Allotments 4 All

Blightwatch keeps telling me about full Smith periods in Surrey... How far away from the soft South has anyone been blitzed by this scourge?

Fine so far in London despite two alerts!

Blight all round the site.

Keep checking my tomatoes everyday but no sign yet here in Leicester, dispite numerous blightwatch alerts

I have been told it is in Worcester, but I'm in surrey, 2 warnings so far but no sign of it.

It`s been in in Shropshire for a week or two, and a friend of mine has just been hit in Staffordshire.

With the exception of half a dozen Desiree which I planted as an afterthought all my crop is now mature, and the haulm almost gone, so I`ve no worries

N. Surrey/SW London - Only one full smith warning here so far, but still no blight - I was totally expecting it.

Essex/London borders and none seen on my site :)

Neil

Been wondering whether it was something to do with not having much of it last year - very little seen on our plots, just a bit on some toms late and then the big freeze over winter.

Having googled a bit - I found one discussion saying that freezing winters kill off late blight spores (not early ones though) so even though we have the conditions for it now, maybe they're not around.

I'd appreciate any input from blight experts.

Have had several warnings here in South Staffs but so far my outdoor toms have not been hit............fingers crossed :)

Cotswold area signs of early blight on tomatoes.  Nothing on the stems so I have removed the offending leaves and said a few prayers.   Lots of potatoes round the site but apart from dieing back of the earlies everything so far looking good. 

Tomatos only a few ripened so far, like watching a pot boil but even more frustrating.

Talk about tempting providence!  After my posting yesterday I made my usual potato inspection today, there were the dark spots.  Surprisingly, the only leaves which I could see to be affected were ones which were already in the `dying off` stage - mainly chlorotic, and these were promptly removed.  The vigorous darker green leaves of still growing plants showed no visible signs, but of course it is often virtually impossible to see the earlier `water` stains which precede the dark spots by several days so I shall have to await developments with the Desiree.

In answer to early pea, he is mistaken in thinking that there was little blight last year - it was in fact a bad year in some places - I had it a full 3 weeks earlier than ever before.  However it is certainly possible that last winter played a part in reducing the incidence and severity of blight this year in that many of the dumps of last year`s diseased potatoes would be frozen and the sources of outbreaks thereby greatly reduced.  However, despite the severity of the frosts, the presence of a blanket of several inches of snow would have prevented the frost penetrating very deeply, and anything protected by several inches of soil woild have been protected from freezing.

The hot dry weather - almost everywhere during June, and still extensive in the South in July - probably had greater effect.  Spore production can only take place if the foliage is wet, and remains moist for a minimum of 7 - 10 hours.  If these conditions aren`t there then `Smith Periods` are more or less irrelevant, which is why so many `Smith Period` reports seen on these boards were not followed by actual Blight reports.  These conditions simply didn`t occur in most places during June and early July (or much later in some places), and so there was little or no spore production during that time. And even when spore production does commence, it can, in fact, be many weeks before the signs become evident in a large field of potatoes, by which time it cannot be stopped, but only slowed.

It is also quite possible that so many commercial growers were hard hit last year that they have exercised extra vigilence this year in Blight prevention procedures.

Quote from: Kepouros on August 22, 2010, 23:05:36
In answer to early pea, he is mistaken in thinking that there was little blight last year - it was in fact a bad year in some places

I meant locally, said on our allotments.  We had a good year, even Christmas potatoes.

That doesn`t really alter anything.  You were indeed very lucky, but luck is fickle.  It only takes one potato dump 30 miles away to emit one burst of spores, and it could hit you within weeks.  Of course, on some sites everyone is tidy and hygenic and all infected debris is immediately removed, and this greatly reduces the incidence of locally induced blight in that area, but it only takes one untidy individual to chuck his blighted spuds under the nearest hedge, or into the ditch, to provide the makings for a full blown outbreak next year

Blight on my plot in Derbyshire near Glossop all out door Tomatos (Green Tomato recipies welcome) it has also affected some spuds that should have been dug up last month but the Sarpo mia are holding up touch wood.
I was devastated as I had three buckets of toms waiting for some sun. 

Go out and buy a bunch of ripe bananas, and put green tomatoes and bananas together where they won`t be disturbed.  You`ll soon have ripe tomatoes.  If you wish you can even eat the bananas first and just use the skins - it still works.

Quote from: Kepouros on August 24, 2010, 14:42:03
Go out and buy a bunch of ripe bananas, and put green tomatoes and bananas together where they won`t be disturbed.  You`ll soon have ripe tomatoes.  If you wish you can even eat the bananas first and just use the skins - it still works.

Thank you! Never heard just the banana skins would work. Might try it on the green ones left in October.

The skins of ripe bananas give off ethylene gas, and it is this, not the pith of the banana, that ripens the tomatoes.

Imported tomatoes are very often picked green (particularly the `ripened on the vine` ones) then transported in ethylene filled containers.

going to check after work today, removed all the tom leaves over the weekend have not been there since, crossing fingers

I am devastated. One of my tomatoes which has been very slow to turn was just starting to blush red.  I had dreams of eating it in a few days.  But this morning it has turned not red but brown.  Yet there is no sign of blight on the rest of the plant the leaves a full on green.  I think it is a black russian so I was really looking forward to it.