Sasha CampbellIf you’ve heard of late blight, you might be worried about it. You may be doing everything you can to prevent it, but you’re not sure what else you can do.
Late blight is one of the most common plant diseases. It can be a serious problem for both home gardeners and commercial growers, devastating tomato and potato crops.
However, you can take steps to protect your plants from this disease, and treatments are available if you do experience an outbreak.
In this article, we will highlight some natural treatments that can help to control late blight.
What Is Late Blight?
This fungal disease affects tomatoes, potatoes, and other nightshade plants [1].
The disease can cause leaves to wither and die. It may also affect tomato fruit, making it rot. Left untreated, late blight can quickly kill plants.
The good news is that there are a few natural ways to treat and prevent late blight.
Symptoms
The first sign of late blight is small, water-soaked leaf lesions. The lesions will enlarge, creating purple-brown or dark-green blotches.
The stems and petioles may become infected. The entire plant may also collapse and die [2].
How to Get Rid of Late Blight Naturally
If you think your plants might have late blight, taking action as soon as possible is essential. Below are some home remedies and natural methods to help control it.
1. Baking Soda
One natural remedy is to use a baking soda solution.
Make a homemade late blight spray by mixing three tablespoons of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. Next, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil and a teaspoon of liquid soap to the mixture.
Shake well and spray on affected areas of plants. This mixture can help kill blight spores, making it an excellent organic remedy for treating fungus on tomato plants.
2. Drip Irrigation
Another way that you can help prevent late blight is by introducing drip irrigation to your garden.
Drip irrigation is an excellent option for those who want to conserve water and keep their plants healthy.
Watering the base of the plant prevents splashes from hitting the leaves and keeps late blight spores from spreading.
Late blight prefers wet and humid conditions. Therefore, lowering moisture levels can be very effective in stopping outbreaks.
3. Mulching
Mulching creates a barrier between the soil and the plants, blocking spores from splashing onto the foliage or stems.
Moreover, you can use organic mulch, such as straw or bark, which will decompose over time and help improve soil structure and fertility.
4. Staking or Caging
You can also use staking or caging to protect your plants from late blight.
This works by placing cages or stakes around the plant so air can flow through, which helps reduce humidity and encourages evaporative cooling of the leaves.
This method also keeps the plants off the ground, further minimizing infection.
5. Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops in different seasons in a predetermined sequence on land.
This method helps break the cycle of the disease. Rotating crops also reduces the buildup of spores in the soil.
6. Remove Infected Leaves
One of the most important things you can do to stop late blight is to remove affected leaves. This helps reduce the spread of the disease and protects your garden.
Remove any plants in your garden with late blight. Discard all infected leaves, stems, and fruit.
Wear gloves and protective clothing to avoid contact with the fungi. It’s also important to dispose of these materials properly.
Removing infected leaves is a great way to help prevent the further spread of late blight. Doing this can help keep your garden safe from this disease!
7. Space Plants
Spacing your plants out is an easy way to reduce the risk of late blight spreading from plant to plant.
Increasing the space between them gives each one more room to breathe and less chance for pathogens to spread.
Also, if you have a garden with lots of tomato or potato plants, it’s best to give each one its patch. As you might already know, these two plants are bad companions for each other.
8. Do Not Compost Infected Plants
If your plants are infected with late blight, you must not add them to your compost pile. The fungus can survive the composting conditions and eventually return to your garden.
Instead, throw away infected plants in a plastic bag and seal it tightly before disposing of it in the trash.
9. Arber Bio Fungicide
Arber Bio Fungicide is a natural product that is designed to control late blight, scab, downy mildew, and other plant diseases. It works by preventing the pathogen from taking hold.
Apply this organic treatment directly to affected plants, covering all areas to complete wetness. It is safe for most vegetable crops, including potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers.
However, read the instructions carefully before applying any products to your plants.
10. BONIDE Revitalize Biofungicide
This product also works as a natural treatment for late blight on plants.
The all-natural formula uses a naturally occurring beneficial bacterium to help fight off late blight and other fungal diseases.
It’s safe for organic crops and can be used as a foliar spray and soil drench.
11. BONIDE Copper Fungicide Dust
This spray-on product, for use in small gardens only, can help fight fungal diseases on fruit trees, vegetables, ornamentals, and more.
You can apply it directly to the leaves of your plants according to the product instructions.
Takeaway
So, those are all some great natural ways to help prevent and treat late blight. We hope you find these helpful and that your crops fare well this season!
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