by Greg Spinks

Created on: January 09, 2009

Tomato blight is perhaps one of the most disheartening tragedies that can befall the tomato gardener. While the blackened leaves and dying plants are dashing all hopes of success, there is hope. But it does require some extra work. Good gardening isn't for the faint of heart.

The first step is attitude. Blight is a challenge. As with any challenge, one can give up and walk away, or face the crisis head-on. With any blight, time is important to save at least some of the crop since the blight can wipe out the tomato patch within days.

If time isn't available, take the loss but get all the information about the various blights after the growing season. Talk to fellow gardeners; contact a local Master Gardener program and/or your local agricultural extension office. There is a wealth of information available to prevent or at least minimize a future infestation.

The best course of action, the least expensive and more healthy plan, is a natural and organic defense method. Compost tea ranks high on the list of measures to consider when blight attacks. To make compost tea, get a five gallon bucket and place about a gallon mature compost in it and fill it with water. It needs to be stirred frequently for three days or so and kept in a warm place. Strain the tea and spray on the leaves, after removing the most infected ones, and/or the ground.

While not a cure-all, the organisms present in the spray effectively control the blight and add important nutrients to the soil and provide additional benefits to the plant. It is necessary to use the tea every three or four days for proper control. There is a wealth of information on the Web regarding other options on how to use and make compost tea from simple kitchen scraps.

Another important step is to pay attention to your soil. Get a soil test done. The garden soil should be alive with organisms such as the beneficial earth worm. Add grass clippings and leaves and the all important compost. Never use pesticides which indiscriminately kill all living things. Crop rotation is also an important consideration in proper soil management. And consider winter crops as a cover crop. A number of plant species even in the cold northern regions will encourage a better crop the following growing season.

Companion planting, plants which "like" each other, also can help alleviate growing season problems. Native flowers in the vegetable garden, as well as herbs, also add to the general health of the garden plot. Biodiversity is essential.

Another smart move is to start with healthy plants and that usually means starting your own in real soil or finding an organic nursery. Heirloom plants, particularly if you save your own seeds from year to year, are a good choice.

Tomatoes need sun and good air circulation. Do not overcrowd them ; and it is best to stake or trellis the plants. It is best to mulch with lawn clippings and other organic materials. It helps with moisture content and weed problems.

A few extra organic steps and attention to garden details, along with information readily available from a wide variety of sources is essential to produce a good tomato crop. Everyone's garden plot is different and has it's own unique micro-environment, tailor fit your plan to meet your garden's needs. At the end of the season, and throughout the cold winter months, enjoy the garden bounty and smile, you beat the blight and improved your health.

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