Heavy pruning has not only prevented blight from hitting my tomatoes plants, but the increased air flow has led to healthier plants that are prolific producers. Also, single stem trellising on hog panels has made a world of difference in the overall health of my garden.
This was very timely! After watching, I went out to check my tomatoes and sure enough there were some lower branches showing signs of blight! All pruned away now! Thank you for helping us learn! This is only our second season growing!
I so appreciate you sharing how these plant diseases do not always determine “to compost or not to compost”... although I still get into the mindset from time to time hahah. I find one or two leaders and pruning the bottom almost foot helps tremendously in indeterminate varieties!! (Which is all I grow) 🤗
Thanks for explaining the types of blight. Really helpful. I had good results last year with soaker hoses and mulch under the tomatoes, along with pruning the bottom leaves. Can't do anything this year about planting too early, but I have many backups in case some succumb to this awful cold spell in MI. Bringing out the covers for the next two nights until summer decides to come back.
Had my first run in with early blight on one of my Sweet Million cherry tomato plants. Now I understand the cool/cold Georgia nights in April most likely set it up. I pruned all of the impacted stems and all is well now. I have two bunches of tomatoes coming and the first couple have started color change. Thanks Luke!
Finally, I get it. I've had Septoria blight forever, but until this video, I always felt like it was out of control, so much so that many years I didn't even grow tomatoes. But the way you started by conveying how it's just a fungus in everybody's dirt, even composted it, and then how to mitigate...you just blew away the mystery. I now know that my yard is not cursed, and I can't wait to go out and do some pruning and bring in some great tomatoes. Thank you! 🍅
Thanks Luke! You're YT channel's being spread all over and not just by me.😁 You're consistently doing great work. Blessings to you and yours as you've blessed us.✝️🤗💜
Thank you! We have a very small patch so if we lose a plant or two it can stop our growing fun. We like learning more everyday by watching. Trial and error can take years. 🙂
I have some early blight (thanks to this channel, I know what it is.) I checked my plants and I wouldn't say there was limited airflow, I would say there wasn't ANY airflow. hahaha Now they are nice and pruned with very good airflow, and I sprayed the baking soda solution on them as well.
Thanks for another great video. My wife is going to use my body as fertilizer in the garden if I buy anymore seeds. But I couldn't resist the latest 30% off sale. Gotta make sure I get a start on next year's supply, not to mention succession planting this year. Another 42 packs of seeds on their way! Thanks Luke!
@@Coccinelf I have saved some in the past. I got into it alot last year after seeing the shortages. I like to succession plant alot of things, so I really don't have the room to let something go to fully seed status. I have saved dill, cilantro, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, squash, and eggplant before. The only concern I have is my garden is 20feet by 30 feet, so I have alot of different varieties, like peppers crammed in. I would rather pay 2 bucks for pepper seeds, and know I have a pure plant, than waste time and space on something that was crossed and have it produce something that I don't really want, or in my friends case, bell pepper plants, over 200 of them from saved seed, turn out to be the small lunchbox variety. The plants were huge, but the peppers ripened to red and yellow at about the golf ball size. They were still edible, but not what he was looking for. The seeds came from huge peppers. He had some other peppers nearby.
@@106pricey It was my first garden and the first seeds I saved worked so way better than my old seed packet. I thing it's a pity having to waste all these seeds. I don't need 800 carrots! We plan to extend our garden but for now we only have a 3'x8' garden!
Just started my first garden this year. Want to homestead a little once I retire. Always scared of gardening because I think it fun to water. 😂. Have had to learn to slow down on the house plants. Your channel is great. I appreciate you taking the time to help us all out. Great info.
I had a little question. I was drawing a plan of my garden today, where and what I will be planting. And as I am building a food forest around my garden, I had the idea to have a ''wild'' garden. Interplanting everything without any order, and never planting any plant of the same species next to one another. Always separated by a few other species. Like in nature, everything is messed up, but organized. So I was thinking to plant ... a bit of kale here, next to potatoes, next to carrots, next to bush beans, then another potatoes, a bit more carrots and so on. Its purely for esthetic reasons, and maybe to try to confuse pest, but I know it will bring a bit of complications, such as watering and weeding, and as I want to condense things a little bit, maybe more prone to blight and mildew. But still the idea really attracts me. I noticed your garden is planted with all the species grouped together, but I was wondering if you had experience with a more ''wild'' garden and if so, what was your experience with it?
Aha, so that is why one of my tomato plants is looking so sickly! Just googled and the wilting seems to match blight. Lucky I was planning on getting rid of the weakest link anyway in favour of purchasing a tomato plant of different variety so no real harm done, just need to make sure the rest stay healthy. Thank you very much for the tips! First time tomato grower here
Fun fact: Paul Robeson was the first African American to play for the Rutgers University football team. He was a two-time all-American, and graduated valedictorian. Love to see my alma mater and one of its most accomplished alumni being recognized in the garden! Thanks Luke!
I mulch around my tomatos with a layer of newspaper and cover the paper with grass clippings. Cheap, keeps the soil off the plant and the roots cool. Just turn into the soil after the season.
We trench our plants.. use cardboard and/or grass clippings from our yard. We don't use any chemicals for our grass so no worries there! We water less due to the heavy mulching
I think the one "blessing" of santa ana winds is even tho we still get cool nights in our "spring" in March here in Southern California, the santa ana wind conditions keeps humidity to under 20%. We actually have to water more to keep my plants from instantly dehydrating to a crisp in early season. No blight tho. 😅
Thanks for a very informative and reassuring video. I had early blight but had no idea that blight was so prevalent throughout the world. A few questions. 1. Can I re-use the soil ( a mix of crappy soil, peat moss, and planting mix) in last season's fabric grow bags, or do I ditch it and start over with just a composted planting mix? 2. Should I try to sterilize my fabric bags with bleach/water mix, rinse, and let dry or use another type of container? 3. I like the pruning tip and was going to ask about the plant skirt but you just answered it. 4. I planted my garlic in the same location for 4 years and when using it this winter, noticed that many of the bulbs appeared rotted and had to be thrown out - I've moved them for the upcoming season but can I plant something else in that location or do I have to wait a couple of years? Sorry for being so long-winded but I'm trying to avoid last year's problems.
Great video and information! We planted one single Juliet tomato last year and it was over-watered repeatedly and sprawling everywhere but never got blight all the way until we pulled it in November LOL. A great variety for production and it made great paste, sauce, etc.
Instead of using plastic bags I use cardboard, weigh it down with a couple rocks and I punch some holes in it. I leave it there and it decays into the soil
About your skirting method - what's your thoughts on using weed block cloth cut in a circle with a cut to the middle so it can be placed around (and later removed) from the plant? It would allow watering while blocking the soil... or would it for blight?
Another great informative video, thank you. Have you ever grown edible mushrooms in your garden? I've been hearing lots of good things on how they can benefit other plants and veggies in the garden.
Two tubes, with caps, leading below the young plant's roots, one for water, the other for feed. It lessens the risk of blight, as long as lower leaves, trailing on the soil, are taken out. Other than placing sponge washing up cloths, similar to strawberry mats, around the base of the plant, there is no 100% perfect method to ensure the plant doesn't suffer splashes, during rainfall. Thanks for uploading.
@@ramz1455 yeah I’m in Grand Prairie Texas friend. It’s been raining here for 3 weeks and stayed under 80 but the heat here laughs at the heat in Illinois on its hottest day.
@@mattkelly7413 I hear ya lol. I've passed thru Laredo a few years back in the middle of the summer and oh boy was it humid on a different level! Especially at night! 😂
My oldest/largest tomato already has blight on the bottom-most leaves. I did try to use copper spray but had little impact (it might’ve actually made it worse, to be honest 👀). So snip-snip it is...
I keep the top of the soil completely dry , never wet it beneath or arou nd the plant . when I'm planting the plant I place a wide tube in the whole next to the roots and then fill the hole in with the opening of the tube about two inches above the soil level. when watering I place the hose directly into the tube and let it fill will water . works great, and it's a great way to add liquid feed directly to the roots.
I think the difference is removing leaves vs. Stems. Leaves don't produce fruit so getting rid of lower leaves means more airflow and less moisture. Pruning stems means less flower stalks and less fruit.
Hiya Luke! My question is: How about using weed block fabric instead of plastic bag? I'm thinking it might help prevent mold, let the soil have some airflow, and has the added benefit of blocking some soil living insects while the fabric is being used. What do you think?
I've wondered about applying a drench of Serenade Organic Blight deterent right into the soil in the begining of the season. I need to try the RustedGardener's asprin spray as well, probably about a month after planting to see how that goes.
Check out a variable ND filter for the sun. Makes a world of difference for your frame rate and those blowouts. Thanks for helping me save my tomatoes!
Hi Luke. I love all your videos. It does look extremely bright in this video. Do you usually wear sunglasses when you're not on camera? Just wondering if maybe you don't wear them while doing the videos so we can see you better. 😆
Planting into any of the plastic mulches and/or covering tomatoes ( think hoop house with the top third covered, sides open) will prevent rain splashing soil borne disease from contacting tomato leaves. A good thing. For disease resistance, try Juliette grape tomatoes. Excellent for grilling because of tough skins, not so good for salads. Rutgers tomatoes came from NewJersey, not the south, but extremely hot and humid in the summer.
5B Illinois gardener: we have a cold wave moving through our area Thursday - Sunday with nighttime temps in the low-mid 40's. Should I assume planted tomatoes more susceptible to early blight or not so much since we've been in the mid-80's during the day for the past couple of weeks? Also, does this type of pruning apply to peppers, eggplant or cucumbers? Thank you!
You prune the bottom foliage with determinate tomatoes as well, correct? I know not to prune suckers for determinate varieties, but wasn’t sure about the bottom stems.
Do you have to remove the bags? Mine were looking good but I was worried that the black bags would overheat the roots so I removed them but now I have blight
I have a bunch of activated carbon left over from an aquarium project. I'm wondering if sprinkling a small amount of this in my soil, or on top of the soil for potted tomatoes will help to deter blight. Thoughts?
Love your videos and your explanations for your multiple strategies and options. A quick engineering geek comment, for fluids, Flow=Velocity x Area. Therefore, when Flow is constant and you decrease the nozzle size, Velocity must increase. The velocity of the water is the high energy, water. jetting culprit. To decrease the jetting, do things like reducing the Flow at your hose valve/spigot and to your point, gently water near the base of the plant, also don’t allow energy to build up and be stored in the rubber hose so keep the flow going and constant…or use a watering can. Again, you are the Garden GOAT, I’m a nerd Engineer.
My tomatoes are watered auto over head system. I do not like the soil on my leaves so I put news paper down w/grass clippings about 6 inches on top. I water well before putting this down and after gently wash any soil off leaves. I live in a very dry state so I don't really have to worry about blight on my hybrid tomatoes. Next year when I get my trilises up I will try amish paste and brandy wine again. I do save seeds from my hybrids and they do fine.
I use a water bottle, cut the bottom off and insert the bottle with the top down, buried beside the plants, water generously and then fill the bottle to the top to work as the day goes on. Also a good way to add fertilizer if you use compost teas or liquid fertilizer 👌
Heavy pruning has not only prevented blight from hitting my tomatoes plants, but the increased air flow has led to healthier plants that are prolific producers. Also, single stem trellising on hog panels has made a world of difference in the overall health of my garden.
Waiting patiently for 5 prevention for late blight
This was very timely! After watching, I went out to check my tomatoes and sure enough there were some lower branches showing signs of blight! All pruned away now! Thank you for helping us learn! This is only our second season growing!
Thanks for your positive attitude and practical solutions!
Thanks for watching Dawn! :)
I so appreciate you sharing how these plant diseases do not always determine “to compost or not to compost”... although I still get into the mindset from time to time hahah. I find one or two leaders and pruning the bottom almost foot helps tremendously in indeterminate varieties!! (Which is all I grow) 🤗
Thanks for explaining the types of blight. Really helpful. I had good results last year with soaker hoses and mulch under the tomatoes, along with pruning the bottom leaves. Can't do anything this year about planting too early, but I have many backups in case some succumb to this awful cold spell in MI. Bringing out the covers for the next two nights until summer decides to come back.
Same in Montana! We made note of it in our garden log.
Had my first run in with early blight on one of my Sweet Million cherry tomato plants. Now I understand the cool/cold Georgia nights in April most likely set it up. I pruned all of the impacted stems and all is well now. I have two bunches of tomatoes coming and the first couple have started color change. Thanks Luke!
Thanks for the information on heirloom tomatoes that are disease resistant to early blight.
I had no idea there was a special way to water.
This is great information. Thank you.
Planted the tomatoes two days ago - this is great, practical advice! Thanks again!
I appreciate the watering tip. I am guilty of careless watering. Now that I know better, I will do better.
Finally, I get it. I've had Septoria blight forever, but until this video, I always felt like it was out of control, so much so that many years I didn't even grow tomatoes. But the way you started by conveying how it's just a fungus in everybody's dirt, even composted it, and then how to mitigate...you just blew away the mystery. I now know that my yard is not cursed, and I can't wait to go out and do some pruning and bring in some great tomatoes. Thank you! 🍅
Can't thank you enough for all your advice. I save every single one of your videos. Keep them coming!
So funny! 85 degrees is cool here but you are so educational that I love your channel! Sunlight didn’t ruin the pic in SoCal!
Thanks Luke!
You're YT channel's being spread all over and not just by me.😁 You're consistently doing great work. Blessings to you and yours as you've blessed us.✝️🤗💜
I’m so glad I found your channel! I’m also in Michigan so happy to have someone in my climate to get tips from!
Thanks Luke and all your information. FYI the mystery seeds that I got were tomatoes. 🍅 Now to see what kind!!! So exciting!!!
Thank you! We have a very small patch so if we lose a plant or two it can stop our growing fun. We like learning more everyday by watching. Trial and error can take years. 🙂
An excellent, comprehensive video covering it all brilliantly. From a passionate grower of tomatoes and potatoes.👍🍅 🥔
Love this type of video on plant disease!! Can’t wait for more detailed videos like this. Thanks for you helpful tips!
I grew the Paul Robeson for the first time last year. It is amazing in flavor and will always have a place in my garden!
Absolutely brilliant thank you
Oohh! Thanks for this! I think I'm spotting signs on my tomato plants already. 😳
Congratulations on 900,000 Subscribers 🙌🏻🎉🎉🎉
Thanks Denise!
Just amazes me how you explain it in depth 💚💚💚
I have some early blight (thanks to this channel, I know what it is.) I checked my plants and I wouldn't say there was limited airflow, I would say there wasn't ANY airflow. hahaha Now they are nice and pruned with very good airflow, and I sprayed the baking soda solution on them as well.
Thanks for another great video. My wife is going to use my body as fertilizer in the garden if I buy anymore seeds. But I couldn't resist the latest 30% off sale. Gotta make sure I get a start on next year's supply, not to mention succession planting this year. Another 42 packs of seeds on their way! Thanks Luke!
I'm sure there are worst thing to be addicted than seeds! Have you tried saving your own seeds though?
@@Coccinelf I have saved some in the past. I got into it alot last year after seeing the shortages. I like to succession plant alot of things, so I really don't have the room to let something go to fully seed status. I have saved dill, cilantro, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, squash, and eggplant before. The only concern I have is my garden is 20feet by 30 feet, so I have alot of different varieties, like peppers crammed in. I would rather pay 2 bucks for pepper seeds, and know I have a pure plant, than waste time and space on something that was crossed and have it produce something that I don't really want, or in my friends case, bell pepper plants, over 200 of them from saved seed, turn out to be the small lunchbox variety. The plants were huge, but the peppers ripened to red and yellow at about the golf ball size. They were still edible, but not what he was looking for. The seeds came from huge peppers. He had some other peppers nearby.
@@106pricey It was my first garden and the first seeds I saved worked so way better than my old seed packet. I thing it's a pity having to waste all these seeds. I don't need 800 carrots! We plan to extend our garden but for now we only have a 3'x8' garden!
Thanks for the video and braving the sun for us.
Hey Luke, I use shredded paper to mulch my tomatoes when I set them out as well as pruning and have had good success doing that.
That’s a great idea! I add mine to the compost bin.
I'm using Timothy hay, it's great
Would newspapers work?
Yes as long as it doesn’t have color ink.
I ordered all 3. Great video.
Thanks for that awesome information I planted my tomatoes towards the beginning of May I will definitely keep those tips in mind
Just started my first garden this year. Want to homestead a little once I retire. Always scared of gardening because I think it fun to water. 😂. Have had to learn to slow down on the house plants. Your channel is great. I appreciate you taking the time to help us all out. Great info.
Thank you Luke! I so appreciate your knowledge! Be well.
I had a little question.
I was drawing a plan of my garden today, where and what I will be planting. And as I am building a food forest around my garden, I had the idea to have a ''wild'' garden. Interplanting everything without any order, and never planting any plant of the same species next to one another. Always separated by a few other species. Like in nature, everything is messed up, but organized.
So I was thinking to plant ... a bit of kale here, next to potatoes, next to carrots, next to bush beans, then another potatoes, a bit more carrots and so on.
Its purely for esthetic reasons, and maybe to try to confuse pest, but I know it will bring a bit of complications, such as watering and weeding, and as I want to condense things a little bit, maybe more prone to blight and mildew.
But still the idea really attracts me. I noticed your garden is planted with all the species grouped together, but I was wondering if you had experience with a more ''wild'' garden and if so, what was your experience with it?
I really just love your videos Luke ! 🍅
Thank you John!
@@MIgardener your welcome awesome gardening dude !
Aha, so that is why one of my tomato plants is looking so sickly! Just googled and the wilting seems to match blight. Lucky I was planning on getting rid of the weakest link anyway in favour of purchasing a tomato plant of different variety so no real harm done, just need to make sure the rest stay healthy. Thank you very much for the tips! First time tomato grower here
HELLO!!!! I PURCHASED YOUR SEEDS AND THEY ARE DOING WONDERFUL!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!
Nice! That's what I love to hear!
Same here, Luke! The garlic is going nuts! 😁
@@MIgardener can you please do overwintering pepper updates and more videos please thank you
Thank you for being so reassuring. I have blight!! ❤️
I just realized I feel like I know you. I’ve watched so many of your videos and your sitting there like we are in the garden talking blight.
Lots of good information!!! Some of this stuff I didn’t know.
And as destiny will have it, Epic Gardening dropped a vid on tomato care couple minutes ahead
I'm first time growing tomatoes can that I'm getting fruit. I'm so happy thanks for the information
Thanks for the reminder about HOW to water my tomatoes.
Fun fact: Paul Robeson was the first African American to play for the Rutgers University football team. He was a two-time all-American, and graduated valedictorian. Love to see my alma mater and one of its most accomplished alumni being recognized in the garden! Thanks Luke!
cool! :D That is amazing!
@@MIgardener Not only that, but the variety was developed in Russia, and named Paul Robeson in honor of his many good-will concerts there.
great job on the fungi info! well done!!
I appreciate your knowledge Luke, I always learn something watching your videos, THANKS from middle Ga...it's hot here too😉
I mulch around my tomatos with a layer of newspaper and cover the paper with grass clippings. Cheap, keeps the soil off the plant and the roots cool. Just turn into the soil after the season.
We trench our plants.. use cardboard and/or grass clippings from our yard. We don't use any chemicals for our grass so no worries there! We water less due to the heavy mulching
Thank you! Learned a lot of useful information! Really needed this right now! You are doing a super good job!
Thank you so much! I have learned so much from your channel 💚 I just bought a Rutgers tomato plant. Had no idea I picked a good one 😊
So, is it safe to compost leaves that contain powdery mildew?
I think the one "blessing" of santa ana winds is even tho we still get cool nights in our "spring" in March here in Southern California, the santa ana wind conditions keeps humidity to under 20%. We actually have to water more to keep my plants from instantly dehydrating to a crisp in early season. No blight tho. 😅
Thanks for a very informative and reassuring video. I had early blight but had no idea that blight was so prevalent throughout the world. A few questions. 1. Can I re-use the soil ( a mix of crappy soil, peat moss, and planting mix) in last season's fabric grow bags, or do I ditch it and start over with just a composted planting mix? 2. Should I try to sterilize my fabric bags with bleach/water mix, rinse, and let dry or use another type of container? 3. I like the pruning tip and was going to ask about the plant skirt but you just answered it. 4. I planted my garlic in the same location for 4 years and when using it this winter, noticed that many of the bulbs appeared rotted and had to be thrown out - I've moved them for the upcoming season but can I plant something else in that location or do I have to wait a couple of years? Sorry for being so long-winded but I'm trying to avoid last year's problems.
Great information thank you.
Thanks Kat!
I learn alot here, ty
900k subs! Congrats
Thank you!
Great video and information! We planted one single Juliet tomato last year and it was over-watered repeatedly and sprawling everywhere but never got blight all the way until we pulled it in November LOL. A great variety for production and it made great paste, sauce, etc.
Instead of using plastic bags I use cardboard, weigh it down with a couple rocks and I punch some holes in it. I leave it there and it decays into the soil
Very informative, thank you
About your skirting method - what's your thoughts on using weed block cloth cut in a circle with a cut to the middle so it can be placed around (and later removed) from the plant? It would allow watering while blocking the soil... or would it for blight?
Another great informative video, thank you. Have you ever grown edible mushrooms in your garden? I've been hearing lots of good things on how they can benefit other plants and veggies in the garden.
I’ve been using landscaping material seems to help alot
I have heard that using wood mulch reduces the splash back also
It does, but it can't be turned into the soil and is can harbor bugs like slugs or snails. You just have to be careful.
Two tubes, with caps, leading below the young plant's roots, one for water, the other for feed.
It lessens the risk of blight, as long as lower leaves, trailing on the soil, are taken out.
Other than placing sponge washing up cloths, similar to strawberry mats, around the base of the plant, there is no 100% perfect method to ensure the plant doesn't suffer splashes, during rainfall.
Thanks for uploading.
Do you use drip irrigation in your garden beds? I didn't see any and would have thought with all your beds and the time it might take otherwise.
Luke what was the third tomato you were mentioning to grow? Thx
Vernissage and black cherry have been very resilient for me.
I have a whole ripe sungold plant 7 ft tall but my yellow pear looks like a Roma from all the water in Texas. What a wet spring.
The rain and clouds in TX this May have been quite frustrating.
You guys have spring? Here in illinois it from Cold to Hot within weeks.
@@ramz1455 yeah I’m in Grand Prairie Texas friend. It’s been raining here for 3 weeks and stayed under 80 but the heat here laughs at the heat in Illinois on its hottest day.
@@OsoGran yeah well my sungold still ripened in the rain it’s a great variety
@@mattkelly7413 I hear ya lol. I've passed thru Laredo a few years back in the middle of the summer and oh boy was it humid on a different level! Especially at night! 😂
My oldest/largest tomato already has blight on the bottom-most leaves. I did try to use copper spray but had little impact (it might’ve actually made it worse, to be honest 👀). So snip-snip it is...
I keep the top of the soil completely dry , never wet it beneath or arou nd the plant . when I'm planting the plant I place a wide tube in the whole next to the roots and then fill the hole in with the opening of the tube about two inches above the soil level. when watering I place the hose directly into the tube and let it fill will water . works great, and it's a great way to add liquid feed directly to the roots.
Luke, you have said b4 that cherry tomatoes don’t like pruning...does this apply for blight.?
I think the difference is removing leaves vs. Stems. Leaves don't produce fruit so getting rid of lower leaves means more airflow and less moisture. Pruning stems means less flower stalks and less fruit.
If you winter sow in milk jugs you can use the top part of the milk jug in place of a tree skirt.
Ever considered drip irrigation? Does this fungus colonize promix in containers?
thank you!
👍 Thank you 🍀 🤗 🌟 🌟 🌟
For watering our tomatoes, what do you think about Ollas (clay pot put in the soil so self watering!) ??
Hiya Luke! My question is: How about using weed block fabric instead of plastic bag? I'm thinking it might help prevent mold, let the soil have some airflow, and has the added benefit of blocking some soil living insects while the fabric is being used. What do you think?
The same thing can be achieved with mulch I imagine. The top layer will be dry
I've wondered about applying a drench of Serenade Organic Blight deterent right into the soil in the begining of the season.
I need to try the RustedGardener's asprin spray as well, probably about a month after planting to see how that goes.
Check out a variable ND filter for the sun. Makes a world of difference for your frame rate and those blowouts. Thanks for helping me save my tomatoes!
Hi Luke. I love all your videos. It does look extremely bright in this video. Do you usually wear sunglasses when you're not on camera? Just wondering if maybe you don't wear them while doing the videos so we can see you better. 😆
i really enjoyed your video bro, how can i get the varieties you mentioned please - Am Dennis watching from Nigeria
Planting into any of the plastic mulches and/or covering tomatoes ( think hoop house with the top third covered, sides open) will prevent rain splashing soil borne disease from contacting tomato leaves. A good thing.
For disease resistance, try Juliette grape tomatoes. Excellent for grilling because of tough skins, not so good for salads.
Rutgers tomatoes came from NewJersey, not the south, but extremely hot and humid in the summer.
Good info.👍💯
5B Illinois gardener: we have a cold wave moving through our area Thursday - Sunday with nighttime temps in the low-mid 40's. Should I assume planted tomatoes more susceptible to early blight or not so much since we've been in the mid-80's during the day for the past couple of weeks? Also, does this type of pruning apply to peppers, eggplant or cucumbers? Thank you!
Following.
You prune the bottom foliage with determinate tomatoes as well, correct? I know not to prune suckers for determinate varieties, but wasn’t sure about the bottom stems.
Yes, you can prune the lower leaves on your determinate tomatoes, you just don't remove the "suckers'.
I learned a lot from this
1. 3:52 planting time
2. 4:50 pruning
3. 7:42 watering tips
4. 9:29 use tree skirt method (he doesn't do this)
5. 11:28 pick blight resistant plants
Do you have to remove the bags? Mine were looking good but I was worried that the black bags would overheat the roots so I removed them but now I have blight
Help! The sky won't stop over-watering my plants!
Same here in MO.
And in SW Idaho. It's good and bad. I got my rain barrel full again.👍
Same in San Antonio! Been raining for almost two weeks!
Wish I could get some of that rain. I'm in SC. Two weeks...no rain...90°F
In arkansas using a greenhouse works wonders!
I have a bunch of activated carbon left over from an aquarium project. I'm wondering if sprinkling a small amount of this in my soil, or on top of the soil for potted tomatoes will help to deter blight. Thoughts?
"I'm getting blasted by the death star" 😂 Thanks for the helpful tips...and the laugh!
Love your videos and your explanations for your multiple strategies and options. A quick engineering geek comment, for fluids, Flow=Velocity x Area. Therefore, when Flow is constant and you decrease the nozzle size, Velocity must increase. The velocity of the water is the high energy, water. jetting culprit. To decrease the jetting, do things like reducing the Flow at your hose valve/spigot and to your point, gently water near the base of the plant, also don’t allow energy to build up and be stored in the rubber hose so keep the flow going and constant…or use a watering can. Again, you are the Garden GOAT, I’m a nerd Engineer.
What about pruning for determinant tomato plants?
I was about to ask that! I’m also in zone 6a and planted determinant tomatoes and bush cucumbers. Most people talk about indeterminate plants.
Hi and thank you for the info. I would like to know the name of the plant that is by your shoulder, beside the next raised bed?
I’m pretty sure it’s red-veined sorrel - beautiful and delicious….
Do peppers ever get blight? Is it worth pruning the lower leaves off of those too?
Living in florida, when the sun hit you, I felt it with you, lol
We use recycled paper plates as skirts for our plants. Just cut them to the middle then make a cross cut at the center to allow planet stem to grow.
My tomatoes are watered auto over head system. I do not like the soil on my leaves so I put news paper down w/grass clippings about 6 inches on top. I water well before putting this down and after gently wash any soil off leaves. I live in a very dry state so I don't really have to worry about blight on my hybrid tomatoes. Next year when I get my trilises up I will try amish paste and brandy wine again. I do save seeds from my hybrids and they do fine.
Already 93 in SC today. I am doing 30ish varieties of tomatoes so keeping up on water is becoming a challenge until I can get drip tape
Check out drip works
They sell a really cheap 50 feet soaker hose at Harbor Freight. I almost bought it thinking it was a collapsible fabric hose, lol!
I use a water bottle, cut the bottom off and insert the bottle with the top down, buried beside the plants, water generously and then fill the bottle to the top to work as the day goes on. Also a good way to add fertilizer if you use compost teas or liquid fertilizer 👌
Amen to that in Columbus Georgia
Woke up to 41°F today here in MN 🥶🥶
Any opinions on Bordo Copper Spray?
Could you please post - how to DIY raised plant bed. Even if it’s a verbal and pen paper instructions.. it will be of good help!