Late tomato blight is a serious problem for growers in our region, it’s very fast and contagious, and an outbreak has occurred every year since the Garden opened in 2012. Gardeners should check for symptoms of late blight at least weekly.
If there are any plants/tomatoes/potatoes infected with late blight at the Garden, they need to be destroyed as soon as possible. The plant material should be put into a sealed plastic bag and carried off-site. They absolutely must not be put into the community weed piles.
UMass Extension has a good description of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) which affects tomatoes and potatoes. Gardeners should be reminded that some of the chemical solutions listed are not allowed in an organic garden, however. (The only organic chemical control for late blight is copper.)
This UMass Extension link focuses on the prevention of late blight and answering some FAQs.
There are a number of diseases that look similar to late blight; this link can help people distinguish between them.
