Nathan Kleczewski, Extension Specialist – Plant Pathology; nkleczew@udel.edu
On July 1, 2013 we confirmed late blight on a commercial potato field near Leipsic, Delaware. The disease was limited to a corner of the field and fungicide coverage in this area may have been poor. This is the first report of late blight in Delaware for 2013. In addition, late blight was reported on two commercial potato fields and one processing tomato field in Salem, New Jersey on July 2, 2013. An up to date map of late blight reports in the area can be located here: http://www.usablight.org/map
All tomato and potato growers should aggressively scout their plants for symptoms and signs of the disease and apply fungicides preventatively. Recommended fungicides for late blight control are found in the 2013 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide. An online copy of this document can be found at the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Website: http://extension.udel.edu/ag/vegetable-fruit-resources/commercial-vegetable-production-recommendations/