TSWV and how to defeat it

tlcmd · September 16, 2013

For years i've been fighting the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and my non-tolerant and non-resistant plants never made it past 1 Sept. (I'm in zone 7b). This year they are looking great and bearing well and with little or no attention from me since I have had a multiplicity of illness, fractures, etc. My Bolseno's (TSWV resistant are also doing well as are my Snow Berrys). Since I have a rather large stand of Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) along one side of my garden, i put 4 red Brandywines in them. It is 15 Sept, and i'm picking all 3 types and my Brandywines are staning tall and with no signs of resistance. Looks like the wormwood worked.

tlintx · September 16, 2013

Congratulations on your harvest!

So is the inference that the wormwood repelled or attracted the thrips carrying the disease? I googled and discovered that TSWV has been found on wormwood along with a number of other ornamentals and herbs.

Are you concerned it might overwinter on the wormwood and return with a vengeance next year? Does TSWV do that?

Here in Texas we get thrips from everything, up to and including grass!

tlcmd · September 16, 2013

Thanks tlinx,FYI I researched Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) in great depth. It is a plant which will frow most anywhere and is a perennial in at least the Southern tier of the US. It has a long history and even is referred to in the Old Testament. No 2, 4, 6, 8, multilegged beastie or snake lives on or near it. It can be quite toxic and is very bitter. It is used as an ingredient in "natural" insecticides. It also, once established, infuses a chemical into the soil which prevents seed germination so you have to plant existing plants within it. TSWV is carried by thrips which avoid this Wormwood, so while TSWV might live in the soil, where the absinthium grows, no thrip can get in there to hatch or get infected.
Of interest, Powis-castle Wormwood (Silvermound) is a hybrid Wormwood which attracts ladybugs. The ladybugs like to live on the Powis-Castle, but do not eat it. And, as you know, ladybugs are the T Rex of garden pests and like non-poisonous snakes are welcome as nature's gardeners.
I tried growing red Brandywine plants since that was one of the least resistant heirloom tomatoes out there. Unfortunately, it was pretty bland when compared to my staple Bolseno plants which I have grown from seed (Johnny's Select Seeds) which to my taste are one of the better non-determinate TSWV tolerant tomatoes I have grown and compare favourably with other heirlooms and TSWV tolerant indeterminate plants. I may do some research over the next couple months and try another variety of non-resistant plants which are renown for their taste.

September 16, 2013	#1
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	TSWV and how to defeat it For years i've been fighting the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and my non-tolerant and non-resistant plants never made it past 1 Sept. (I'm in zone 7b). This year they are looking great and bearing well and with little or no attention from me since I have had a multiplicity of illness, fractures, etc. My Bolseno's (TSWV resistant are also doing well as are my Snow Berrys). Since I have a rather large stand of Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) along one side of my garden, i put 4 red Brandywines in them. It is 15 Sept, and i'm picking all 3 types and my Brandywines are staning tall and with no signs of resistance. Looks like the wormwood worked. __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

September 16, 2013	#3
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	Thanks tlinx,FYI I researched Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) in great depth. It is a plant which will frow most anywhere and is a perennial in at least the Southern tier of the US. It has a long history and even is referred to in the Old Testament. No 2, 4, 6, 8, multilegged beastie or snake lives on or near it. It can be quite toxic and is very bitter. It is used as an ingredient in "natural" insecticides. It also, once established, infuses a chemical into the soil which prevents seed germination so you have to plant existing plants within it. TSWV is carried by thrips which avoid this Wormwood, so while TSWV might live in the soil, where the absinthium grows, no thrip can get in there to hatch or get infected. Of interest, Powis-castle Wormwood (Silvermound) is a hybrid Wormwood which attracts ladybugs. The ladybugs like to live on the Powis-Castle, but do not eat it. And, as you know, ladybugs are the T Rex of garden pests and like non-poisonous snakes are welcome as nature's gardeners. I tried growing red Brandywine plants since that was one of the least resistant heirloom tomatoes out there. Unfortunately, it was pretty bland when compared to my staple Bolseno plants which I have grown from seed (Johnny's Select Seeds) which to my taste are one of the better non-determinate TSWV tolerant tomatoes I have grown and compare favourably with other heirlooms and TSWV tolerant indeterminate plants. I may do some research over the next couple months and try another variety of non-resistant plants which are renown for their taste. __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas Last edited by tlcmd; September 16, 2013 at 02:54 PM. Reason: correct spelling

September 16, 2013	#2
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	Congratulations on your harvest! So is the inference that the wormwood repelled or attracted the thrips carrying the disease? I googled and discovered that TSWV has been found on wormwood along with a number of other ornamentals and herbs. Are you concerned it might overwinter on the wormwood and return with a vengeance next year? Does TSWV do that? Here in Texas we get thrips from everything, up to and including grass!