Grey Mold???, Blight - Page 2

Starlight · May 19, 2015

Thanks! I'll be watching for sure.

Other than critters and pests, with our heat and humidity, other than the Grey Mold, is there some others that needed to be watched for and do I give them the same bleach and copper treatment?

b54red · May 19, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

Thanks! I'll be watching for sure.

Other than critters and pests, with our heat and humidity, other than the Grey Mold, is there some others that needed to be watched for and do I give them the same bleach and copper treatment?

Oh yes there are a lot more down here with our high humidity and heat just about every foliage disease for tomatoes will make an appearance at one time or another through the years. Just look up tomato diseases on the web and look at a few of them. Of course the most common ones that will occur the most are Early Blight, Septoria Leaf Spot, and Gray Mold. Hopefully you wont see Late Blight but if you do it is the worst and will more than likely destroy your crop unless treated supper aggressively and super early and often. Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus is one you may see a bit of but there is absolutely nothing you can do for a plant that gets it other than pull it up and trash it. There are also all types of spot and speck type diseases. Seems like every year there is a new one or an old one you haven't seen in a while. A good dry cooler than normal summer is the absolute best thing for lower disease incidences down here. Of course a really hot dry summer will bring the dreaded spider mites.

Bill

brooksville · May 26, 2015

I can not keep up with the EB. I sprayed bleach this weekend and pruned all visibly infected leaves. Next, I applied Daconil. I went to garden today at lunch to pick fruit that was 50% or more blushing because we are expecting thundershowers this afternoon. More EB has shown up. It seems like I can not stop it.

I have figured out several things though.
1. I did not apply fungicide for a couple of weeks because it had not rained.
2. I have plants spaced to close.
3. I was unable to keep up with growth of plants, so some got away from me in the cages. Creating a lot of foliage and little air flow.

So, I have started some more plants and plan to harvest the fruit that is set and over the next month then pull and replace. I just wish our garden was not 30 miles away.

b54red · May 26, 2015

Sounds to me like you are learning the hard way the lessons on tomato growing in the hot humid part of the country we live in. I am also seeing a bit more disease but have kept mine sprayed with Daconil every week or so since they were set out. My foliage is starting to need a little heavy thinning on some plants or else I will be in deep trouble soon. We got some good rain this afternoon so everything is soaked and it is still raining so I can't get out and spray my bleach spray this afternoon and some of my plants are in need of it. Maybe it will let up before dark and I can spray but I kinda doubt it.

Pests are also starting to take a toll on some of my plants with a rapid increase in aphids, whiteflies and several types of worms. Now comes the really tough part of gardening down here.

Bill

brooksville · May 30, 2015

I went and fertilized today and I was happily surprised. The bleach and Daconil seem to have slowed the disease down. New growth looks great and the majority of vines have set new fruit. I also vibrated some flowers on 3 or 4 different vines and only found 1 thrip. Maybe that part of the season is behind us now, at least for a while. Bill thanks for the guidance, I will try to post some pics of what I think is going to be a nice pick tomorrow!

John

Starlight · June 2, 2015

Bill.... Is it safe to use the bleach spray on the blooms and baby tomatoes too? Too many days of rain, clouds and humidity. Gotta spray, but didn't know if it was safe on parts other than the leaves.

b54red · June 2, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

Bill.... Is it safe to use the bleach spray on the blooms and baby tomatoes too? Too many days of rain, clouds and humidity. Gotta spray, but didn't know if it was safe on parts other than the leaves.

I spray everything and I have a huge fruit set. I particularly spray the lower leaves tops and bottoms more diligently and any areas where the foliage is especially dense than the new growth. I have not noticed the spray affecting the blooms unless it is way too strong or sprayed in the bright sunshine.

I used a copper spray about 4 days ago and actually noticed more leaf damage from it than from the diluted bleach spray.

Bill

Starlight · June 3, 2015

Thank you! That is so good to know. I was afraid to spray until I asked you. Sure don't want to mess things up now.

I did get some of the copper spray, but so far the bleach spray alone seems to be working real well.

Looks like we are getting ready for the high heat and humidity temps to start kicking in. Fudge. I was liking things just where they were. Hot but not so excessive that we couldn't bloom set.

Thank goodness the hail went past us last evening.

b54red · June 3, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

Thank you! That is so good to know. I was afraid to spray until I asked you. Sure don't want to mess things up now.

I did get some of the copper spray, but so far the bleach spray alone seems to be working real well.

Looks like we are getting ready for the high heat and humidity temps to start kicking in. Fudge. I was liking things just where they were. Hot but not so excessive that we couldn't bloom set.

Thank goodness the hail went past us last evening.

We have already had the high heat and humidity for quite a while now with some breaks for rain occasionally. I am already seeing the increase in disease pressure meaning I will be doing more pruning of damaged or diseased leaves this week.

Bill

Gerardo · June 3, 2015

It's impressive how fast it spreads on tomatoes. Bleach/itchy trigger finger on the pruning/copper/daconil. They all help.

May 19, 2015	#16
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Thanks! I'll be watching for sure. Other than critters and pests, with our heat and humidity, other than the Grey Mold, is there some others that needed to be watched for and do I give them the same bleach and copper treatment?

May 26, 2015	#18
brooksville Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: South Georgia Zone 8a Posts: 179	I can not keep up with the EB. I sprayed bleach this weekend and pruned all visibly infected leaves. Next, I applied Daconil. I went to garden today at lunch to pick fruit that was 50% or more blushing because we are expecting thundershowers this afternoon. More EB has shown up. It seems like I can not stop it. I have figured out several things though. 1. I did not apply fungicide for a couple of weeks because it had not rained. 2. I have plants spaced to close. 3. I was unable to keep up with growth of plants, so some got away from me in the cages. Creating a lot of foliage and little air flow. So, I have started some more plants and plan to harvest the fruit that is set and over the next month then pull and replace. I just wish our garden was not 30 miles away.

May 26, 2015	#19
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Sounds to me like you are learning the hard way the lessons on tomato growing in the hot humid part of the country we live in. I am also seeing a bit more disease but have kept mine sprayed with Daconil every week or so since they were set out. My foliage is starting to need a little heavy thinning on some plants or else I will be in deep trouble soon. We got some good rain this afternoon so everything is soaked and it is still raining so I can't get out and spray my bleach spray this afternoon and some of my plants are in need of it. Maybe it will let up before dark and I can spray but I kinda doubt it. Pests are also starting to take a toll on some of my plants with a rapid increase in aphids, whiteflies and several types of worms. Now comes the really tough part of gardening down here. Bill

May 30, 2015	#20
brooksville Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: South Georgia Zone 8a Posts: 179	I went and fertilized today and I was happily surprised. The bleach and Daconil seem to have slowed the disease down. New growth looks great and the majority of vines have set new fruit. I also vibrated some flowers on 3 or 4 different vines and only found 1 thrip. Maybe that part of the season is behind us now, at least for a while. Bill thanks for the guidance, I will try to post some pics of what I think is going to be a nice pick tomorrow! John

June 2, 2015	#21
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Bill.... Is it safe to use the bleach spray on the blooms and baby tomatoes too? Too many days of rain, clouds and humidity. Gotta spray, but didn't know if it was safe on parts other than the leaves.

June 3, 2015	#23
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Thank you! That is so good to know. I was afraid to spray until I asked you. Sure don't want to mess things up now. I did get some of the copper spray, but so far the bleach spray alone seems to be working real well. Looks like we are getting ready for the high heat and humidity temps to start kicking in. Fudge. I was liking things just where they were. Hot but not so excessive that we couldn't bloom set. Thank goodness the hail went past us last evening.

June 3, 2015	#25
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	It's impressive how fast it spreads on tomatoes. Bleach/itchy trigger finger on the pruning/copper/daconil. They all help.