Mature green tomatoes should be stored at 550F-700F with 85-90% humidity. Firm,
ripe
fruit
should be stored at 45-500F with 85-90% humidity.
Insects
Aphids can be managed with sticky yellow traps or insecticidal soap sprays.
Beet armyworm appears sporadically in KY. The moth is blown in from the cotton
belt of the
South. Voracious eaters, the most effective treatment is to use a neem product when the larvae
is
young. This insect is tolerant to most insecticides.
Colorado Potato beetle can be treated with Bt strain (san diego).
Flea beetle can be damaging, particularly to small plants early in the season. Row
covers for
smaller plantings can be used to exclude pests until the plants are larger. Prevention may be
the
best practice in reducing the initial populations. Eliminate weedy boundaries around fields
early
before adult insects emerge. Treat if an average of 1 larva, adult, or egg mass per plant is
found
and plants are less than 12" tall.
Cutworms can be managed by eliminating weedy areas. Early spring tillage can cut
down
populations by exposing them to the surface and disturbing their food source and egg laying
sites.
Fruitworms and hornworms can be treated with Bt products. Carefully monitor plants
for eggs
on
undersides of leaves, often near flower clusters. Treat if an average of more than one egg or
larvae/
40 plants is found.
Leafminer with a large infestation can be damaging to leaves. Lacewings, Eulophidae
are
good
biological control insects. Also, plant a beneficial insect habitat near to where tomatoes are to
be
grown. This will attract parasitic wasps to the area. By having the wasps in the area ahead of
tomatoes, prevention may already be underway.
Mites can be reduced with sulfur if the weather is not too hot and humid. Repeated
sprays of
insecticidal soap can reduce populations. For large plantings, predacious mites can be
introduced to
aid in the control.
Pinworms periodically turn up as a problem. Moths of this worm are active toward
evening.
Lacewings, flower bugs, and predatory mites ca reduce populations.
Stinkbugs are preyed upon by Trichogramma wasps,Pteromalidae, flower bugs,
lacewings and
others. Having a beneficial habitat for biological control insects is essential for maintaining
the
diversity needed to manage the multitudes of pests.
Thrips are nasty and can be sprayed with insecticidal soap or oil.
Whiteflies are managed by insecticidal soap sprays or through yellow sticky traps.
Diseases
General
These disease controls have been written with a range of commercial producers in mind.
However,
they focus on staked tomato production where a high level of management is critical to timely
production, quality and high yields. Control of foliar and stem diseases will require frequent
sprays
of foliar fungicides most of the season using a high-pressure sprayer (200-400 psi) delivering
enough spray mixtures to thoroughly cover the foliage (50 gallons early in the season and
increasing to 150 gallons per acre when the plants are large). A boom-type sprayer is
probably best,
but successful applications can be made with mist blower-types. In addition to fungicide
sprays,
start with disease-free transplants, plant away from potatoes and tobacco, and use sites rotated
away
from solanaceous crops to grasses (fescue, small grains, or corn). If rotated sites cannot be
used,
consider using preplant soil fumigation, especially if nematodes or Verticillium wilt are
present.
Bacterial diseases are becoming increasingly important in the US, so study carefully the
bacterial
diseases listed below.
Anthracnose (ripe rot) Control of anthracnose is especially important for processing
tomatoes
because quality standards include mold counts. It occurs mainly as a sunken circular spot of
ripe
fruits with the sporulating fungus appearing as a dark mass in the center of the lesion. It is
particularly troublesome on fruit that is overripe and in contact with the soil. Although
infections
can occur early (when the fruit is green and small), this is primarily a disease of ripe fruit so
avoid
over-mature fruit, especially after Ethrel application (or other fruit ripening agents) when
susceptibility increases rapidly. A two to four year rotation to crops not related to tomatoes
with
good weed control during the rotation will prevent pathogen buildup. Some processing
tomatoes
with tolerance to anthracnose fruit rot are US68, Hybrid 219, Hypeel 696, Early Pear,
O-8245,
Heinz 7151, O-7983, LaRosa, Peto 2196, S012 and OX4.
Bacterial canker This is an increasingly important disease in Kentucky which can
cause
serious
losses during cool summers and in fall crops. It occurs in many forms as a fruit spot, leaf
blight,
stem canker, or vascular wilt, depending on whether the pathogen is localized or systemic.
Under
hot and humid weather conditions, the bacterium becomes established on the foliage of
healthy
plants and invades the plant through wounds and natural openings. Prevention -not cure- is the
only acceptable strategy for control. Prevent introduction into your crop; prevent
over-wintering in
the field and slow buildup of the pathogen on the plant. The canker pathogen is seed and
transplant-borne; it overwinters on tomato debris (on roots and large stems) plus stakes and
other
field and greenhouse items. Once present, the bacterium is easily spread during wet conditions
by
splashing rain, irrigation water, machinery, and workers. All items contacting tomatoes should
be
sanitized with a 10% bleach solution to reduce introduction.
Take steps to start with disease-free material! Use disease-free seed, but assume in
today's
marketplace that the seed may be infested, so also use proper seed treatments for bacterial
diseases
(see seed treatments
section below). Use certified disease free transplants. In seed beds spray on a 5 day schedule
with
Streptomycin (Agrimycin) (see label recommendations) starting with first true leaf until
transplanting is complete, but do not use streptomycin on the plants after transplanting to the
field.
In fresh market operations, plants detected with canker in the field should be carefully rogued
out,
avoided, or at minimum worked last. The canker pathogen is easily spread during pruning and
staking operations, and less disease develops in fields where suckers are removed when very
small
and those not pruned at all. Avoid working in fields while foliage is wet, especially early in
the
season. Some observations strongly suggest that air- blast-type sprays enhance spread by
creating
airborne mist. Sticks should be fumigated or dipped in a 10% chlorine bleach solution before
reusing. Rotating to non-host crops for 3 to 4 years is highly effective in reducing the
pathogen at
site, but there are many hosts, including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant, and
solanaceous
weeds such as black nightshade. Preliminary evidence suggests tobacco is a symptomless host.
At
the end of the crop, burning or properly composting the above-ground residue can reduce the
pathogen; the field should be plowed such that all residue is turned under the soil.
In staked tomatoes, spraying on a weekly schedule starting immediately after
transplanting
with
copper may be helpful at reducing buildup of the pathogen and spread. However, early copper
sprays on processing tomatoes have generally
been ineffective in controlling bacterial canker early, but its use for other bacterial diseases
may
also slow spread of the foliar phases of canker.
Bacterial speck and bacterial spot Bacterial Spot mainly occurs on the foliage as
dark, angular
spotting with yellow halos and scabby lesions of the fruit. Bacterial Speck causes similar spots
on
the foliage but black specks on the fruit. Spot is favored by warm wet weather while bacterial
speck is more likely in cool wet conditions. The incidence and severity of spot and speck
have
markedly increased recently, probably due to the production of hybrid seed in tropical
climates. Use
western-grown seed, certified as disease-free, plus assume they are contaminated and use a
hot-water or bleach seed treatment. Use streptomycin sprays in seed beds. NOTE:
STREPTOMYCIN IS LABELED ONLY FOR THE PLANT BEDS/SEEDLINGS; IT IS NOT
SPECIFICALLY REGISTERED FOR USE IN THE GREENHOUSE AND THE LABEL
SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS USE AFTER TRANSPLANTING. Transplant only disease-free
seedlings into rotated land. These bacterial diseases can 'explode' under protracted wet
conditions
due to very rapid reproduction of the bacteria. Keep bacterial numbers down by including a
fixed
copper material in the spray program once first symptoms are present or advisories are
issued.
Blossom end rot This is not an infectious disease, rather a physiological disorder
related to
calcium
movement or calcium deficiency, promoted by variances in water availability and growth
flushes.
Blossom end rot is aggravated by improper fertility programs (e.g. high levels of ammonium
nitrogen or high levels of potassium). Steps should be taken to insure adequate calcium levels
are
in the soil Mulching of tomatoes reduces it. Maintain uniform soil moisture. Avoid sudden
injury
to healthy roots by avoiding sites subject to standing water/flooding; avoid close cultivation.
Calcium sprays are not considered effective in reducing blossom end rot in field
plantings.
Buckeye rot and Pythium rot Buckeye rot occurs as circular, zonate lesions on the
fruits while
Pythium causes a water rot of the fruit. In stake tomatoes, these areproblems mainly on the
lower
fruits which receive soil splash. Both cause dark watery rots of the stem near the soil line,
mainly
of young plants. Avoid fields with poor drainage or heavy soils. Plant on raised beds with
mulch to
reduce surface moisture and stake to reduce contact with soil. Avoiding tobacco and crops
related
to tomatoes in the rotation will help with Buckeye Rot.
Seed treatments for Damping off etc. To control seedborne bacteria and fungi, use
hot-water
treatment: Soak seed at 122ø to 133øF for 25 min [Seed lots and varieties differ in the
temperature
they can tolerate so conduct a small test first, then proceed at as high a temperature within
this
range as the seed will tolerate.] or household-bleach treatment (dip seed for 1 minute in a
solution
containing 1 qt household bleach/ 4qts of water plus 1/2 teaspoon of surfactant while
agitating,
followed by washing seed in running water) followed by drying seed.
Early Blight, Gray Leaf Mold, Gray Leafspot, Botrytis Gray Mold, Septoria Leaf
Spot/Blight
These
foliar diseases can start with seedlings, but in the field they have the following symptoms:
Early
blight is the most common foliage disease in Kentucky and mainly affects older foliage
causing
dark brown, target-like spots and general blighting of the foliage, stem cankers, and fruit rots.
Septoria Leaf Spot/Blight occurs frequently and dominates in some seasons, as small gray/tan
spots
with dark borders, usually with dark fruiting bodies of the fungus evident in the center of
each spot.
Gray Leafspot is caused by Stemphylium and is often found on transplants upon arrival from
southern areas and/or from hot, humid greenhouses. Spots are irregular in shape, brown with
extensive yellowing. In the field, it has been mainly a problem with late crops. Gray Leaf
Mold is
caused by Cladosporium and is more common in the greenhouse than field, but can be severe
under
low light situations in the field, occurring as a yellow spot on the foliage with gray fungus on
the
bottom side of the leaf. Botrytis gray mold occurs mainly as a rot of the leaf and fruit under
prolonged cool, wet conditions.
Control starts with disease-free transplants. A sound foliar fungicide program is a must
for
control of these diseases during wet years with current varieties and economics of the crop.
Varieties with some resistance or tolerance will reduce fungicide needs, but will not eliminate
fungicide needs. Presently, in general, early maturing varieties are more susceptible to early
blight
than are later maturing ones. Practice crop rotation away from all solanaceous crops for 2 or
more
years and control weeds during the rotation. are very damaging tomato disease. Start with
disease
free transplants. Real wet weather is a factor in the seriousness of these diseases. Use land
that has
been in rotations with non-related tomato crops for at least 2 years. Be sure weeds are totally
controlled during rotations and from around the surrounding areas. Copper dusts can be used
during
wet cool periods to control disease if one absolutely has to. During dry seasons when fog or
dew is
not occurring, one may wait until first symptoms to start sprays, but even then sprays should
be
started by mid to late June for spring plantings. Fall tomatoes are very prone to early blight,
especially if early tomatoes or potatoes are planted nearby. Maintain rapid growth through
proper
fertilization to minimize disease. Crop rotations used for other diseases are an aid.
Fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt can be avoided by using resistant plant varieties.
Avoid
fields
where disease blight has been prevalent.
Late blight Late blight can very quickly destroy a commercial tomato crop under
cool, wet
weather.
It causes dark, irregular spots (often worse on the youngest foliage) giving a scalded
appearance to
the foliage. Fruit appear as if rolled on a hot plate. Late blight appears erratically in
Kentucky,
most common in mountains and during fall plantings, but
the disease is becoming more common due to new strains and increased levels nationally.
Significant epidemics are much more likely for the future, so remain alert and keep controls
in
place when the threats of late blight exist. The control program listed for early blight should
be
adequate for most cases of late blight in Kentucky, but be sure to close
the spray interval, obtain good coverage, and coppers may be used.
Nematodes can be reduced with crop rotations using tall fescue for 2 or more years.
Predatory
nematodes are available.
Sclerotinia stem rot and botrytis These diseases occur as girdling cankers on the main
stems,
usually resulting from transplanting infected plants or strikes that occur in the field during
early
May. Avoid transplanting infected transplants into the field. Avoid fields with a history of
Sclerotinia. Spores can move into tomato fields from adjacent weedy fields or where crops
such as
tobacco, canola, cabbage, or beans were infected in previous season. Take steps to improve air
movement in the planting. in the field can be prevented by not using infected transplants in
the
field. Spores can be blown in from nearby weedy areas or fields where tobacco, cabbage, or
beans,
which might have been infected, were grown the previous year.
Southern stem blight Plants wilt and die from girdling of the roots and stem at the
soil line.
The
white fungus and its fruiting bodies are normally present at the soil line. Avoid fields with a
history
of disease on any crop where possible. The pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii has a wide host range
and
can colonize almost any plant material as the tissue dies. From colonized debris, it moves
onto the
tomato plant. Deep plowing of sods, cover crops, and crop debris to insure organic matter is
well
rotted and not near the surface. Preplant control of weeds and grass are very important, with
some
very serious cases following post-plant grass control, because the fungus eats the dead weeds
and
moves onto the tomato!
Viruses The viruses cause a range of conditions, including mosaic and mottling,
stunting,
lower
fruit quality and even death. Tomato spotted wilt is a relatively new problem which is
arriving
mainly on infected transplants. Take steps to ensure that southern grown transplants are from
sources specifically certified to be free of this virus. Greenhouse
produced plants may also carry it if not produced in isolation from thrips and ornamental
hosts.
Several other virus diseases are common or troublesome in tomatoes: Tobacco Etch, Tobacco
Mosaic, Cucumber Mosaic, Potato Virus Y, and Alfalfa Mosaic Virus being the most
common. Use
TMV resistant varieties and minimize contact with infected plants in the field. To avoid PVX
in
greenhouses, do not handle potatoes before working tomatoes. Rinsing the hands with milk
(whole,
dried or skim) when planting can reduce spread of these viruses. Most of these viruses are
weedborne and moved from weeds to tomatoes by insects, mainly aphids. Control weeds
around
fields or plant into sites surrounded by small grains or corn. Do not plant adjacent tobacco,
potatoes, or peppers; the farther away the better. Great reduction can be achieved with 200
yds
between these crops.
Greenhouse diseases of tomatoes--Leaf Mold, Gray Mold, Early Blight A number of
foliar
diseases
common to the field occur in the greenhouse. However, strict regulation of heat and
ventilation to
maintain low humidity at night and early morning will greatly reduce diseases in tomato
greenhouses.
Fusarium Crown and Root Rot Sanitize the greenhouse and everything in it, by
solarization or
steam. Soak seed in household bleach (2 pts 5.25% sodiumhypochlorite in 8 pts water) using
one
gallon of mix per pound of seed, agitate continously for a 40 minute soak; air dry and plant.
Some
varieties with resistance, but there are several strains. Disease is worse on stressed plants.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus Use bleach treated seed. Dip hands in milk before handling
plants.
Since our last meeting, it was left up to the participants to think over the items
discussed
and
come back at a later date to work on details. I have done some more investigative work on
varieties
and sourcing of seedstock.
I think it would be a good idea for us to come together again. Items to go over would
be
the
possible formalizing of a group or at least discuss an alternative structure for marketing.
Another
important point would be concerning cultural practices and getting soils ready for planting in
the
fall.
Some good source material for garlic growing is:
Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive guide for Organic Gardeners and Small Farmers by Ron
L.
Engeland
A Garlic Testament: Seasons on a Small New Mexico Farm by Stanley Crawford
The meeting should be Monday May 22 at 7pm here in the Chatham Co. Extension Ag
Center
in
the upstairs Kitchen Lab. All interested people are encouraged to attend. Your ideas and
inputs are
welcome. We are open to both new and experienced growers alike to become involved. It is
not the
quantity you grow that is important, it is the quality and consistency we are shooting for.
Contact Robert Hadad 919-542-8202 if you are planning to attend or need details.
Thanks.
Robert Hadad
Low Poly-Tunnel Trial Update