Blight watch - one full smiths period!!!!

[Catherine]

After reading on this forum about the blight watch and the possibility of getting an email to say if it was in your area. I have had my first email tonight. Any suggestions as to what I do, if anything, sorry to sound thick, but I have suffered from blight on my tomatoes in the polytunnel every year I have tried growing them. I now have a lovely crop of green tomatoes and and was hoping that I could actually enjoy some ripe tomatoes this year. OUr potatoes are also looking good, so what can I do? Suggestions instead of me spending hours on the internet trying to find out, please.

[Johnboy]

sPRAY!
JB.

[Shallot Man]

Ditto.

[WestHamRon]

sPRAY!
JB.

With Bordeaux Mixture.

[Johnboy]

Hi WHR,
I would use Dithane rather than Bordeaux Mixture but whatever you use do it on bended knees!
JB.

[Geoff]

I got the same email. You have to remember these emails are nothing to do with blight infections only a notification of sustained high temperature and humidity that are conducive to the spread of blight. If you follow the link to the Potato Council map of confirmed outbreaks you will see there is nothing anywhere near us. With this in mind and the forecast of heavy rain I think an outdoor spraying would be a waste of time and money. Even when I have had some infection on potatoes and I have dug some and sprayed the rest and sprayed the outdoor tomatoes I have never sprayed the ones under cover and they have never been affected so I think you are unlucky with your tunnel experience. If the maps do start to show infections and with your past problems then spray them. Do you keep the foliage dry by only watering the beds?

[Catherine]

Hi Geoff
My tomatoes are in tubs in the pt they dont look healthy at all, with the constant changes of hot and cold temperature they have very curled leaves, though I have got some tomatoes on them I dont let the water touch the leaves when I am watering them, I am feeding almost every watering as instructed by my next door neighbour, who apparently is an expert in growing tomatoes. Next year I think I might try to put them in the beds in the pt as it might help with the watering. I have struggled to keep up with the watering.

[pongeroon]

I have problems with blossom end rot with the indoor toms. I always get a bit, I think its a watering (lack of) issue, but it's worse this year, I guess because it has been hotter than usual. I think I just need to water more thoroughly. The surface of the pots doesn't dry out, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are getting enough. Does this make sense to anyone?

[Catherine]

I have one of my pots of tomatoes on one side of the pt which dries out for fun. I don't know which compost I used so I cant avoid it next year. It is really strange.