![]() ![]() ![]() Keep in mind that pests such as flea beetles and aphids can help to spread the spores of early blight throughout your garden. Although it shows up earlier than late blight, it sometimes does not appear until plants are fruit bearing, and the two diseases can show up simultaneously.ĭense foliage and high humidity creates a perfect storm for early blight. Oftentimes, early blight appears after heavy early morning dew or heavy rainfall. Growth Conditions Early blight spreads rapidly in temperatures above 75°, often appearing after morning dew or heavy rainfall.Įarly blight thrives in moist conditions and can occur at any temperature but spreads the quickest when temperatures are above 75°. The disease may also be present in solanaceous weeds such as black nightshade and hairy nightshade. Crops That May Deal With Early Blight Early blight affects tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and solanaceous weeds.Įarly blight can affect both tomato and potato varieties as well as other nightshades such as eggplant and peppers. They may form black, leathery spots near the stem and may even fall from the plant completely. Affected immature fruit may even completely fall off the plant, leaving you with less fruit to enjoy.įruits that make it to mature stages may not be as high quality as fruit of an unaffected plant. Ensuring that your plants are healthy in general will decrease the odds of them coming down with any of the many diseases that can affect tomatoes.Īlthough early blight may not altogether kill your plants, yields will almost certainly be affected. ![]() Pay close attention to the lower leaves, looking for signs of the disease and taking action quickly to prevent further spread.Įarly blight tends to prey on weak, stressed, and unhealthy plants. Symptoms of early blight will start to show on the lowest leaves first and work its way up the plant. It can jump from soil to your plant by way of water splash or wind which makes pruning, deep watering by way of soaker hoses or drip tape, and mulching extremely vital to keeping a healthy garden. How it Grows Early blight thrives in soil, plant debris, and infected plants, spreading through water splash or wind.Įarly blight fungus lives in the soil, on plant debris like discarded leaves or compost, and on other infected plants. Plants and fruit can be affected by early blight at any maturity stage, starting from young seedlings all the way to older, stronger stages. This disease should not be confused with late blight, which occurs later in the growing season, is much more deadly, and can spread much further and more quickly. What is Tomato Early Blight? Early blight is a common tomato disease that affects plants and fruit at any stage of maturity.Įarly blight is a common tomato disease caused by the fungus Alternaria solani or closely related Alternaria tomatophila. Keep reading for tips on identifying, treating, and preventing early blight in your tomato garden. Take good care to keep your garden tidy, know when early blight can strike, and how to treat it if it appears. Where does it come from? How does it spread? Can I save my garden if my plants become infected with early blight?Įarly blight can be destructive, but it is also very preventable if you follow some simple gardening steps. Surely, if you have been gardening and growing tomatoes for some time, you have heard the term “blight,” but information surrounding it can be confusing. ![]()
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