An update on Late Blight from Eric Sideman, MOFGA’s Crop Specialist:
Late blight has been found in Caribou, Maine. I have no details yet, but the disease is now close enough to be very vigilant. Scout your potato and tomato fields frequently. Good pictures can be found at the following website to help you identify the problem, or you can look back at previous Pest Reports. If you are not sure, please send me a good quality, digital photograph and I will let you know if I can identify it. Also, if it is a “maybe”, then I will instruct you to send a sample up to the Pest Management Office for positive ID.
http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/diagnose.htm
I do not think the risk level is high. We do not have the weather in most of Maine that would favor quick spread of the disease, nor do we have wide spread inoculum. But, we all have to be good neighbors and monitor our plantings so we do not develop wide spread inoculum.
Eric Sideman, Crop Specialist
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Phone: 603 269 6201
[email protected]
7.20.11 Addendum for NH growers:
From the late blight communication listserv, we now know that late blight was found on 7/18 in Caribou, Maine and in Essex County in Ontario, Canada. The weather is currently not conducive to late blight spread, so these identifications are not considered a high risk to NH growers. Please stay vigilant!
Becky Sideman
Associate Extension Professor, Vegetable & Berry Specialist
UNH Cooperative Extension