The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture is asking home gardeners to keep a close watch on their potato and tomato plants for late blight.
A devastating fungal disease responsible for the Irish potato famine, late blight can cost the Prince Edward Island economy many dollars. In a garden, rapid destruction of both the foliage and fruit occurs and the disease can continue to spread if adequate control measures are not adopted.
Prince Edward Island has ideal growing conditions for this fungus with high humidity in the form of dew, rain or fog, and moderate day temperatures and cool night temperatures. As a result, the fungus can be wind swept from a home garden to a commercial potato field very quickly.
Home gardeners are advised to regularly inspect their potato and tomato plants for initial symptoms such as small pale green to dark green spots on leaves, or a white mildew on the underside of the leaves. If gardeners see these symptoms, they should carefully place the infected plants in a plastic bag and leave them in direct sunlight to break down.
Home gardeners are also encouraged to carry out disease prevention measures. Domestic fungicides for late blight control are available at most garden centres. Individuals planting potatoes, either farmers or gardeners, have a responsibility to be knowledgeable and to use good stewardship measures.
For more information on late blight, visit the web site at www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/af_blightgarden.pdf for a copy of the fact sheet Be a Good Gardner: Help Prevent the Spread of Blight. Plant samples can be dropped off at Access PEI offices or sent directly to the Plant Health Research and Diagnostics Laboratory in Kensington.