Early blight on tomatoes in new area series#

This will make it easier for your plant to withstand blight and other diseases. You should also plant varieties that are resistant to nematodes and wilt (indicated by a V, F, and N after the name of the specific cultivar). Only purchase healthy plants, and inspect any and all transplants carefully. Only Purchase Healthy PlantsĮven if you are getting a good deal on your tomato plants, never purchase those that seem to be sick or damaged. However, there are several ways it can be treated and prevented. Unfortunately, there is no perfectly reliable cure for early blight. Because the plant will have no more foliage to protect the fruits, the fruits are often damaged from direct sun exposure. The lesions will rapidly grow, with the surrounding plant tissue yellowing and then turning brown before the leaves die and fall off the plant altogether.Įarly blight does not usually affect fruits directly, but indirectly, it can be devastating. There will be dead plant matter in the center.

Early blight will rear its head as small, brown lesions that look like bullseyes. What are the Signs of Early Blight?Įarly blight displays several telltale signs, with symptoms usually appearing after the first fruits appear on the tomato plants. Each can also affect different areas of the plant. These diseases are all remarkably similar, but generally affect your tomato plants at different times. There are several kinds of blight, including early blight, late blight, and Septoria leaf spot. It can lead to secondary diseases like damping-off, crown rot, leaf blight, and fruit rot – and it can ultimately kill your plants. The spores require moisture in order to advance to the next stage, so when rain comes into contact with them, they will begin to rapidly reproduce.Įarly blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani and causes a variety of symptoms. These spores are carried by the wind, water, insects, and animals, moving from infected plants before they are deposited on the soil or on new plants. This disease attacks systematically, rapidly destroying the stems, leaves, and fruits of your tomato plants.

Early blight on tomatoes in new area series#

By Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series –, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link What is Early Blight?īlight is a common fungal disease that practically every gardener has heard of. A tomato leaf showing typical target shaped lesions of Alternaria solani.

There are plenty of tips and tricks that you can put to good use to both prevent and get rid of early blight in your garden.

From sunup to sundown, you’ve been out in your garden planting, watering, fertilizing, and pruning your plants, all in the hopes that your tomatoes will grow tall, verdant, and productive.īlight is one of the most frustrating diseases that can affect your tomato plants, not only because it is so devastating, but because many gardeners think that there is little they can do to prevent it. You have worked hard to cultivate a gorgeous crop of tomatoes.