Late Blight

About this disease

Late Blight: A Looming Threat in Your South African Garden

Late blight, a fungal nightmare for tomato and potato lovers, strikes like a thief in the night, capable of decimating entire crops in a matter of days. Understanding its cunning ways is crucial for protecting your precious harvests.

Unmasking the Stealthy Saboteur:

• Leaves: The initial assault unfolds on leaves, where you’ll notice irregular, water-soaked spots that rapidly enlarge. These lesions turn brown to purplish-black, often with a white, fungal fringe on the underside.
• Stems and petioles: The disease doesn’t stop there, advancing to stems and petioles, leaving similar dark, sunken lesions that can girdle and weaken the plant.
• Fruit: On tomatoes, late blight manifests as large, rough, brown lesions on the fruit, rendering them unpalatable and unusable.

South African and Afrikaans Names:

• Afrikaans: Laatvrot
• English: Late blight

Why it’s a Devastating Disease:

Late blight disrupts vital plant functions, causing leaves to shrivel and die, and fruits to rot. In severe cases, infected plants can collapse and succumb within a mere two weeks. This rapid devastation makes late blight a serious threat to the livelihoods of farmers and a heartbreaking sight for home gardeners.

Combating the Blight’s Wrath:

• Prevention is your best bet:
  • Choose resistant tomato and potato varieties whenever possible.
  • Practice good sanitation, removing and destroying infected plant material.
  • Avoid overhead watering that splashes spores onto leaves.
  • Ensure proper air circulation by spacing plants adequately.
  • Monitor weather conditions and apply fungicides preventively during cool, humid periods.
• Early intervention is key: If you spot the telltale signs, act quickly!
  • Isolate infected plants to prevent further spread.
  • Remove and destroy affected leaves and fruits.
  • Apply targeted fungicides as per label instructions.
• Organic options: Neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, and Bordeaux mixture offer eco-friendly alternatives for mild infections.

Additional Tips:

• Be especially vigilant during the late summer and early autumn months when late blight thrives.
• Rotate crops to minimize soil-borne inoculum.
• Keep your gardening tools clean and sanitized to prevent spreading the fungus.
• Don’t lose hope! With proactive measures and quick action, you can save your plants from late blight’s destructive embrace.

Remember, late blight is a formidable foe, but armed with knowledge and vigilance, you can protect your South African garden and enjoy bountiful harvests despite its lurking threat. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any further questions about late blight or other plant diseases!