Early Bird Farm - What To Plant Now
Location: 806 Elmira Road,
Ithaca, NY 14850
Telephone: 607-272-1056
Greenhouse Hours: 8am to 7pm,
7 days a week
Produce Stand Hours: 9am to dark,
7 days a week
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Late Blight Update
Cornell University
Cooperative Extension
Southern Tier Produce News
Late blight last year as devastating ----
unprecedentedly so in NY. This was because diseased tomato transplants were sold to box stores throughout the northeast, spreading the disease early and thoroughly, and the cool, wet weather conditions were perfect for it to continue infecting and spreading. The normal route late blight takes to NY is on storms, blowing up front the south eastern states, where late blight does overwinter—this is why when we get it, it’s usually late in the season.
Overwintering Potential:
Considering the wide spread late blight epidemic last year, it’s likely that the disease will have overwintered on potatoes unnoticed somewhere and be back this year. Late blight does not overwinter on tomatoes (the plants die during the winter) or tomato seeds, but it can survive on potato tubers, which can grow and spread disease in the spring.
Late blight in Northwest PA:
In mid-May late blight was confirmed (sporangia observed) on locally grown greenhouse tomato transplants in the Northwest region of Pennsylvania. The grower has destroyed the symptomatic plants and is adjusting his fungicide program. The PA Department of Ag is currently conducting a site visit and is working with the grower to avoid potential spread. Samples are also being submitted to the USDA/ARS lab in Beltsville, MD for genotyping. At this time, a potential inoculum source has not been pinpointed, but there is continued investigation.
Even earlier, late blight was found in a tomato tunnel in southern Maryland. No new outbreaks of late blight have been detected including the neighboring farms. The initial high tunnel outbreak is being managed with fungicides despite recommendations to destroy the crop.
As of today, 6/3/10, there are no new late blight confirmations anywhere closer than the greenhouse in northwestern PA, as mentioned above.
What about that naughty greenhouse from last year?
Ag and Markets and Cornell have been scouting the tomato facility that provides tomato transplants to many of the big home shopping stores in much of New York. We began in early April and will continue to the end of June 2010. At this time we have not found any tomato seedlings showing any sign of late blight, or for that matter, any other disease (bacterial, fungal or viral), or insect presence on the tomato transplants. This includes the full range of named tomato varieties as well as heirlooms. I have also taken the time to look at all other plants in the facility, including pepper and eggplants, other vegetables, and a collection of herbs. All of these plants are also free of disease. Although late blight infected plants have been reported in states to the south of New York, it is reassuring, that at lease at this point of time, we are not finding any “smoking gun”. We all need to remain vigilant, since spores can move on storm fronts from surrounding states, and the season is spread out over many months.
Want to be on the late blight email list serve? Contact Abby Seaman, ajs32@cornell.edu and she will add your email to the list. When any new late blight is confirmed, you’ll know right away. |
