Can this be late blight or gray mold?

[bdank]

It seems all of my tomato plants, 15 earthboxes full, have an issue with their leaves. I didn't notice this yesterday, so whatever it is, I think it came on suddenly. The weather has been hot and dry here the last few days but it was cool and cloudy all last week.

I have been alternating (weekly) spraying my plants with Actinovate/Exel LG and Danconil. I have also been spraying with BT.

Should I remove the damaged leaves and treat with diluted bleach?

[bdank]

50 views and no one can help me

[bcday]

It doesn't really look like either late blight or gray mold to me. It may be more of a response to the sudden hot and dry weather, especially if the plants are not getting adequate water. Plants can show signs of water stress without wilting.

[Sun City Linda]

Glad to see you are posted here. I think you will start getting responses tonight. I would be reluctant to go bleach without a positive ID. It does appear, from the pix to be mostly on the leave tips which makes me think maybe a build of of spray material reacting to hot weather.

[b54red]

Gray mold usually shows up on my plants in the middle of the foliage and doesn't just affect the leaf tips. I agree with Linda that it looks like spray settling on the leaf tips and either damaging them or hot sun doing the work in combination with the spray. If it starts spreading then maybe we are wrong but it sure doesn't look like the stuff I've been fighting.

[bdank]

I hope you guys are right. I know it's not water stress because they are in earthboxes and get all the water that they want/need. I never let the boxes dry out.

[Sun City Linda]

Bless you B54! Bdank has such a beautiful garden and she posts mainly on the EB site. She is such a help and encouragement to all, I was really hoping against grey mold. I am sure she will be along shortly herself. LInda

[Sun City Linda]

Looks like she beat me here LOL!

[bdank]

LOL Thanks Sun City Linda.

I have been spraying more this year than I did last year, so I can see where this could be the problem. I also got a new sprayer and I think it sprays harder than my old one.

How much Daconil do you guys spray? I had read somewhere to spray until it rolls off the leaves. Is this too much? should I be putting it on as a fine mist?

[bcday]

I set the sprayer to a coarse spray, large droplets, and thoroughly cover the leaves until it does start dripping off. If I use a fine mist some of it tends to float around on air currents instead of coming down on the leaves, and you are also more likely to start breathing in that mist if it's carried through the air like fog -- not good!

[Sun City Linda]

And I didnt spray until after some EB or Septora reared its ugly head. Well, if it was easy, everyone would do it!

[janezee]

Not late blight for sure. Sad to say, I have plenty of experience there. Sure does look like the spray problem. I'll bet it clears up soon, though.

j

[rsg2001]

Bdank, did you spray in the sunlight? If yes, then the combination of sun and spray could have 'burnt' the leaves. In which case the new growth should be normal. The sudden onset of it suggests one event like that. It doesn't look like Late or Early Blight.

[barkeater]

bdank,

I'm inclined to agree with rsg2001 about spray and sun damage. However, since you say it was cool and cloudy last week you may have started getting botrytis, as that dark leaf tip in your third photo is the right look and pattern for it. The hot and dry weather this week is the perfect antidote though. Definitely not late blight!