How to deal with late blight on tomatoes: the best methods and practical advice

Late blight is the worst enemy of tomatoes. So far, no varieties have been created that have 100% immunity to this ailment. Any tomato can get infected with late blight - even grown according to all the rules. Gardeners from all over the world share advice on how to fight the disease with each other, and agronomists are developing special medicines.

In the article we will look at what late blight on tomatoes is and how to deal with it.

What is this disease

Late blight (late blight) is a common fungal disease of plants. It can hurt not only tomatoes, but also other vegetables - for example, potatoes or cucumbers. The spores of the fungus penetrate the stem and infect the entire plant.

This happens especially easily in open ground with high humidity - water and warm air "help" stimulate the reproduction of fungal colonies.

How does it affect tomatoes

The fungus begins to "eat" the plant - after all, like any living organism, it needs to feed on something. Phytophthora takes nutrients from tomatoes, and the vegetable dries up. Fungal spores are surprisingly tenacious - they do not die in water, and it is almost impossible to save an infected bush.

As a result, such plants will no longer be able to please summer residents with a rich and healthy harvest.

Important! Even if it was possible to partially "save" the bush, then a full harvest will still fail. Also, you can not take the seeds of such plants - late blight is cyclical, it will reappear on grown bushes.

Symptoms and external signs

Signs that speak of the formation of the disease:

• spots of gray-brown or brown color of various shapes on the leaves;
• white, slightly fluffy bloom on the bush;
• death of inflorescences and peduncles;
• deformation of tomatoes - vegetables begin to take on an uneven and not attractive shape;
• rotting tomatoes;
• the formation of a sharp and unpleasant odor.

Reasons for the appearance and infection

As a rule, the fungus "comes" to tomatoes from potato bushes. This happens especially often if the beds are located nearby. In addition, prolonged fogs, high humidity can become the cause and development of the disease. Tomatoes grown in regions with variable climatic conditions are especially susceptible to the disease.

Another reason is the use of already infected seeds. For example, you borrowed seeds for planting from a neighbor in the garden or bought in the market. The result is infected tomato bushes.

It has also been shown that fungal spores can be stored in soil. Therefore, before landing, you must be sure that the land plot you have chosen is "healthy" and does not prepare any unpleasant surprises for you. To exclude contamination, disinfect the soil and fertilize the soil before planting. This is done using ordinary ash or potassium permanganate.

Causative agents of the disease

As mentioned above, the causative agent is a fungal infection. Its name translates as "destroying plant". The spore of the fungus enters the plant through the stomata - this is a thin area of ​​the epidermis at the plant leaf. After being hit, the plant is doomed - late blight cannot be avoided.

Terms of distribution

The disease spreads quickly in conditions of high humidity - for example, during long torrential rains. Favors infection and sudden changes in temperature. For example, it's hot during the day and cold at night.Dew appears, and this is another "helper" of late blight. A humid environment is an ideal base for infection.

How and what to treat

Both traditional methods and professional drugs will help you get rid of the disease. Let's consider the most popular methods.

Chemicals

If the disease has already begun, it is best to resort to using chemicals - they are considered the most effective and fast-acting. As a rule, several medicines are used at once, this increases the likelihood of getting rid of the fungus as soon as possible.

The most effective remedies are:

1. «Fundazole"Is one of the most common medicines. It is a white powder with a slightly noticeable pungent odor. Fundazol is a highly toxic substance, use it carefully. Always wear gloves and a respirator before use. Wash hands and face thoroughly after handling. The drug is an effective "fighter" against late blight; in addition to tomatoes, it can be used for lesions of berries and other fruits.
2. «Quadris". Great for treating bushes when they are only at the initial stage of the disease. Suitable for both open ground and greenhouses. "Quadris" has a preventive and curative effect on the plant. The drug can be purchased both in the form of a powder and in the form of a spray, which greatly facilitates the treatment of bushes. "Quadris" is able to destroy even the developing spores of the fungus. It is not dangerous either for the plant or for humans - vegetables can be consumed within 5 days after processing.
3. «Infinito". The medicine takes effect immediately after it hits the leaves. In addition to protecting against late blight, Infinito performs another important function - it accelerates the growth of tomatoes and improves the quality of the crop. You can buy the product in any store that sells goods for the garden and vegetable garden.
4. «Consento". This drug is not toxic, which means it does not cause any risks to the person himself. It has a strong antifungal and prophylactic effect. It acts directly on fungal spores, slows down the spread of the fungus. Consento is characterized by excellent resistance to different weather conditions. In addition to tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, and onions are also treated with this medicine.
5. «Bravo". Possesses high potency and excellent antifungal properties. It is best to use Bravo as a preventive measure - before infection begins. It is compatible with other antifungal medications to increase protection against spores. It is necessary to carry out processing in the morning or evening.
6. «Trichopolus". This drug is sold in any pharmacy - it is absolutely safe for the plant. It has a strong antimicrobial effect. It contains a special element - metronidazole, which copes well with the fungus.

Traditional methods

Both for the treatment of diseases in humans and plants, traditional medicine has “in store” several useful and effective recipes:

1. Iodine... A solution based on this drug has strong antimicrobial properties. For cooking, add 20 drops of iodine to a bucket of water. Spray the tomato bushes with the solution. This recipe is best applied prior to infection.
2. Salt... By analogy with preparing a solution with iodine, you can prepare saline: a bucket of water has a glass of salt. This combination creates a thin but dense film on the bushes. It is she who prevents fungal spores from penetrating inside. Spraying is best done when the tomatoes are still green.
3. Fermented milk solutions... Surprisingly, lactic bacteria are enemies of phytophthora. Kefir or whey are ideal - mix with water and spray on stems and leaves. Lactic bacteria stop the development of spores, prevent late blight. In addition, dairy products do not have a harmful chemical effect on tomatoes.
4. A mixture of tobacco and ash... It is not difficult to prepare it - just mix the tobacco dust from cigarettes and one bucket of ash. "Powder" the bushes with this tool - it will kill the fungus completely.
5. Garlic and potassium permanganate... Prepare an infusion of finely chopped garlic, 10 liters of water and 1 g of potassium permanganate. The resulting liquid must be insisted for a day, after which the beds should be sprayed with it. This should be done every 15 days, and your tomatoes will remain untouched by the disease.

Agrotechnical techniques

To prevent vegetables from suffering from late blight, follow a few agrotechnical rules:

1. Restoring the natural balance of the soil. Remember that the soil should not contain much lime. Otherwise, late blight will develop there at the speed of light. To avoid this, add peat and fill the furrows with coarse sand.
2. Water the beds in a timely manner, do not forget about the right amount of water. Phytophthora develops well in a humid environment, so do not allow excess moisture. Water the tomatoes in the morning so that some of the water can be absorbed into the soil by the evening.
3. If you grow vegetables in a greenhouse, be sure to ventilate it.
4. In case of sudden changes in temperature, cover the beds with a special device - a spunbond. In other words, it is agrofibre that protects plants from the cold. This is especially true for central Russia and the northern regions of the country. Besides protection, spunbond increases yields and prevents the spread of disease.
5. Take care of the general condition of the tomatoes. Make sure your culture is getting enough nutrients. Don't forget about organic and mineral supplements. Nitrogen preparations are especially good for strengthening the immune system.
6. Choose quality and proven material from a reputable manufacturer. Pay attention to hybrid varieties - many of them have strong immunity to late blight.

Preventive measures

Before planting a tomato, we advise you to take a number of preventive measures. Among them:

• soil and air processing. This is especially true for greenhouse plants. A solution of "Zircon" is suitable for processing - wipe it all hard surfaces - walls, frames in the greenhouse, pegs. In addition, it is also necessary to cultivate the soil;
• water the bushes correctly - direct the stream of water to the base of the bush, avoiding moisture on the leaves;
• use siderates - "green fertilizers". These are special plants, the main function of which is to enrich the soil with useful trace elements, including nitrogen. After green manure, any crop will grow well, including tomatoes. In addition, they do an excellent job with weeds, which often become carriers of late blight;
• be sure to tie up long stems - it is important that they do not touch the ground.

Read also:

Disease-resistant and easy-to-care tomato "Gina".

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A promising newcomer among tomato varieties is the King of Kings tomato.

Gardener tips

Experienced gardeners share the secrets of prevention and treatment for late blight:

1. You should not plant tomato bushes close to each other. The fact is that dense planting contributes to poor ventilation of the bushes, which increases the risk of fungus.
2. 2 weeks after planting, treat the bushes with Bordeaux liquid.
3. Although nitrogen-containing dressings have a beneficial effect on the immunity of vegetables, fertilizers should not be overused.
4. Check the lower leaves periodically - if you notice blackening, remove them immediately.
5. Create a “defense” of peas and beans - plant these crops so that they create a kind of perimeter around the tomatoes.
6. Water the tomatoes with ash infusion during ripening.
7. Tear off stepchildren, as well as yellow and dried leaves in time.
8. Spray the beds periodically with solutions such as iodine or ash.
9. Bury the stems of calendula or marigold deep in the ground - these plants will fertilize the soil and have a positive effect on the harvest.

Important! Tomatoes are not recommended next to eggplants. These vegetables are more susceptible to disease than others, and for tomatoes they are not the best neighbors.

Conclusion

Spores of the fungus easily penetrate the bush - just a little moisture and heat are enough. But getting rid of the disease is not so easy. Fortunately, there are many recipes and remedies out there - from chemical medicines to folk advice. They will help you cope, but you will have to spend a lot of time and effort.

To prevent your tomatoes from getting sick with late blight, it is best to periodically carry out disease prevention - for example, treat the bushes with a solution of potassium permanganate or “powder” them with a mixture of ash and tobacco. Also, do not forget to cultivate the soil before planting. Healthy land is the key to a quality harvest.