Are those potatoes and tomatoes you planted in hopes of cutting down on the food budget looking a little sickly? Congratulations your home garden could be infected with the same problem that caused the Irish to starve in the 1840’s and 1850’s. It is called late blight and brought about the Irish Potato Famine and a significant increase of Irish immigrants to America.
Experts say they have never seen it appear so early and it has spread from Maine to Ohio, in some cases threatening commercial growing operations as well as home gardens.
Tte fungal disease, spread by spores carried in the air, has made its way into the garden centers of large retail chains in the Northeastern United States. The fungus has been found at Wal-mart, Home Depot, Sears, Kmart and Lowe’s.
The disease, known officially as Phytophthora infestans, causes large mold-ringed olive-green or brown spots on plant leaves, blackened stems, and can quickly wipe out weeks of tender care in a home garden.
This year’s cool, wet weather created perfect conditions for the disease. There are some cures. Hot dry weather and anti-fungus sprays. The first will be up to Mother Nature. The second you can get at the same garden center where you bought the diseased plants. Sort of figures doesn’t it.