I think I have Septoria

[Elliot]

I was away for the weekend and when I came back I noticed black spots on all of the leaves of my three young tomato plants. I have never seen someting spread so fast and so early in the season. I quickly sprayed each plant with copper fungicide spray. How often do I need to do this and are the plants salvagable?

[tam91]

When I had septoria, I ended up using mancozeb.

[feldon30]

If they are flat out black spots without any yellow ringing, then it may be bacterial spot/speck. I've also been surprised by it, but usually only on one plant. In my second year gardening, I had to pick off so many diseased leaves off my Eva Purple Ball that it never really recovered.

[b54red]

I hate those speck and spot diseases. Every time we have a good long rainy spell they devastate plants and once they get going they are hard to stop. I keep my peppers and tomatoes sprayed with a preventive fungicide from the time they are set out and it really helps. I used to wait til I had a problem but no more.

Bill

[Elliot]

Bill,

My nursery recommended that I soak the roots of the tomato plants with Actinovate. I did this and still I developed what I think is Septoria. This morning I got up and cut all the branches with it and after the predicted rains, today, I'll spray again. What is bothersome is that the plants are very small. Usually I see these problems on big plants in the middle of the summer

[Elliot]

Originally Posted by tam91

When I had septoria, I ended up using mancozeb.

I checked online and found different kinds of Mancozeb. Which one do you recommend for the tomato plants?

Elliot

[RayR]

It's awfully early in the season for septoria, it's never shown up here until the last week of July or first week of August. Spraying the leaves with Actinovate has been very effective for me in controlling Septoria and Early Blight. I never heard of using it as a root drench was effective against foliar fungal diseases but inoculating the roots with mychorrizae, trichoderma and beneficial bacteria has been shown to induce resistance to foliar fungal pathogens so maybe Actinovate has some positive effect. I do all of it so as long as it works I'm happy.

[ScottinAtlanta]

Bill has taught me a good lesson: spray, spray, and spray again! I also find that picking off leaves as soon as they show a problem, and washing my hands religiously every time I touch a diseased leaf, is really helpful in slowing spreading.

[Elliot]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Bill has taught me a good lesson: spray, spray, and spray again! I also find that picking off leaves as soon as they show a problem, and washing my hands religiously every time I touch a diseased leaf, is really helpful in slowing spreading.

I imagine that this could be very expensive if you have lots of tomato plants?

[ScottinAtlanta]

I have about 130, and it is not too bad if you have a good sprayer. About 40 minutes total.

[Elliot]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

I have about 130, and it is not too bad if you have a good sprayer. About 40 minutes total.

How do you mix the antifungal spray? How do you get it on the top as well as the bottom of the plants?

[ScottinAtlanta]

You need an extended wand - I think mine is 30 inches and you just turn the tip up or down as you spray under the leaves and on top the leaves. Once you master the technique, it is easy.

[Elliot]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

You need an extended wand - I think mine is 30 inches and you just turn the tip up or down as you spray under the leaves and on top the leaves. Once you master the technique, it is easy.

Where do I get the sprayer, wand and material to spray? Can you send me a link?

[ScottinAtlanta]

Here is what I use. Others may have better ideas.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-gallo...yer-95690.html

[Elliot]

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Here is what I use. Others may have better ideas.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-gallo...yer-95690.html

and what exactly do you spray to prevent fungus?