The fungus is first transmitted by spores splashed from the soil onto the plant by rain or irrigation, or by contact with infected tissues of other plants. The first signs of tomato late blight are lesions on the upper leaves of the plant Tomato early blight: cause and symptomsĮarly tomato blight is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani.

If conditions are favourable, the entire plant will succumb to the disease in a matter of days.

On the fruit, the symptoms start out as yellowish, slightly wet looking patches, but quickly turn dark and collapse upon themselves. Dark lesions also appear on the stems and eventually the fruit. In severe cases, where moisture levels are high, white growth, similar to fungal growth, may appear on the underside of the leaves. Early symptoms begin with curled, misshaped leaves, which rapidly turn into dark brown lesions with lighter rings around them. Spores that fall on the soil, however, can also be splashed back up onto plants by rain or irrigation. Because the spores carried by the wind settle on moist, damp leaves of the upper canopy, symptoms typically first appear at the top of the plant. It is transmitted by the spread of airborne spores, which are spread by the wind, and thrives in wet, hot, humid conditions. Late blight on tomatoes is caused by the fungus-like Oomycete protist species, Phytophthora infestans. Early tomato blight appears on leaves as a brown spot of dead tissue with concentric circles Tomato late blight: causes and symptoms While not as severe, if not monitored and treated or removed, like late blight, it can spread throughout your tomato plants, and even infect other Solanaceae species growing nearby. Early tomato blight also infects members of the Solanaceae family. It was the disease responsible for the potato famines of the mid-19 th century. Late tomato blight, also known as tomato late blight or simply late blight, infects plants in the Solanaceae family, especially crops like potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum), aubergines ( Solanum melongena), and tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum). Choosing blight-resistant tomato varieties.Tomato early blight: cause and symptoms.Tomato late blight: causes and symptoms.Plants may show symptoms of disease on foliage, but crop remains unaffected. Here’s some varieties to try! Click the images to find out more… CRIMSON CRUSHĬordon variety, ideal outdoors. Transfer to growing bags or 30cm (12in) pots if growing indoors, or harden off before planting outdoors in late May. Prick out seedlings individually into (7.5cm) 3in pots, transferring into a 13.5cm (5in) pot as they develop. Cover seeds, water in and germinate at a temperature of 21C (70F) lowering to a growing temperature of 18C (65F). Sow seeds either in modules, 2 per unit or in a 7cm (21/2in) pot in a general-purpose compost. Spread by wind currents, blight spores can be carried on hands and equipment, so hygiene is key and growing resistant varieties boosts success. While early blight in June can be problematic, late blight in July and August quickly shrivels leaves and damages fruit. You can grow these varieties indoors too, although glasshouses offer protection from blight spores landing on foliage. Recent years has seen a few F1 resistant varieties introduced, with two new ones launched this year, ‘Summerlast’, a dwarf patio variety, and ‘Crimson Blush’, a beefsteak variety. While there’s a wealth of tomato varieties available there are far fewer resistant to blight disease, the scourge of gardeners trying to grow tomatoes outdoors. Nothing beats a home-grown, sun-ripened tomato, so to pick those luscious red fruit as early start sowing seed under glass now to April.

Early blight resistant tomato varieties