Wiediger, Alison wrote:
>
> Whoa, wait a minute, perhaps this should say "some organic growers". We
> never have used a fungicide of any kind - copper and sulfur have too many
> other problems - and never will, and we raise bumper crops of tomatoes in
> South Central Kentucky, a humid area if there is one.
I'm glad you posted this Alison. I was bothered as well, especially by
the reference to the eastern US. Whenever I "hear" talk (or read it)
about the various disease resistances of tomatoes or get asked what one
does about tomato diseases, I have to wonder "what diseases?" In 30
years, the only problems I have seen with tomatoes (other than an
unexpected frost) are those great big green hornworms and "blossom end
rot," which I advise people about every year when they ask me why my
plants don't have it and theirs do. Bone meal around each plant seems
to prevent blossom end rot, and I patrol my plants for the hornworms.
No doubt some do have problems with fungus on tomatoes, especially in
monoculture or at a large landscape scale, but I don't think it is the
norm, here in this part of the east (central NJ, the Garden State).
The things which do seem to be difficult to grow organically are sweet
corn, apples, and brassicas. The brassicas are usually produced under
row covers with good result, apples require a lot of attention, and I
don't know anybody who grows organic sweet corn.
Loren Muldowney
loscott@envsci.rutgers.edu
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