Natural Remedies for Tomato Blight & Powdery Mildew

Tea

• Tea that helps deter tomato blight does not come in a tea bag, and it is not suitable for human consumption. It is made from steeping compost or manure in water. Make this "tea" by filling a 30-gallon trash can with water. Wait 24 hours for the chlorine to dissipate, and add four shovels of manure. Cover the can and let it to sit for two to three weeks in an area where the smell will not permeate any living space. Stir it once a day. Water tomatoes with the strained liquid as needed, or spray it on the leaves. The tea prevents fungi from attacking healthy plants.

Baking Soda

• Baking soda spray works against both blights and powdery mildew. Apply as a preventative at the first signs of the disease. Mix 1 tbsp. of baking soda, 2-1/2 tbsp. of vegetable oil and 1 gallon of water in a milk jug. When ready to use, shake it well and add 1/2 tsp. of Castile soap, and spray it on both sides of all leaves and on the ground around the base of each plant. When treating powdery mildew, spray the plants down to get as many spores off the leaves as possible before using the spray. Repeat the application every five to seven days, or seven to 10 days in dry weather.

Milk

• Calcium deficiency is a common problem in tomatoes and contributes to susceptibility to blights and mildew. Mix a 10-percent solution of milk to water. For large gardens, add 1 cup of milk to 9 cups of water, and for smaller gardens use 1/2 cup to 4-1/2 cups of water. Use immediately to spray on leaves twice a week to prevent disease from striking.

Organic Preventatives

• Prevent the fungus completely by rotating crops every year so tomatoes are not planted where they were located the previous year. Keep them away from areas planted with potatoes, peppers and eggplant, as they get the same diseases. Space plants at least 3 feet apart to encourage good air circulation. Blight and powdery mildew strike when conditions are damp. Supplement water only at the base of plants to prevent leaves from getting wet, and always use stakes or cages to keep foliage and fruit off the ground. Remove any blighted leaves and destroy them. Do not put them in the compost, where the fungus will hide and be passed on.