Phytophthora on tomatoes: treatment

Phytophthora on tomatoes damages green mass and fruits. Comprehensive measures will help get rid of this disease. All of them are aimed at the destruction of harmful microorganisms. Fungicides are considered the best remedies for phytophthora. In addition to them, folk methods are widely used.

Symptoms of the disease

Phytophthora is a fungal disease whose spores persist on seeds, plant debris, in greenhouses and on garden tools.

The disease looks like this:

• dark spots appear on the back of the sheet;
• leaves turn brown, dry up and fall off;
• black plaque spreads on the fruits.

Phytophthora damages the crop of tomatoes, negatively affects their development. Affected plants must be removed from the site to prevent the spread of the fungus.

In the photo, phytophthora on tomatoes has spread to fruits:

Risk Factors

Phytophthora begins to actively develop in August, when cold snaps occur at night, and fogs appear in the morning. The disease on tomatoes can appear in July, when the temperature drops to 15 degrees and it rains constantly.

Phytophthora develops under the following conditions:

• too dense planting of tomatoes;
• frequent watering of the soil;
• watering the leaves by sprinkling;
• calcareous soils;
• temperature fluctuations;
• lack of top dressing of tomatoes;
• low temperatures.

Phytophthora spreads from the lower leaves, where moisture accumulates. Therefore, you need to constantly check the landings and, in case of darkening, remove the leaves of tomatoes. Excess foliage and stepchildren must be removed, as well as yellowed and dried leaves.

Treatment with drugs

To get rid of phytophthora, special preparations containing copper are used. The fungus of the disease is able to adapt to various conditions, so it is best to combine several methods. If late blight appears on tomatoes, treatment is started immediately to prevent the spread of fungal spores.

Use of fungicides

To treat plantings of tomatoes from phytophthora, the following preparations with fungicidal properties are used:

• Phytosporin – a natural preparation containing beneficial bacteria, one of the most effective gardeners according to reviews. When interacting with soil and plants, Fitosporin destroys harmful spores of diseases. The drug heals the affected tissues, strengthens the immunity of tomatoes and accelerates their growth. For 200 g of Fitosporin, 0,4 l of warm water is required. The solution is used to treat seeds, soil or spray tomatoes.
• Fundazole – a systemic drug that can penetrate into plants and have a disinfecting effect. Processing is carried out by watering the soil, spraying tomatoes during the growing season, seed dressing. 1 g of Fundazol is diluted in 1 liter of water. The tool is used twice during the season. The last treatment is performed 10 days before the fruit is removed from the bush.
• Kvadris – a systemic fungicide that penetrates into plant tissues and allows you to fight late blight on tomatoes. The remedy is effective in the early stages of the disease, when the first signs of phytophthora appear. Quadris is not dangerous for humans and plants. It is allowed to apply 5 days before picking tomatoes. During the season, the number of treatments is no more than three.

  

• Chorus – a drug that has a protective and therapeutic effect, which effectively fights late blight. The tool is valid at any time of the year, however, its properties decrease when the temperature rises to 25 degrees. Therefore, Horus is used to prevent late blight in early spring. The therapeutic effect of the drug lasts 36 hours.
• Ridomil – a drug consisting of two components: mefenoxam and mancozeb. Mefenoxam has a systemic effect and penetrates into plant tissues. Mancozeb is responsible for the external protection of tomatoes. To combat phytophthora, a solution is prepared consisting of 10 g of the substance and 4 liters of water. Ridomil is used by leaf processing of tomatoes. The first procedure is carried out before the onset of the disease. After 10 days, the treatment is repeated. The next spraying is carried out 2 weeks before the fruit is removed.

  

• Previcur – a fungicide with a wide range of effects. The drug stimulates the growth of tomatoes, strengthens the immune properties, allows you to treat tomatoes. For 1 liter of water, 1,5 ml of Previcur is enough. Processing is carried out in dry weather at a temperature of 12-24 degrees by watering or spraying. The action of the components begins in 3-4 hours. Previkur shows its properties within three weeks.
• Trichopol – an antibiotic used to combat late blight on tomatoes. Trichopol tablets (10 pcs.) Dilute in 5 liters of warm water. The solution is used for spraying tomatoes. Up to three treatments can be carried out per month. The use of the product is stopped during the ripening of the fruit.

  

Bordeaux liquid

Another way to get rid of phytophthora on tomatoes is Bordeaux liquid. This remedy is prepared on the basis of copper sulphate, which has the appearance of microscopic blue crystals. The solution of this substance has a high acidity, so Bordeaux liquid is prepared on its basis.

At an early stage of tomato development and after harvesting, a 3% solution per 10 liters of water is used:

• 0,3 kg of vitriol;
• 0,4 kg report.

Previously, two solutions are prepared from these components. Then the vitriol solution is carefully poured into lime milk. The resulting mixture should stand for 3-4 hours.

Be sure to use protective equipment for hands and respiratory organs. It is not allowed to get the solution on the mucous membranes and skin.

Processing is done by spraying tomato leaves. The solution should completely cover the sheet plate.

Copper chlorine

A substitute for Bordeaux mixture is copper oxychloride. This fungicide has a protective contact effect and allows you to solve the problem of how to deal with late blight. For spraying, a solution is prepared by mixing the drug with water.

Processing of tomatoes with copper oxychloride is carried out in several stages. The first treatment is performed when the first symptoms of the disease are detected. Then the treatment is repeated after 10 days. In total, no more than 4 procedures are allowed.

The last treatment is performed 20 days before harvest. The norm of the drug must be strictly observed in order to prevent the formation of leaf burns.

On the basis of copper oxychloride, various preparations have been developed: Hom, Zoltosan, Blitox, Kupritox. For every 10 sq.m, 1 liter of final solution is required. The fight against late blight on tomatoes by this method is carried out during the growing season of plants.

Folk remedies

Folk recipes are used in addition to the main methods of treatment. They are used as a disease prevention when it is necessary to disinfect the soil and plants.

Iodine solution

An iodine-based solution helps with the first signs of phytophthora. The first treatment is performed in mid-June, then it is repeated a week later. The final procedure is carried out in July.

You can prepare a solution with water (10 l) and iodine solution (5 ml). Spraying is done in the absence of direct exposure to the sun, in the morning or evening.

With iodine deficiency, the fruits are tied and ripen more slowly, the immunity of tomatoes decreases, thin stems form, and the foliage becomes pale and lethargic.

Before flowering, an iodine solution is used to water the soil. To do this, three drops of iodine are added to 10 liters of warm water. One bush requires 1 liter of solution.

Yeast dressing

One of the methods on how to deal with late blight on tomatoes is to use yeast top dressing.

Yeast contains fungi that can displace harmful microorganisms from plants and soil. After yeast treatment, the growth of the vegetative mass is accelerated, the endurance of seedlings increases, and the resistance of tomatoes to external factors increases.

Yeast can be used a week after planting tomatoes in a permanent place. To prepare the solution, you will need the following components:

• dry yeast – 10 g;
• extract from chicken manure – 0,5 l;
• ash – 0,5 kg;
• sugar – 5 st. l.

The resulting mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water and applied by irrigation under the root of tomatoes. The procedure is carried out for the prevention of phytophthora every 10 days.

Garlic or onion infusion

The main step in deciding how to save tomatoes from phytophthora is the disinfection of the soil and plants.

Garlic and onions contain phytoncides that can cope with harmful spores. Watering with an infusion based on onion or garlic improves the structure of the soil and saturates it with useful substances.

To prepare the product, the heads, arrows or husks of these plants are used. 2 cups of onion or garlic pour 2 liters of boiling water. The infusion is prepared within 48 hours. The resulting liquid is diluted in a ratio of 1:3.

The second yeast top dressing is made during the flowering period. Tomatoes are watered under the root in the evening. For the prevention of phytophthora, the leaves of plants are sprayed with a solution.

Milk serum

Whey contains beneficial bacteria that can suppress late blight spores. After treatment with whey, a thin film is formed on the leaf plate, which serves as protection against the penetration of harmful microbes.

The disadvantage of this method is its short duration. When precipitation falls, the protective layer is washed off. 1 liter of whey is mixed with 9 liters of water at room temperature. Processing of tomatoes is carried out in May-June.

Saline

For the prevention of phytophthora, a saline solution is effective. It is obtained by dissolving table salt in the amount of 1 cup in a bucket of water.

Due to the salt, a film is created on the surface of the leaves that protects the plants from the penetration of the fungus. Therefore, the solution is used by spraying plants.

Salt infusion is applied during the formation of ovaries. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you first need to remove the affected parts from the tomato, and then carry out the treatment.

Preventive measures

The following measures will help save tomatoes from late blight:

• plant onions or garlic between rows with tomatoes (every 30 cm) or on adjacent beds;
• in the greenhouse you can plant mustard, which has disinfectant properties;
• selection of varieties resistant to late blight (Dragonfly, Metelitsa, Casper, Pink Dwarf, etc.);
• plant early ripening tomatoes to harvest before the spread of the disease;
• observe crop rotation (plant tomatoes after cucumbers, onions, legumes, greens, zucchini, carrots);
• do not plant in the garden where potatoes, peppers or eggplants used to grow;
• avoid high humidity in a greenhouse or greenhouse;
• disinfect the soil before planting tomatoes;
• regularly make fertilizers;
• observe the distance between landings;
• apply moderate watering;
• treat the greenhouse in the spring with Fitosporin solution.

Conclusion

The fight against phytophthora is complex. To protect tomatoes, the rules for planting, watering and feeding are observed. When signs of the disease appear, treatment with special preparations is performed. Additionally, you can use folk remedies that have their own advantages.