How to Prevent Control Identify Early Tomato Blight SIX Ways

[@debrathert]

Adding baking soda would raise the pH...not lower it. Also, do you mulch your tomatos? I do, and it helps with splashing up on the tomatos, hence helping prevent early blight. Thanks for your info.

[@markymarcro]

Baking soda is used to drop the pH. Fungus are neutral to low pH so not sure how the baking soda is useful in this scenario. Can the author of this video elaborate on this?

[@ajm935]

​@@markymarcro adding baking soda raises the pH and alkalinity. A 1/4tsp of baking soda added to 1qt water raises the pH from 7 to 9. Fungus prefers neutral to mildly acidic pH. The dish soap is also alkaline. The alkaline environment the baking soda solution creates is less hospitable to fungus.

[@davidisaacson9328]

​@@markymarcroBaking soda is an alkali...which will raise, not lower the pH.

[@calihomesteadingwithpoohbe8904]

I dropped over 2 hundred tomatoes in my cell trays so this will help me. Thank you so much.

[@mistersmith8962]

Tomatoes or seeds?

[@calihomesteadingwithpoohbe8904]

@@mistersmith8962 seeds

[@sweetpea6144]

I’m confused. Adding baking soda will raise the pH, making the soil more alkaline not acid. If you want the soil to be more acid, you should not add baking soda. Can you please clarify this? Thanks kindly.

[@jackhogston6119]

Had the same thought. I'd like to see Luke clarify this.

[@emdeejay7432]

Yea, I don't know why he's saying it lowers it. Baking soda raises, ph. It's got a ph of like 8.3 or 8.5 or something. He must think it's lower, or he's confusing it with something else. I would just spray a peroxide water solution, neem oil, copper, sulfur or if it's pretty bad immunox, the active ingredient is myclobutanil, it says its safe to use up to the day of harvest, I wouldn't use it for a week or more though, just because I don't like to use anything too close to harvesting. But anyways, he's got to be confusing the baking soda with something. I mean, he's clearly using this method, so he must have thought baking soda lowers ph instead of raising it, that's the only explanation.

[@jillbarrett2576]

Agree baking sofa has a pH of about 8 which is why you take it to reduce acid stomach.

[@skippydugan6848]

Luke, I'm confused... I always thought baking soda was alkaline therefore raising the pH?? In this video you said it lowers the pH??

[@lisagriffin4236]

I also thought baking soda would raise the pH because it is alkaline.

[@jswhosoever4533]

He just misspoke

[@Mr1Spring]

pH of 1% NaHCO3 (baking soda) solution is around 8.5. Not acidic!

[@floydbertagnolli944]

Thank you!!! You told us to try fall planting. I put in peas last fall (N. CA) & they are still giving me a harvest. I will do it every year! 😊🧑🏻‍🌾

[@a.s.6685]

Thank you for the written summaries in the video, Luke! That is very helpful.

[@amandasupak]

Chapter selection 0:45 What is early blight (picture of what early blight looks like 3:50) 4:54 Prevention tip 1 6:38 Prevention tip 2 8:29 Prevention tip 3 10:11 Prevention tip 4 11:42 Prevention tip 5 13:13 Prevention tip 6

[@stephenchao1385]

this is the perfect video cause my beefsteak tomatoes are just starting to form and fed them recently, but started seeing some yellow spots on them and wondering if blight is going to take them over ;_;

[@deanschmeltzer9620]

Hi Luke. Here in the U. P. Of Michigan we have a saying . “. Plant before June , you plant to soon” I have been burnt to many times in the first week of June. I always put my toms and peppers out the second week. It is very hard to wait though. Thanks for all of your videos . Dean

[@katiedecker4644]

I have seen some spray their tomatoes with asprin water….does this act similarly or totally different?

[@ffs6158]

I use an online soil temp site to help me know when to plant out. A proper soil temp will eliminate this issue, so yes, just wait. There's no benefit to jumping the gun and letting your transplant get bigger/stronger will only make you more successful. And a tip I got on Hoss tools was to trim all foliage beneath the first fruit cluster, so thats what I do.

[@jackhogston6119]

What's the site?

[@missmartpants2269]

Grow bigger? When did I miss the change of outtro? God bless!

[@toddtavares7386]

What are you putting in the hole, from that white pouch, before you put the tomato in the ground?

[@morningwoodfarms713]

We SO needed this advice! Thanks, Luke! How about doing one on curly leaf virus? Unfortunately, it's that season too. I think those flies got my supernova starts yesterday! 😨🙏🤞

[@d2w173]

I'm confused...baking soda increases the PH in soil?? Not sure I understand you correctly. Hydrogen Peroxide would be more beneficial, wouldn't it?

[@kcbknitter]

This just became my favorite of your videos. I struggle with all of what you talk about in this video. Thank you so much for the help.

[@Nikki-mx5my]

This is very well timed for me since I am a couple weeks behind you. Most folks around here plant tomatoes and peppers around Memorial Day. For me, I am looking for temps consistently in the 50s at night.

[@joehisel5966]

I just can't bring myself to cut anything off of a tomato plant

[@lizmalatesta3532]

I'm new to this but was wondering why wouldn't you lay down straw or mulch so the leaves don't touch the soil?

[@katharine5606]

I was going to ask essentially the same thing-- if he's ever tried a barrier mat to prevent the spread of spores from the soil.

[@thatonegirl1837]

I use cardboard

[@lauriedavis4045]

I lay on straw mulch closely in containers; trim lower leaves asap.

[@joesqudy]

@@thatonegirl1837 That is a really great idea. The only problem I could potentially see with that are bad bugs hiding underneath the cardboard. What has been your experience? Thank you. ❌⭕️🙏🏽♥️

[@thatonegirl1837]

@@joesqudy Ya know, I never thought of that. I've never had that happen but it is definitely a possibility.

[@jimk7866]

Surprised nothing is mentioned about mulch protection.

[@jenniferreid77]

Would the method for spraying squash be the same (once a week)? Does it work for preventing AND controlling powdery mildew? Powdery mildew shows up later in the season for us, so was curious if I spray weekly all season?

[@jswhosoever4533]

Great question. I wish you got an answer!

[@LisaCampbell-e3o]

I have no dirt ..my garden has black matting down ..great air flow..growing upright with twine..perfect growing environment..have blight on tomatoes and now peppers..trimming as much as possible..

[@dustyflats3832]

I’ve tried the single stem pruning and there was issues. The sun and heat are getting too extreme early in season and the plants need the foliage. We have sandy loam and the shade for fruit and soil is important. I shaded last year and didn’t prune as the fruit won’t set if too hot. Two other issues are I have too many plants to prune even if I wanted to and before long the suckers are rampant-it’s just too much work. Then the issue of production. Pruning may give you larger, but fewer fruit as you don’t have the other branches setting fruit. It is not beneficial to me to have tall seedlings as you never want the plants to be at the flowering stage at plant time. It robs energy from the plant that should be going to rooting. I purposely started tomatoes later than normal and they are still a bit big especially if you up-pot. I needed the room and to quit so much babysitting I planted out. Soil temp should be warm, but it really isn’t a perfect indicator to plant out because we have a microclimate and it can get in the 90s already yet cool at night approximately 45-55F. Those hot days can really warm up the soil, but still could be too cool at night. Future cast was showing to be at least above 40 so I planted. I prune the lower leaves up to about 8” above ground and I have to mulch with straw or they dry out too fast. Through the season I may prune a branch here and there if there is too much vegetation so it can have air flow. I planted 17” apart last year with peppers on backside of cattle panels, but this year I’m going 24” for better airflow. Mildew/fungus generally set in when the nights are cool and days hot. The dew settles on plants and needs to dry off quickly. I just expect the blight to show up and I always get a harvest. I do trim the bad leaves. I don’t touch the plants when they are wet. What I will do this year is prune the top off late summer as any future growth will not have a chance to ripen anyway and then the plant can ripen what it does have. Baking soda? It does slow mildew down, but don’t drench the soil as the tomatoes don’t like alkalinity.

[@dianebevans6864]

I think we had the late blight. We had a bad storm in June,w hi h ended up causing many trees and destruction in our area, along Lake Michigan shoreline. We got tomato blight, and a fungus on many trees and bushes that survived. I a, thinking the winds caused the spores. We started spraying with baking soda, dawn dish soap, water Epson salt, and acohol mixtures. But people have said it’s in the soil. So not sure how to handle. Do you have any video links that would address this. Ps we had to have 15 trees removed due to splits, sheared off, etc. and fence repair, and new roof. But feel blessed as less than 3 miles from us there were housed condemned from trees landing in the middle of them. Thankfully no one killed. Love your seeds. Just got my garlic from you and got it planted. Thank for all your content.

[@mommypov4958]

O wow! 45°?! We are already reaching 100°+ 😂

[@lauriedavis4045]

I think he was referring to night temps--we've had 70s and 80s daytime in MI.

[@doreenhenry8805]

Tomato late blight is caused by Phytophthora infestans

[@Rosaprep247]

Luke, I saw someone recommend trenching for small tomatoes, basically planting low so you back fill later up the stem. Is that something you’ve tried?

[@TimGriess]

Its early June and about my whole tomato crop is wiped out with blight and disease, south carolina, lots of rain. Not a good years. Have done the same as last year (1000's of tomatoes). Hydrogen peroxide spray, baking soda / aspirin spray, rosemary / peppermint oil. Worst year ever.

[@davidisaacson9328]

Baking soda is an alkali...which increases the pH, not lowers it.

[@AristoclesPlaton]

No. Baking Soda will not change from pH of 7 to 5.5 which is acidic. Backing soda is a base, and will raise the pH to about 8.5 at the most; it is not a strong base. It also releases Na ions into the soil and that is not good for the plants. Use sparingly.

[@GreenThumbGardener65]

Thanks Luke! I lost my whole garden this year! Now I know what to do. ❤

[@beverlyboyce1041]

I use hydrogen peroxide spray

[@jeanpaeth7424]

Does this go for potting soil in raised bed too?

[@TheJR850]

I wish I knew this last year when I tried deep planting for the first time lol 🤦🏻‍♀️ now I know why almost all of my tomatoes died. Thanks for posting this Luke!!

[@learningtolivefamily]

What’s the minimum nighttime temps you would plant tomatoes in the ground at ?

[@debrahaffner6619]

What time of day should this spray be applied?

[@deeziemann5478]

i am concerned with poisoning insects in my garden with the dawn dish soap. Can I use an organic lemon or orange oil based dish soap instead of dawn?

[@Nikki-mx5my]

You can use Dr.Bronner’s Castile Soap, it is an actual soap (unlike Dawn and similar products that are detergents) and it is natural.

[@louisadellamico4403]

Does anyone know the purpose for adding dish soap, and why they recommend Dawn specifically?

[@louisadellamico4403]

Good point!

[@mistersmith8962]

My tomatoes love nightshade or dayshade and they throw shade

[@vicwickgardens9174]

Incredible video! Thanks so much 😊

[@ronbell3986]

Does copper work for this blight?

[@chintumofu3463]

Did you say once a week for every month

[@stephaniefuller]

I wonder if I can use neem oil as the oil?

[@louisadellamico4403]

I used your recommended baking soda solution, sprayed in early morning. Turned leaves completely yellow in 24 hrs. Wish I could share the photos to show you. I'm shocked, extremely disappointed, and flummoxed as to what I did wrong. (But I still love your videos!)

[@carolb5677]

Did the plants recover?

[@jswhosoever4533]

I just sprayed mine and touching them turned my hands yellow! It's like it bleached the plants. I hope I didn't do it wrong too! I followed the directions except I used olive oil...I don't have veg oil.

[@louisadellamico4403]

@@carolb5677 Not really. I was so discouraged I kinda gave up. This year, I put down an impermeable layer of plastic "mulch", trimmed the lower leaves, pruned them so they have air circulating through them, and no blight so far...

[@louisadellamico4403]

@@jswhosoever4533 Your hands turned yellow?? That's really odd. I wouldn't have guessed that the yellow color in tomato leaves could turn your hands yellow! Yeah, I know what you mean about bleaching the plants. I followed his instructions EXACTLY.

[@carolb5677]

@@louisadellamico4403 Same here! I also spaced the plants further apart and called the seed company to try some varieties that are supposed to be hardily. Here's hoping for a harvest for us all.

[@waynespringer501]

I have mushrooms sprouting in my soil, it might have to do with 12 inches of mushroom compost?

[@lauriedavis4045]

Fungi spores are airborne--all kinds, and you never know what you're going to get, esp with high organic matter in soils. Perfectly notmal.

[@waynespringer501]

@@lauriedavis4045 I know what I got all my compost is direct by the truckload from a commercial factory mushroom farm. They're mushrooms.

[@brandyburgess8267]

Does it have to be dawn or any dish detergent?

[@terrikenison5726]

Can I still use the spray if the earliest I can spray is 10am?

[@debrahaffner6619]

Thank you! This helps me so much!

[@cthomasct61]

I lost all my tomatoes 🍅 😕 last season..planted them to early...frost got them..n California..i planted n late March early April....went outside to water me tomatoes late @ night...they were glistening like they had diamonds on them...i was like...dis ain't good...next mornting...they were all black...lesson learned...patience...i missed out on my favorite...FRIED GREEN TOMATOES 😢....for the whole season..planted more...but then got bloom rot ...😢....let us see where tis goes tis year...with the lessons learned...fa sho...nurturing a plant...and watching it GROW...then watching it's fruits and vegetables UNFOLD....doesn't ever get OLD....thanks for the lesson Luke....1.....

[@inkybeans]

Thank you! I planted my tomatoes deep, and before I got to mulching around them, an unexpected heavy rain ran me inside. The next day, their little leaves were literally stuck into the dirt. I gently rinsed and wiped them, and they're doing ok now, but just ok. I will start your remedy tmrw! 🙏🏽💕

[@daddy1571]

Skip the baking soda thing. It raises the pH which tomatoes don't like. Instead dissolve a 325ml. Uncoated Aspirin in 1ga. Water. Spray your tomatoes with this in the morning or evening. This prevents many issues and gives your tomatoes added vigor and disease tolerance. I've done this for years on my tomatoes,squash, cucumbers,and eggplants with great success. Plus it's inexpensive. If you want it works better to add a wetting agent to keep it active on the leaves. I use yucca extract.

[@louisadellamico4403]

@@daddy1571 Interesting. What's in aspirin that would benefit tomato plants, and how would it alter the pH or chemistry?

[@Murlockingqc]

Can you talk about LACTIC ACID spray to control blights and mildew in your next video ?

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

Great information,thank you!

[@arabelletessa1420]

"Early blight usually comes within the first couple months of planting..." How long is your season? 😂 Mine is four months. 😭

[@chriswhinery925]

Excuse me if my chemistry is bad, it's been 22 years since high school chemistry class, but why would spraying the plants down with a baking soda spray lower the PH of the plant's leaves? Shouldn't it raise the PH? Baking soda is a base, not an acid. Edit: And now that I read through the comments I see that I'm far from the only one pointing this out. So it's good to know I'm not crazy, I'm just gonna assume it was a simple mistake on Luke's part (we all make those!) and move on :).

[@JuxstLer]

2 things: You never say "Grow big or go home" anymore. Liked that phrase. Now you say "Grow Bigger"....why? If it's some kind of trademark thing....well......I personally always thought it wouldve sounded better if youd say "Grow Big & Grow at Home"..... Sorry I just really liked that phrase & sad it is gone :( It's yours man!

[@a.s.6685]

I'm glad it's gone!! Always thought it was rather discouraging for beginners :-)

[@JuxstLer]

@@a.s.6685 considering it's at the end of the video.....after you've been exposed to Luke's seemingly & increasingly natural talent to educate others....I doubt that phrase would have that affect....but I get what your saying..."go home".....I definetly thought it was clever first time I heard it.

[@LittleHomesteadOnHinerPond]

I thought baking soda increased the alkalinity. How does it decrease the pH on the leaf?

[@bobert59]

Should I spray the underside of the leaves?

[@morningwoodfarms713]

Absolutely and always! No matter the spray!

[@ruthbertorelli1290]

I've recently seen many videos about using diluted hydrogen peroxide to rid plants of pests, what are your thoughts on this subject?

[@pixelupdates7041]

What kind of stakes are those?

[@krnotley2864]

What about mulch, esp. cloth mulch to control soil from getting into contact with lower leaves? Also, changing what plants you put in a bed from year to year, so, say, in year 1 you have tomatoes in bed 1, but in year 2 you plant something else, maybe marigolds or clover, or herbs, and put the tomatoes someplace else, that is less likely to have early blight?

[@IAMGiftbearer]

Great suggestions! I was wondering also if putting a cotton rag or cloth around the base of the plant might prevent it since it would create a barrier between the soil and the leaves.

[@krnotley2864]

you can get cloth mulch now, which I think would be better than a cloth for which you don't know what affect it would have, say, if it gets wet, or if it soaks up needed liquid/fertilizer, or itself gets moldy!

[@tedpellerin55]

Great video, but as a chem person, pH baking soda is slightly alkaline

[@cbass2755]

Yes…I can’t plant my tomatoes yet. I’m in southeast Michigan. Temp still to low at night. I’m planting after Mothers Day…and even then I need to watch the temperature. I’ve planted as late as Memorial Day weekend bc of really cold temperatures

[@ruthchavez5477]

This is my first year gardening. Thank you for the wonderful information.

[@joesqudy]

This is really good information, I haven’t had any trouble with blight yet thank God, but I’ll be using it should the necessity occur. My question to you is… Do you spray the underside of the leaves? Again, thank you so much for always giving us great info.❌⭕️🙏🏽♥️

[@beverlyboyce1041]

I grow mostly determinate tomato varieties and they shouldn't be pruned too much, just lower leaves.

[@faithfullyYours_His_Glory]

Pictures of blight on the leaves was SO helpful; thank you!!

[@terrivance8750]

Luke, Vinegar lowers pH--baking soda raises it.

[@michigan49080]

Such good information, here in SW Michigan I get powdery mildew so will use this for sure.

[@susanbrenden4777]

Thanks Luke for all your tips on preventing & or controlling blight! 💚

[@beckypeterson7522]

Do you cut off the lower leaves with a) a scissors or b) pinching with finger?

[@lauriedavis4045]

My short tomato plants will be snugged into containers with as thick of straw mulch as I can manage.

[@jeffkline799]

I see in this video that you have metal stakes. Have you switched to them instead of the furring strips?

[@reedbalzeski5266]

Can you use the baking soda method on blueberries for powder mildew

[@robingirven4570]

This will the first year I’ll be pruning tomatoes. Also, my first year frowning my own from seeds I purchased from you! Almost all indeterminate varieties, so this will be fun - my Boxcar Willies are about a foot tall already and a couple have blossoms- I obviously started them waaayy too early! Lol

[@philhacker2405]

That's funny I guess the tomato 🐛 is doing the job for me, 😂

[@MandiMiller-z4o]

Can u store the baking soda spray or should you make a new batch every week? Thanks

[@mkc0005]

Here in S TX our tomato season is over by July so we have to plant as soon as the last frost is gone in order to get any kind of harvest. Planting later isn’t an option.

[@wanda7818]

Will definitely use the solution. Thanks

[@razor-ron]

Really enjoy your gardening tips as they are more localized for MI state! Best wishes and keep up the good work.

[@barbharrison1179]

I'm just planting my starts in the garden and this is exactly the information I needed! Thank you!

[@brenekins314]

Can you use the baking soda spray on cucumbers

[@nancyurban4294]

Was wondering where to get the stakes you have in this video?

[@faithlove7529]

Can you use it for strawberries??

[@morningwoodfarms713]

Yes, you can!

[@JM.TheComposer]

Since when is baking soda acidic?? 🤔

[@terrikenison5726]

Can you use this for mildew on your lawn?

[@michaelfav137]

Well done! Excellent lecture and no unnecessary detail or nonsense

[@asdfqwerty271]

Video starts at close to 4:00 in. Ouch.

[@happysandyh]

Thank you for another great video!

[@camicri4263]

Thank you Luke, great video ❤🤗

[@freshpro007]

Can trichoderma be used as a control?

[@kele1264]

Very very helpful. Thank you!

[@mala4027]

great information as always!!

[@rickthelian2215]

Hello MiGardner

[@cthomasct61]

Thanks luke.......1..

[@MitchellHarrison-r1e]

Good stuff.

[@marywright1323]

Thank you

[@jessicacook8186]

At what point do you prune to a single stem?

[@bluewolf4915]

You can prune as soon as suckers start.

[@melodylincoln4053]

Thank you!

[@chrisd6567]

Thanks for the great info!!!!