Tomato Blight

[Daisy]

For the last two years I've had very poor tomato crops - poor germination and slow growth in 2019 and unable to buy seeds or plants during lockdown last year.

This year has been great. Germination was quite good, if a little slow, growth has been great and all my plants are loaded with tomatoes. But blight is creeping in to them. I'm so disappointed!

So today I took all the fruit off one planter with 6 beautiful plants in it, pulled the plants out, chopped them into bin bags and put them in the trailer ready for the next tip run. I don't suppose the other planter will survive either, but I'm giving them a few more days in the hope that the better weather will reduce the spores in the air.

I've picked the 'clean' tomatoes off the plants I've taken out and we'll make green tomato chutney with them, but it's no compensation for beautiful, red, ripe and luscious tomatoes, ready to eat.

Has anyone else had the same problem?

[Gemini]

Oh what a shame Daisy.
What does blight look like?

[Daisy]

It starts with dull brownish-black marks on stems or leaves and quickly spreads to the tomatoes. If they're green, they go a darker, muddy sort of green and then brown/black. You can't miss it!

It's an air-borne fungus and the spores travel a long way. It's the much the same as the potato blight which lead to the Irish Potato Famine in the 1800s.

[Grauntie Mag]

Oooh nasty, Daisy! DD2 has had to dispose of her plants too. Mine seem ok so far but are taking ages to ripen. The weather has been just right for blight.

[Plantaholic]

Mine are in the greenhouse, no sign of blight yet.

[Gemini]

My OH's are at the same stage as yours Grauntie.
I hope we don't get the dreaded blight!

[Oma]

Daisy I have had a wonderful crop from my hanging basket tomatoes a huge crop in fact but the last say 6 or 7 tomatoes are getting dark patches so I think it may be happening to mine now ,
I will see how it goes in next few days if it spreads I will have to get rid of them but at least I have managed a huge amount , mostly prepped and in the freezer now as too many to eat

[Daisy]

Grauntie - I hope yours survive, and yours, Gem. Grauntie, if you find yourself with a glut, I'm sure your DD2 will help you out!!

They are safer in the greenhouse, but I've only got a few slow growers in there - not much fruit on them.

It is perfect blight weather, but at least some of mine are now ripening quite quickly after a period of not seeming to do much. I just hope we can get to them before the blight does.

Oma - you have done well with your hanging tomatoes! I've never tried growing them that way.

[Oma]

Daisy this is part of my crop and whats happened to a few .

[Grauntie Mag]

I still can’t see anyone’s photos! I get the white bar across but nothing in it.😕
I’ve not tried toms in a basket either, nor spuds in a container. Maybe next year.

[Nanto2girls]

Up to now hubby's tomatoes are ok. they are in the greenhouse.
I can remember about 4 years ago we had tomato blight.
Ours are ripening nicely. In fact he gave a bag full to the next door neighbour yesterday.

[Oma]

Nanto ours did too , far too many for just us to eat ,
Now have plenty in the freezer to make fresh sauce for ages to come

[Daisy]

Grauntie - I'm sorry you can't see the photo. We're still puzzled as to why, but haven't given up on it.

Gem - I think the yellowing leaves on the middle pic need removing, but the tomatoes look nice and healthy, apart from the last pic.

Nanto - if I can keep the rest of our plants clear of blight for another week or two we will have quite a few ripe. IF!!

[Gemini]

Daisy, they are Oma's pics

[Daisy]

Daisy, they are Oma's pics

Sorry to Gem and Oma!! I was mesmerised by the photos, so didn't look who had posted them!