This is how you recognize and fight the disease

the essentials in brief

• Late blight occurs mainly in tomatoes and potatoes.
• The disease is caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans.
• Only a strong pruning can save infected plants at an early stage.
• If possible, grow tomatoes under a roof and never pour over the leaves.

Causes and Spread

When the summer is rainy - sometimes a longer rain shower is enough - the joy of tomato gardeners is quickly spoiled: First of all, with the Leaves, later also on the shoots and fruits, show the characteristic symptoms of late blight that occur on almost all nightshade plants can. This is a disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans that is difficult to control.

Phytophthora infestans overwinters in the soil or in plant remains, so that another infection is possible in the following year after an illness. This occurs especially during wet weather in the spring and summer months when Do not dry up the leaves of tomato and other vulnerable garden plants quickly enough can. If the leaves remain wet, the spores, which can also be transmitted by wind or insects, adhere to the leaves and penetrate through the smallest natural openings or injuries.

Damage image

Late blight affects both leaves and fruits

These symptoms are characteristic of late blight and brown rot on tomatoes:

• leaves: The first symptoms often appear in spring. First, brownish, blurred leaf spots form, which can also affect the stems. White fungal lawns also form on the underside of the leaves. Later the leaves wilt and fall off, and infected shoots dry up and die.
• fruit: At the beginning of fruit formation and ripening in summer, these symptoms can also be seen in tomato fruits. Initially, only pale brown spots are visible on the upper half of the fruit, but they spread quickly. The tomato will shrivel up and turn brown.

Fight late blight

If late blight occurs despite all efforts, it can only be contained by acting quickly. It is essential to ensure strict hygiene and carefully disinfect any cutting and other tools used before and after each use. Also, don't make the mistake of touching infected parts of the plant and then touching other plants - that way the spores will also be transmitted. Diseased plant remains that have been cut off must be packed separately in a bag and disposed of with household waste.

You can combat late blight on tomatoes with these measures:

• Immediately remove all infected parts of the plant.
• Burn them or dispose of them with household waste.
• Maintain strict hygiene to avoid further infection.
• Therefore, disinfect cutting tools and hands after each use.
• Keep the plants as dry as possible.
• Strengthen them with a homemade one Horsetail manure.
• Garlic tea also helps quite well in the early stages and as a preventive measure.

The use of fungicides, on the other hand, must be discouraged as the fruits treated with them would then no longer be edible. Heavily infested plants must be disposed of.

If the disease is very advanced, the tomato plants should be disposed of completely

Digression

Plant infected locations correctly in the following year

Effectively prevent late blight

Since prevention is still the best cure for diseases as persistent and difficult to control as latex blight, here are some things you should take to heart:

• Be sure to keep the Crop rotation and change location every year.
• Carefully remove any plant remains from the beds in autumn.
• If possible, only grow tomatoes under a roof.
• Cultivation in a greenhouse or on a covered balcony is ideal.
• Ventilate the greenhouse every day and avoid the formation of condensation.
• Never water plants over the leaves and stems, always directly on the ground.
• Do not pour over a large area, but only on one spot.
• Avoid over-fertilization, so give preference to organic fertilizers.
• Skim tomato plants regularly and remove the lower leaves.
• Be sure to keep the recommended planting distance.

You can also strengthen your plants with self-brewed herbal tonics. Very well suited for this purpose Field horsetail.

Digression

These tomato varieties are resistant to late blight and brown rot

frequently asked Questions

Can you still eat late blight tomatoes?

Late blight affected tomatoes should not be eaten

Unfortunately, it is not enough to cut out the brown areas from infected tomato plants or just cut out healthy-looking fruits infested plants to use: In both options, the causative fungus Phytophthora infestans is already in the fruits nested. Since this also produces carcinogenic toxins, consumption is not advisable for humans or animals. It is better to dispose of plants and fruits in the organic or household waste.

Is the leaf blight and bridal blight and potato leaf blight the same disease?

In fact, late blight and brown rot (which occurs in tomatoes) and late blight and tuber rot (in potatoes) are the same pathogen and therefore the same disease. Both diseases are caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans, only the name differs depending on the host plant.