Comments on: Q: Tomato viruses & powdery mildew http://intheloop.groworganic.com/2009/05/q-tomato-viruses-powdery-mildew/ Timely organic farm and garden info from GrowOrganic.com Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:34:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://intheloop.groworganic.com/2009/05/q-tomato-viruses-powdery-mildew/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 Andrew Tue, 26 May 2009 22:12:48 +0000 http://intheloop.groworganic.com/?p=578#comment-1090 We have quite a few ground mulching products that help suppress weed growth and that would help keep the soil from "splashing up" The first item that comes to mind in mulching film. This comes in multiple colors, but I have heard that <a href="http://www.groworganic.com/search.html?pCommand=DoSearch&pMode=Search&sText=red%20mulch&sCategory=catalog" rel="nofollow">red</a> is best for tomatoes and strawberries. We also have <a href="http://www.groworganic.com/search.html?sText=silver+mulch&sCategory=&sSort=Best" rel="nofollow">silver mulching film</a> that is supposed to help your plats growth by reflecting sunlight upward. If you want some sort of spreadable material to use as mulch the <a href="http://www.groworganic.com/search.html?pCommand=DoSearch&pMode=Search&sText=cocoa%20mulch&sCategory=catalog" rel="nofollow">Cocoa Mulch</a> is a wonderful smelling medium you can spread as a top dressing to your beds (you might not want to use this if you have dogs because they can have allergic reactions). One more alternative could be weed suppressing mats made from <a href="http://www.groworganic.com/search.html?sText=coco+fiber+weed+mat&sCategory=&sSort=Best" rel="nofollow">coco fiber</a>. These discs fit around the base of your plants and lay over the soil. Take a look at <a href="http://intheloop.groworganic.com/?p=539" rel="nofollow">this</a> previous blog entry that concerns getting rid of mildew. Hope that answers your question. We have quite a few ground mulching products that help suppress weed growth and that would help keep the soil from “splashing up” The first item that comes to mind in mulching film. This comes in multiple colors, but I have heard that red is best for tomatoes and strawberries. We also have silver mulching film that is supposed to help your plats growth by reflecting sunlight upward. If you want some sort of spreadable material to use as mulch the Cocoa Mulch is a wonderful smelling medium you can spread as a top dressing to your beds (you might not want to use this if you have dogs because they can have allergic reactions). One more alternative could be weed suppressing mats made from coco fiber. These discs fit around the base of your plants and lay over the soil.

Take a look at this previous blog entry that concerns getting rid of mildew.

Hope that answers your question.

]]> By: Erik http://intheloop.groworganic.com/2009/05/q-tomato-viruses-powdery-mildew/comment-page-1/#comment-1089 Erik Tue, 26 May 2009 21:57:05 +0000 http://intheloop.groworganic.com/?p=578#comment-1089 First, when watering - use a drip system so there is no spray to get on the leaves. A mulch may not work in your favor because it will collect humidity. But any mulch should do. Also consider a spray of 1 teaspoon of baking soda per quart. Spray every 7 to 10 days. It seems to keep powdery mildew at bay. I am not sure of the other viruses. These are likely not the water splash but other bugs like aphids and beetles bringing in the diseases. If powdery mildew is already in full swing you may have to start over. And start spraying early (before you see white flakes). First, when watering – use a drip system so there is no spray to get on the leaves. A mulch may not work in your favor because it will collect humidity. But any mulch should do. Also consider a spray of 1 teaspoon of baking soda per quart. Spray every 7 to 10 days. It seems to keep powdery mildew at bay. I am not sure of the other viruses. These are likely not the water splash but other bugs like aphids and beetles bringing in the diseases. If powdery mildew is already in full swing you may have to start over. And start spraying early (before you see white flakes).

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