most humid summer days. From each tomato blight lesion, up to 300,000 sporangia can develop into new lesions every day. Because of the damage it can cause, it is important for gardeners to be able to recognize this virus. After all, it's not just your own harvest that is at risk. The spores can quickly spread to neighboring lawns and even farmland. When this disease occurs in cool, damp weather, it can appear as if the entire tomato field has been affected by frost.
Tomato blight – typical symptoms
Any above-ground part of the tomato plant can be affected by late blight. Green or brown spots with dead tissue areon infected leavescommon and these spots are often surrounded by a pale green or gray border. In particularly humid weather, tomato blight infestations may appear wet or dark brown and are often described as greasy. A white, furry growth may be seen under the leaves or on the lower stems.
Flowers may wilt and fall off if discolored. The fruits are spoiled by necrotic spots that look black and oily, and the foliage of the plants dies.
Because tomato blight is so difficult to treat once it has already damaged your plants, it is best to take precautions before the first signs appear.
Choose resistant tomato varieties
Make sure the tomatoes you plant are hardy and come from a reputable nursery before putting them in the ground. Tomato seeds from disease-resistant hybrids are available from many retailers. Check the tomato seedlings for late blight and brown rot and remove all affected parts. When planting, make sure the entire plant is free of tomato blight to avoid future problems.
These varieties are recommended: "De Berao", "Primabella", "Sunviva", "Primavera", "Resibella", "Fantasia" or "Philovita", "Vitella".
Change your crops frequently
Brown rot can be avoided by frequent crop rotation. Whether you have a raised bed, a regular garden, or lots of pots, this technique helps keep the soil fresh and ready for new plants every year. If tomatoes are planted in the same place year after year, they are susceptible to diseases such as brown rot.
Pay attention to moisture and proper watering
Foliage must be kept dry to prevent the spread of this fungus. If possible,waterthe soil around the plant. This is likely to affect the fungus's ability to thrive and spread. Setting up a drip irrigation system can also help with moisture control. If you water your garden with sprinklers, set them on a low setting and turn them on in the morning.
Adequate ventilation
To protect your home garden from tomato blight, you should ensure that your tomato plants have adequate ventilation. In the kitchen garden, you should give each tomato plant enough space to grow. This is generally a good gardening technique because it reduces the risk of various plant diseases.
Plants with brown rot do not belong in the compost
Use the correct composting system. As a rule of thumb, you should not use the spent tomato plants as compost for the next harvest. Composting tomatoes that have been infected with diseases such as brown rot is strictly prohibited because doing so could release fungal spores that affect future crops.
Fighting brown rot on tomatoes – tips and remedies
If you discover infected leaves, you must act immediately. Once you have discovered brown rot, you can take one of the following measures to reduce the effects of the disease.
Cut off the affected plant parts
The first step to curing tomato blight is to cut off all affected parts of the tomato plant. If you see telltale symptoms, remove the affected plant parts and dispose of them far from your garden. As long as infected plant parts or soil remain, the fungus will continue to spread.
Mulch for your infected plants
Mulch has the dual benefit of preventing spores from spreading further into the air and adding nutrients to the soil. This reduces the likelihood of brown rot spreading first.
Fight brown rot on tomatoes with sprays – horsetail broth, garlic tea and onion peel tea
Tomato blight can be prevented with herbal sprays, but once the disease becomes apparent it is usually difficult to control. Horsetail broth, garlic teaand onion peel teaare effective home remedies that prevent brown rot on tomatoes. This method aims to keep diseases at bay and provide the plant with essential nutrients.
Note the following:Finally, preventive methods, including variety selection, site selection, crop rotation and general care, are the most effective means of combating late blight on tomatoes.
How can you prepare horsetail broth yourself?
For the field horsetail decoction you need:
- 1 kg fresh or 200 grams dried field horsetail plant
- 10 liters of water
Preparation:
Soak the plants in 10 liters of water for 1 day. Then simmer the solution for 30 minutes, allow to cool, and strain. Before spraying your tomato plants, you should dilute the solution with 5 times the amount of water. It is best to use the spray in dry weather. Application on three consecutive days helps with the fungal disease.
Does skimmed milk help against tomato rot?
To prevent brown rot in the early stages, a 10% solution with skimmed milk can be used.
You need:
- 1 liter of water
- 100 ml skimmed milk
This is how a skimmed milk solution is made:
Mix the skim milk with the water and shake the solution well. Next, spray both sides of the plant's leaves, stems, and fruits. Treat your plants with the solution every 10 days in moist heat. If the weather is hot and the air is dry, mist the tomatoes every 4 weeks. You should also use the spray after every rain.
Important tip:Under no circumstances should you use whole milk! Sooty fungi thrive on leaves that have accumulated fat from whole milk.
Are tomatoes with brown rot edible?
Intact fruit from infected plants can be eaten, but only if consumed quickly. Because they increase the pH of the canning solution and could promote the growth of bacteria, contaminated fruits should not be canned or frozen.
