Garden Blight

[johnpma]

Does anyone know if potato's are susceptible to blight? Thinking about trying to grow red potato's this year

[Run Forest Run!]

I don't ever plant potatoes in ground that held tomatoes the year before, and vice versa. The blight will affect both plants.
If you don't have any free ground available this year, consider planting them in containers (like bushel baskets) and they do quite well.


I forgot to mention that the same rule applies to pepper plants.

[Michael Greer]

Potatoes are susceptible, so take those precautions others have mentioned. If Late Blight shows up in your garden, cut and dispose of all tomato and potato foliage immediately, and harvest the potatoes soon after. The longer you delay, the greater chance of the infection getting into the tubers. On the bright side, potatoes are one crop that will thrive in a brand new garden plot. This may be your opportunity to grow a bigger garden.

[johnpma]

I don't ever plant potatoes in ground that held tomatoes the year before, and vice versa. The blight will affect both plants.
If you don't have any free ground available this year, consider planting them in containers (like bushel baskets) and they do quite well.


I forgot to mention that the same rule applies to pepper plants.

Thanks Karen!! I have horrible luck in the soil with peppers......I may try the baskets this year. My buddy grows his potatoes in trash barrels which is kind of cool

[johnpma]

Potatoes are susceptible, so take those precautions others have mentioned. If Late Blight shows up in your garden, cut and dispose of all tomato and potato foliage immediately, and harvest the potatoes soon after. The longer you delay, the greater chance of the infection getting into the tubers. On the bright side, potatoes are one crop that will thrive in a brand new garden plot. This may be your opportunity to grow a bigger garden.

I have an area in my garden that does not get full sun that I may try the potatoes in. My garlic, carrots, beet, lettuce and parsnips are all in raised beds which I've had good luck with.

[red dorakeen]

I was out pruning tomatoes a few days ago when I remembered this thread and something worth adding.

When pruning it's good to prune off the leaves that touch or are near the ground so soil born diseases don't splash up and infect the leaves.

[johnpma]

I was out pruning tomatoes a few days ago when I remembered this thread and something worth adding.

When pruning it's good to prune off the leaves that touch or are near the ground so soil born diseases don't splash up and infect the leaves.

Great advise!! Thank you!! We need SUN badly.......my tomato plants look like crap period. This year I planted thru plastic sheeting. I also "furrowed" my rows because of all the water we have had......this is just horrible horrible gardening weather

[jimmygarison]

Hi, i am jimmy , I am religious about rotating crops into new soil to avoid leftover pathogens, and have pretty good luck.

[Michael Greer]

I grow my tomatoes up high on a trellis of poles and twine, and prune them up 16 inches or so to allow some free air to flow under them. While there is some risk of sun burning, the pruning keeps things drier.

[johnpma]

I grow my tomatoes up high on a trellis of poles and twine, and prune them up 16 inches or so to allow some free air to flow under them. While there is some risk of sun burning, the pruning keeps things drier.

That is a fantastic idea. One plant got it pretty badly so I pulled the plant in an effort to minimize the potential of it infecting other plants. The rest have a few leaves that I removed and discarded

Picked our first round of beans last night.....things are happening slowly but they are happening