It is time to eliminate sources of late blight inoculum that could infect this year’s potato and tomato crops.
Late blight infected potatoes and tomatoes in many areas last year.
The disease can overwinter only in infected living potatoes. Cull piles, volunteer potatoes, and seed trimmings that are capable of sprouting are possible sources of late blight.
The disease is destructive and spreads quickly.
Proper management and disposal of cull piles and seed trimmings are the best ways to eliminate infection sources.
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A fact sheet on managing cull piles is available at www.gov.mb.
ca/agriculture/news/topics/daa27d06.html.
Foliar fungicides provide good control of late blight when applied prior to infection. The Guide to Crop Protection 2001 has a complete listing of fungicides registered for control of late blight in potatoes. Home gardeners can buy control products for domestic use at lawn and garden supply stores.
Manitoba Agriculture and the Agrometeorological Centre of Excellence provides a late blight forecasting program from mid-June to mid-September. It provides information on late blight disease risk and occurrence throughout Manitoba. Late blight forecasts are available on the web at www.aceweather.ca or by phoning the Manitoba Potato Hotline at 800-428-6866.
