Unfortunately, this tolerance doesn’t mean complete immunity, but rather that the tomato will “shrug off” and be less affected by the fungus. Some tomato varieties exhibit more tolerance to early blight.
Early blight: ¼ to ½ inch brown spots on leaves.
#EARLY BLIGHT TOMATO NEEM OIL HOW TO#
Here’s a quick primer, and if you want more information on how to avoid misdiagnosis, check this page from NC State Extension. Sometimes, your tomatoes may have more than one issue going on. Photo by AmBNPHOTO/Shutterstock Is It Early Blight or Another Problem?Īs mentioned, several tomato diseases are commonly mistaken for each other. Infection happens near the stem, and the fruit may drop off.Įarly blight affecting the stem and leaves of a tomato plant. Fruit can be infected and develops dark, leathery spots with raised ridges.Stem infections are often oval in shape and also present in concentric rings.They may fall off or remain attached to the plant as dried-out husks. Eventually, infected leaves will turn brown completely and wither.Leaf tissue surrounding the spots may turn yellow.Early blight spots range from the size of a pencil eraser to almost as big as a dime.Spots are brown and round and may develop concentric rings. Small dark spots may appear on older leaves near the soil.Watch for these signs when walking in your garden: The result is struggling or even dead plants, and a reduced harvest.Įarly blight begins on lower, older leaves in midsummer when temperatures warm. The Alternaria fungus also releases phytotoxins, toxic chemicals to the host plant-your tomato or potato. The spores can overwinter in the soil and in contaminated plant material.Įarly blight can cause cankers that girdle the plant. In other words, warm, humid summers with evening thunderstorms, like many of us experience in June, July, and August. High humidity levels, rain, and wind contribute to spreading Alternaria spores. Lower leaves commonly become infected when in contact with contaminated soil or when soil is splashed onto the leaves by rain or irrigation.
If you are curious about the details of this fungus’ life cycle, check this summary from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.Īlternaria spores can be spread by wind, people and animals, and by contaminated tools. These spores are then ready to infect more areas of your plant or drift to an adjacent victim. Spores can be produced as quickly as 3-5 days after spots first appear. How Does Early Blight Spread?ĭuring wet or humid conditions, like warm days with significant rainfall or morning dew, the fungus that causes early blight can replicate rapidly. Two different species but the same genus.
It is often confused with Septoria leaf spot, Verticillium and Fusarium wilts, and bacterial leaf spot.Įarly blight tomato infection is caused by the fungus Alternaria tomatophila and Alternaria solani. This fungus first attacks the lower leaves of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, etc., and moves up the plant. It also affects plants like peppers, potatoes, eggplants, and other members of the nightshade family. What Is Early Blight?Įarly blight is a fungal pathogen of tomatoes. Here’s how to watch for signs of early blight and keep it in check. If left unchecked, it can destroy your tomato plants and severely hamper your harvest. Early blight of tomatoes is a common issue that many tomato gardeners face.
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