Pick of the week!

Joe’s pick of the week



Common: Lo & Behold Blue Chip Butterfly Bush
Latin: Buddelia x ‘bluechip’
Grows 24”-36” Tall and 24’x36” Wide
Zone 5-9
Full Sun
Continuous Blooming starting in mid summer and continuing until frost
Attracts humming birds and butterflies
Non- Invasive
Little or no care needed does not require deadheading
Cut back to 12” in early spring for best new growth

Sarah’s Perennial Pick of the week



Common name: Fox Glove
Latin Name: Digitalis
Biennial
Light: shade, part shade, sun
Flower Color: white, yellow, pink, rose, red, lavender and purple
2’-6’ tall by 18” wide
Zones: 4-10

Eric’s Fungus of the week



Early Blight as known as Alternaria solani; Septoria Leaf Spot
Early blight caused by Alternaria solani occurs wherever potatoes and tomatoes are grown. Uncontrolled, the disease may cause serious defoliation, resulting in decreased yield and quality. Septoria leaf spot caused by Septoria lycopersici is one of the most destructive diseases of tomato foliage. It is widely distributed throughout the world and is most severe where wet, humid weather periods persist for extended periods. All tomato cultivars are susceptible to Septoria and must be treated with registered protective fungicide sprays at regular intervals.
Identification:
Early blight occurs on the foliage, stem, and fruit of tomato. It first appears as small brown to black lesions on older foliage. The tissue surrounding the initial lesion may become yellow, and when lesions are numerous entire leaves may become chlorotic. As the lesions enlarge, they often develop concentric rings giving them a ‘bull’s eye’ or ‘target-spot’ appearance. In the late summer when conditions are favorable for disease development, lesions can become numerous and plants defoliated, reducing both fruit quantity and quality. Fruit can become infected either in the green or ripe stage through the stem attachment. Lesions can become quite large, involve the whole fruit, and have characteristic concentric rings. Infected fruit often drop and losses of 30-50% of immature fruit may occur. Foliar symptoms on potato are quite similar, though defoliation rarely results. Tuber lesions are dark, sunken, and circular often bordered by a purple to gray raised tissue. The underlying flesh is dry, leathery, and brown. Lesions can increase in size during storage and tubers become shriveled.
Septoria leaf spot usually appears on lower leaves after the first fruit develops. Lesions are small, circular, with dark brown to purple borders and tan to gray centers. Black pycnidia (fruiting bodies) within lesions are visible with a hand lens. If many leaf lesions develop on a leaf, it may turn yellow, then brown, and wither. Fruit infection is rare.

Life Cycle:
A .solani survives between crops on infected plant debris, soil, other solanaceous host weeds and can be carried on tomato seed and infected tubers. The fungus enters the leaves directly or through wounds. Primary infection can occur on older foliage early in the season, but most secondary spread occurs as the plants age. Actively growing, young tissue and vigorous plants with adequate nitrogen generally do not express symptoms. Infection is favored by mild, rainy weather.
S. lycopersici overwinters in infected crop or solanaceous weed hosts debris. The pathogen can also survive on stakes and cages and be carried in seed. Once introduced, conidia are spread by splashing water, workers and equipment working when foliage is wet, and insects.
Cultural Controls & Prevention:
• Use resistant or tolerant cultivars.
• Start with disease-free seed, transplants, and seed tubers.
• Control susceptible weeds (ie horsenettle) and eliminate volunteer plants and cull piles.
• Plow under plant debris after harvest.
• Fertilize properly and keep plants growing vigorously.
• Rotate out of tomatoes for two years.
• Careful attention to the timing of irrigation (avoid late afternoon or evening) and proper plant spacing to reduce the amount of time during which the plants remain wet can reduce disease spread.
• Stake plants to improve air circulation and reduce the contact of the plant with soil.
• Avoid working the plants when they are wet.
• Spray regularly with fungicides. Spray applications should be scheduled by spore trapping or forecasting systems (TOM-CAST) to be most effective. Early season applications often fail to control secondary spread of the disease.
Chemical Controls & Pesticides:

As an natural way to control early blight we recommend Copper Fungicide, we carry it in a concentrated form, a dust and in a ready to use. For a chemical control for early blight we recommend Fung-onil or Daconil both of which we are in a ready to use spray bottle.

Information regarding early blight was taken from the Umass extension website: http://extension.umass.edu/vegetable/diseases/tomato-septoria-alternaria

Sue’s Product pick of the week

Va-Va Fine food products

100% Natural Malidjano (Eggplant & Roasted Red Pepper Spread) & 100% Natural Lutenica ( Roasted Red Pepper Spread)

100% Natural Malidjano is a homemade Eggplant & Roasted Red Pepper Spread that is a Mediterranean favorite. It is a delicious blend of fire roasted eggplants, fire roasted peppers and all natural mustard. This product closely resembles ‘Babaghanush’, a mild eastern vegetable dip, however it does not contain tahan or sesame oil and is much lower in fat!. This all natural vegetable spread is healthy alternative to mayo and other spreads used on sandwiches. It is also great with crackers, chips or vegetables!



100% Natural Lutenica is a first Roasted Red Pepper Spread and the flagship of the Va-Va line of products. This product features the rich taste of roasted peppers, roasted carrots and tomato sauce in a low calorie no cholesterol, and no sugar added dish. It is most popular as a dip or on a sandwich but its uses are limitless. Use it as a side dish with grilled meats, on pasta, or with eggs for breakfast. We carry the Regular, Mild and Hot!



Come in and check it out it might be on the sample table next time you stop in the farm market!!