635330 Thu Jul 09 15:34:12 -0700 2009 6 12 Boston Area 0 4844349 According to the TV news, the severe hailstorm, on top of weeks of cooler, rainy weather, has taken a heavy toll on native crops. They were at Lookout Farm in Natick, where the cherries and remaining strawberries are mostly lost. The farmers said that zucchini and potatoes won't be affected but that their hopes to salvage the season now rest on what they'll be able to harvest in the fall IF the weather gets consistently sunnier and drier. Thu Jul 09 15:34:12 -0700 2009 159317 greygarious 1 4844641 NPR had a story before the storm about potatoes and tomatoes in New England being affected by "late blight" this year. Not nearly as severe, but said it's what caused the famine in Ireland. Thu Jul 09 17:20:37 -0700 2009 4844349 169792 lgss 2 4844780 Not for nothing, but I had to pull a tomato plant that had 'early blight'...bad... Thu Jul 09 18:05:57 -0700 2009 4844641 11108 galleygirl 1 4844794 Because I'm a Master Gardener I get alerts from both Mass. Hort. and the UMass Extension Service. I pass the following alert on to home gardeners here in the Northeast: http://www.umassvegetable.org/LateBlightAlertforTomatoandPotato.html Thu Jul 09 18:12:07 -0700 2009 4844349 75332 Gio 2 4844839 Whoa, freakin 'nasty. Thanks for the pics. After reading the articles, I was worried about late blight in or area, but now I'm sure it's early blight (in my yard) cuz of all the rain... Thu Jul 09 18:36:20 -0700 2009 4844794 11108 galleygirl 2 4844859 Will this blight die over the winter? Or, if we get frost this month? Thu Jul 09 18:43:06 -0700 2009 4844794 27342 trufflehound 3 4845650 Generally late blight is an annual happening in many parts of the country. However, the spores can live over winter. The best thing to prevent diseases like this is to be diligent in your gardening practices, namely: 1. Locate your garden to insure it will receive morning sun and at least of sunlight each day (that's when the sun does come out, of course). 2. Clean up and destroy all plant debris. 3. Do not work in the garden when the leaves are wet. 4. Allow enough room between plants to allow for good air circulation. 5. Although there are currently no late blight resistant tomato plants do look for certified disease-free seeds and plants. 6. Destroy volunteer tomato and potato plants and nightshade family weeds, which may harbor the fungus. 7. Do not compost rotten, store-bought potatoes. 8. Pull out and destroy diseased plants. 9. Do not plant the same family of plants in the same location each year. Practice plant rotation. If you have both potatoes and tomatoes in your garden plant them as far apart as you can. Fri Jul 10 06:06:53 -0700 2009 4844859 75332 Gio