Diseases and insect pests that often attack fruit and nut trees, grapes, and brambles in spring and summer can be headed off during the winter. Dormant sprays—which kill overwintering pests and some diseases—are best applied when plants are in the dormant stage—after leaves have dropped in the fall and before leaf buds open in spring….
Diseases
How to Identify Early Blight, Late Blight, and Leaf Spot on Tomatoes
Early blight, late blight, and leaf spot are common fungal diseases of tomato plants. Late blight is the most serious of the three. It spreads rapidly and will likely destroy the infected plant and can quickly spread to other plants—including potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Here are basics for identifying these fungal diseases: Conditions for Disease…
Late Blight Fungus Disease
Late blight is a fungal disease that can infect tomato and potato plants. The disease spreads rapidly and will likely destroy the infected plant in a few days. Wind- and water-borne fungal spores can quickly spread to other plants—including eggplants, and peppers. Late blight commonly strikes when nights are cool and moist and days are…
Early Blight Fungus Disease
Early blight is a fungal disease that targets tomatoes in particular but also hits potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Early blight can infect plants at almost any time during the growing season. It is most prevalent in regions where there is high humidity and when temperatures are greater than 75°F. Fungal spores carrying the disease are…
Septoria Leaf Spot Fungus Disease
Septoria leaf spot is a fungal disease. It is one of the most destructive tomato plant diseases and affects a wide range of other vegetables and garden plants as well. Septoria fungal leaf spot is most severe in regions where warm, wet, humid weather extends over several days to weeks. Target Plants: tomato, celery, cucumber-family…
Anthracnose Leaf-Spot Fungus
Anthracnose—also called Leaf Spot Fungus–is a catch-all name to describe several diseases caused by fungi that flourish in wet weather. Anthracnose causes small, dark spots with yellow halos to develop on leaves. The spots become sunken lesions. Lesions may also form on stems and fruits. Leaf spots grow larger, become angular, and then dry until…
Bacterial Leaf Spot Disease
Bacterial leaf spot disease produces small, dark irregular spots on tomato and pepper leaves; leaves eventually turn yellow and drop off. This defoliation weakens plants and exposes developing fruits to sunscald. Small, dark, wartlike raised spots with slightly sunken centers may appear on green fruits. Rot organisms are able to enter the fruit at these…
