Late blight was found in processing tomato in Salem County today. Late blight was found in an organic tomato field in Mercer County last week. All commercial and organic tomato and potato growers in NJ should now consider late blight a significant threat and should take immediate steps. All growers should scout their fields on a daily basis. All commercial tomato and potato growers should include late blight specific fungicides in their regular fungicide maintenance programs. All organic tomato and potato growers should apply OMRI-approved copper based products to help suppress late blight development. As long as the current weather conditions continue, late blight will remain a significant threat.
Late blight Reported on Tomato on the Eastern Shore, VA and in Maryland
Late blight was confirmed on tomato on the Eastern Shore of Virginia this afternoon and on tomato in Montgomery County, MD yesterday. All tomato and potato growers in New Jersey should scout thier fields on a daily basis and consider starting a standard weekly protectant fungicide program if one hasn’t already done so. No Late blight has been found in New Jersey to date. More more information on the control of Late blight please see the 2013 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide. Organic growers should consider applying a OMRI-approved copper-based fungicide.
For more information and to track the progress of Late blight please USAblight.org.
Vegetable Disease Update 5-24-13
- Cucumber/Pickles: Angular leaf spot
- Lettuce: Bacterial leaf blight; Bottom Rot
- Tomato: Bacterial spot and speck
- Strawberry: Leather rot; Angular leaf spot