Tomato plants should be brimming with ripe crops ready for picking at this time of year, but gardeners need to keep an eye out for fruit that has brown leathery spots. Beth Otway, a horticulturist and founder of Pumpkin Beth , has revealed that the disease Late Blight is prevalent in autumn and can rapidly spread through tomato plants in a garden. She warned: "At this time of year, Late Blight (phytophthora infestans) is often viciously working its destruction through our tomato and potato plants.
"It marks tomato leaves and stems with patches of brown and spreads rot and disease, turning green or ripening tomatoes a deathly brown." It's crucial to check tomato plants daily during the chilly autumn weather as not only will Late Blight ruin a harvest but it can wipe out entire garden crops in days if gardeners don't catch it early, reports the Express. Why should you be aware of Late Blight? Late Blight thrives in cold and wet conditions which makes autumn the perfect time for it to spread and its spores will transport themselves through the wind or rain.
If left untreated, Late Blight will infect nearby plants and disrupt their ability to photosynthesise or transport water, causing them to die quickly. Tomato and potato plants are the most commonly affected but plants that are near any infected crops can experience more pests and become more stressed due to the garden being infected. Beth explained the urgency with concerns related to gardening : "It's important to check your plants for signs of Late Blight, so you can make the most of whatever situation your plants are in.
" She further advised: "If your plants are severely affected by Late Blight, gather in any ripe and unripe tomatoes that are as yet entirely untouched by the disease and bin or burn the remnants of your tomato plants, including any twine." What are the signs of Late Blight? The first clue of Late Blight is big, dark green patches on the leaves, which will rapidly mutate into brown. Keep an eye out too for a white, fuzzy mould making itself at home on your greens.
Tomato fruits themselves may sport large splotches of black or brown, indicating rotting – they could even take on a greasy vibe. The plant will probably start wilting and becoming spotty at lightning speed. If you see any of these tell-tale symptoms, get moving fast to halt the contagion's march.
Beth continued to lay out best practices by saying: "If your tomatoes have been affected by Late Blight, bin or burn any tomatoes and leaves that you've removed so far. Ensure that when your tomato plants have totally given themselves up to disease, that you dispose of this additional plant material in the same way." She cautioned against leaving plant debris lying about because the spores of this pernicious disease hop on the wind and water delivery service to invade other unsuspecting tomato and potato crops.
How to prevent Late Blight in tomato plants Beth suggests watering your tomato plants in the morning for speedy drying – a simple step towards keeping them disease-free. To keep blight at bay, it's crucial to avoid drenching your plants from above. Wet leaves are a haven for the disease, so aim for the base when watering your tomatoes.
Beth shared her top tip: "If like me, you're going to try and keep some of your tomato plants going, it really is important to wash your hands and sterilise any tools you're using before you move on to your next tomato plant." She also advised: "Late Blight is spread by splashes of water, so water your plants carefully; focus your watering can or hose low down, at your plants' roots and do all you can to avoid splashing your plants' stems and leaves." To further protect your crop, use organic mulch such as straw to keep the soil moisture-free, which helps prevent Late Blight.
But remember, the simplest method to safeguard your garden is regular checks – vigilance is key to stopping these devastating diseases from ruining months of diligent gardening..
