Preventing blight in heirlooms
General None Given
This year we grew an entire garden starting from heirloom seed. In a matter of what seemed to be a few hours the whole thing went down. We were told at the garden center, it was a case of blight. Such a disappointment. What could have been done to prevent this? Is there anything that can be done to salvage what remains?
Posted
by: nicole lawson
(1 point)
Posted: August 5, 2013
Answers
Unless you sprayed weed killer, it could be blight or other fungus or disease infection. Often, it's lack of proper soil nutrition, sometimes problems are increased by too-close planting (esp in humid areas) and lack of air circulation, and sometimes it's just bad luck.
Pull the dead plants, bag them, and turn them into the dump, don't compost them. You can spray with fungicides if you want to, but it is usually expensive, mostly ineffective, and just plain too late. Prevention is the key, and good nutrition is the best prevention. Plants have a natural ability to fight many diseases and weather conditions, but they can't do it without good nutrition.
Get a complete soil test, down to the micro-nutrient level (usually about $25). If you garden organically, write that on your request, or they will give you chemical advice. You can contact your local Cooperative Extension Service to see who they recommend: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ There are many sites online that tell you how to take a good sample -- careful samples provide the best results. NEVER use a rusty trowel or bucket, and start with clean implements.
Don't be afraid of soil tests just because you've never gotten one. They usually come in writing and show what deficiencies you've got, and what and how much they recommend to bring the soil up to par. There are definitions on the back of the page. Most of them have a phone number for questions. I had a question on mine, and the lab guy was absolutely THRILLED to talk to someone, and I was scribbling notes as fast as I could.
One of the most common ways to make plants susceptible to disease is by not providing the nutrients they need. Strong plants resist disease far better than deficient plants. Feed the soil properly, and the soil will feed the plants. And it's not just NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) -- you need sufficient levels (and often it is miniscule levels) of nutrients like copper, zinc, sulfur, boron, etc. And your soil needs enough calcium, which can be provided with lime or gypsum (which, depending on your soil's needs). That soil test will tell you where you stand on calcium.
Good luck!
Pull the dead plants, bag them, and turn them into the dump, don't compost them. You can spray with fungicides if you want to, but it is usually expensive, mostly ineffective, and just plain too late. Prevention is the key, and good nutrition is the best prevention. Plants have a natural ability to fight many diseases and weather conditions, but they can't do it without good nutrition.
Get a complete soil test, down to the micro-nutrient level (usually about $25). If you garden organically, write that on your request, or they will give you chemical advice. You can contact your local Cooperative Extension Service to see who they recommend: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ There are many sites online that tell you how to take a good sample -- careful samples provide the best results. NEVER use a rusty trowel or bucket, and start with clean implements.
Don't be afraid of soil tests just because you've never gotten one. They usually come in writing and show what deficiencies you've got, and what and how much they recommend to bring the soil up to par. There are definitions on the back of the page. Most of them have a phone number for questions. I had a question on mine, and the lab guy was absolutely THRILLED to talk to someone, and I was scribbling notes as fast as I could.
One of the most common ways to make plants susceptible to disease is by not providing the nutrients they need. Strong plants resist disease far better than deficient plants. Feed the soil properly, and the soil will feed the plants. And it's not just NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) -- you need sufficient levels (and often it is miniscule levels) of nutrients like copper, zinc, sulfur, boron, etc. And your soil needs enough calcium, which can be provided with lime or gypsum (which, depending on your soil's needs). That soil test will tell you where you stand on calcium.
Good luck!
Posted
by: FussyOldHen
(16 points)
Posted: August 8, 2013
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Hi Nicole, sorry to hear about your plants. Could you provide a bit more detail to help people answering. What kind of plants were you trying to grow? I'm guessing tomatoes may have been involved? Did they collapse soon after planting? How old were they? Just use the link to edit your question and try to add as much detail as you can - images are also great over 10 years ago.
My sympathies! So tough to lose everything. In addition to what Lindsay requested, it would also be helpful to know (1) where you live & garden, (2) If you started your garden from direct-planted seed, purchased transplants, or some of each. over 10 years ago.