Information about Late Blight for Gardeners

Growing tomatoes and potatoes in the home garden can be fun and rewarding, but with it comes responsibility to understand the importance of late blight.  This is considered a “community” disease because the pathogen is highly contagious and very destructive.  When late blight is not effectively managed in a planting, even a small garden, the pathogen can destroy not only those plants, but it can spread to other plantings, including those of farmers who depend on successful crops for their livelihood.  This disease cannot be “lived with” unmanaged.  Fortunately late blight occurs sporadically in many areas, and thus prompt action when an outbreak occurs can minimize pathogen spread and potential of an epidemic ensuing, as occurred in 2009 in the northeastern US.
- Use recommended control practices.  See web sites listed below for details.
- Inspect plants every week for symptoms.
- Submit suspect sample for diagnosis.  Put in plastic bag and hand deliver or ship with over-night service.  Do not log report. Diagnostician will do if confirmed.
            Click here to find a local plant clinic. http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html
- If late blight is confirmed:
            notify neighbors growing susceptible plants.
            destroy affected plant tissue.
- Apply fungicides weekly if plants are kept and continually remove leaves, stems and fruit that develop symptoms.

   
Tomato plants with late blight put in a garbage bag and left in the sun for a few days before disposal.

Click here to obtain Brochure on Late Blight and its Management.

Smart Gardening

Smart gardening: A new initiative helping gardeners become environmentally savvy and smart
April 9, 2014 |Rebecca Finneran | Smart Gardening from MSU Extension is a campaign to help novice and experienced gardeners adopt and implement real-life techniques in their yards and gardens to save time, money and the environment.

Integrated pest management webinars now available on demand!

MSU Extension is now offering Integrated Pest Management Academy Online, a series of online prerecorded webinars available to you!  Commercial and private core pesticide re-certification credits are available for Michigan applicators.  No registration or fees required.

Looking to learn more about integrated pest management (IPM)?  Check out this series of on-demand webinars created to help Michigan growers identify pest management resources and understand IPM basics.  Registration is not required and they are available for free, simply visit the webpage at your convenience and view one or all of the prerecorded webinars.  Viewers can earn up to 4 pesticide re-certification credits. A computer with internet connectivity, a web browser and speakers are required. Go to http://bit.ly/ipmwebinars to access the webinars or email taylo548@msu.edu to receive this information via email. 

The following webinars are currently available for viewing:

• Introduction to Integrated Pest Management: Learn about the history of pest management, the evolution of IPM and the tenets that define implementation in the field.
• Integrated Pest Management Resources: Learn about IPM resources available from Michigan State University and MSU Extension.
• Entomology 101: In this compact session on insects, learn the vocabulary to help you properly identify insects and better understand the role of insects in the world.
• Plant Pathology 101: This introductory webinar covers the basics of plant pathogens and introduces viewers to some popular control methods.
• Soil Science 101: This webinar highlights the importance of soil characteristics and their potential impacts on agricultural producers.
• Plant Science 101: Learn the basics of plant anatomy and physiology—particularly handy for those who struggle with weed identification.
• Pesticides 101: An introduction to mode of action, pesticide resistance and factors that impact efficacy.
• Insect Scouting in Fruit Crops: This primer offers a fruit-specific module on how insect scouting occurs in the real world.

Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Erin Lizotte at taylo548@msu.edu to make arrangements. Requests will be fulfilled when possible.

This program is supported in part by North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension (NCR-SARE).