October 13, 2014

Internal Fruit Rot in Tomato

A fresh market tomato from a home owner garden was dropped off the other day with some strange internal rot. The internal rot (photo 1) was most likely caused by water accumulating in areas immediately around the stem and as the fruit developed growth cracks (photo 2). This allowed for opportunistic fungi and bacteria into infect the fruit causing the internal rot. As it turned out the home owner was using sprinklers to water their garden.

As the season continues into the late fall, it might be worthwhile to slice up one or more of your tomato varieties that are prone to growth cracks around the stem just to check if this is happening in your operation – especially with heavy dews and the wet weather we have had recently.

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Photo 1: Internal Fruit Rot

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Photo 2: Growth Cracks

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
September 26, 2014

Late blight Found in Cherry Tomato in Cumberland County – 9/26/14

Late blight has been found in small cherry tomato field near Roadstown, NJ today where 100% of the field is affected. This is the third report of Late blight in New Jersey this year and the first since 9/8.

Cool day and night temperatures with prolonged dews are ideal for Late blight development, especially in fields where no protectant fungicides have been applied in recent weeks.

All growers who are still in tomato production should continue to scout on a regular basis and apply protectant fungicides. Abandoned commercial fields, need to be disked under or  sprayed with gramoxone to kill all living tissue. All abandoned organic fields should be disked under or plants should be pulled and discarded.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
October 21, 2013

Late Blight Confirmed on Organic Tomato in South Jersey

Late blight was confirmed in an organic tomato field late last week south of Bridgeton, New Jersey. As a note, growers who are still picking tomatoes should continue to scout up until the final pick and destroy field as soon as possible once harvesting is finished either by applying gramoxone or discing under plant material. Growers with late blight issues this growing season should be especially diligent. The threat of late blight in our area will remain up until the first frost. Late blight has the potential to overwinter in our area on infested potatoes left in cull piles or unharvested tubers left in the field.

Filed Under: Organic Production Tagged With: ,
September 20, 2013

Vegetable Disease Briefs – 9/20/13

Late blight has been reported in tomato on an organic farm near Long Valley in Morris County, New Jersey. The cooler weather along with longer periods of leaf wetness lasting into the morning hours this time of year makes conditions ideal for potential Late blight development. As a reminder, once fields or blocks of tomatoes are finished, care should be taken to burn down, remove, or disc down the foliage. Fields left un kept can act as a source of inoculum. Tomato fields should be scouted on a regular basis. Regular protectant fungicide programs should continue as long as fields or blocks are in production. Organic tomato growers can apply an OMRI-approved copper fungicides to help suppress late blight development.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
July 2, 2013

Late blight found in processing tomato in New Jersey – 7/2/13

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.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
June 20, 2013

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.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,