Removing (Phytophthora Infestans) devastated tomato plants http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OQXBU 8 September 2009 Removing (Phytophthora Infestans) devastated tomato plants Tomato plants were devastated by potato blight (Phytophthora Infestans). Usually at this time of year, with no frost, the plants should be all green and thriving. The support system was removed and stored for next year's use. Plants were disposed of in the garbage to reduce the chance of spore infection in the garden. The bed was rototilled. Curiously one tomato plant did not suffer from the (Phytophthora Infestans) as much as the other 15 different varieties. This one tomato plant was Burpee Supersteak, a hybrid. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TRFOE Here is one supplier of seeds.
Durgan I am really sorry to hear about the blight on your tomatoes. Do you plan to disinfect the support systems or will the blight spores only live in the soil over the winter? How did the support systems work overall? Where you please with the results or were they not really tested because of the blight?
The spores will be killed by the cold Winter. I just thought it was prudent to remove the tomato plants from the garden. Composting is fine if it get hot enough, but some portion of the plant may not get the full treatment. Of more concern is any infected potatoes left in the ground when harvesting. I had about ten potato tubers infected and discarded them in the garbage. I also cull my stored potatoes often,and have found a few infected.The blight affects both tomatoes and potatoes. The overhead string support system is excellent. I have used similar in the past. It is my favorite system, but the four tier cages work well also.
