Copper funcicide on tomatoes?

[frdnicholas]

I've had a problem with early blight every year I've grown tomatoes, even with using a different site for them. I have some coppper funcicide that I was thinking of trying, but am unsure about the best time to apply it or if it was even the best way to approach the problem. The directions on the bottle are not as clear as I need. I live in Southeast Coastal Georgia and am planting the t omatoes in a 4x4 garden bag. I am using commercial soil to which I've added used coffee grounds from Starbucks and aged chicken manure. I would be most grateful for help to address this issue. Thank you.

 

[Anniekay]

They say to add the copper beforehand to help prevent problems later. I've not tried it but it is safe for use on soil that has tomatoes planted in it.

 

[Chuck]

They say to add the copper beforehand to help prevent problems later. I've not tried it but it is safe for use on soil that has tomatoes planted in it.

Copper is a heavy metal and will build up in soil with prolonged use. Not a good thing for garden soil as it will kill soil microbes vital to plant growth.

 

[Meadowlark]

I have some coppper funcicide that I was thinking of trying, but am unsure about the best time to apply it or if it was even the best way to approach the problem.

I think prevention is the best way to approach the problem... and has worked for me for decades in a climate very similar to yours.

Things that work for me include using disease resistant varieties, faithful 3-year crop rotation on tomatoes, adequate spacing for good air circulation, mulching around the base of the plants to prevent any soil contact with the plant leaves, removal and disposal of any suspected leaves as well as seasonal removal of the plants and disposal external to the garden and compost pile, and early morning watering to help the plant leaves to dry quickly.

Taken together, I've found these measures to be totally effective in prevention of early blight and they obviate the need for any fungicides on my tomatoes which is important to me.

 

[Anniekay]

Copper is a heavy metal and will build up in soil with prolonged use. Not a good thing for garden soil as it will kill soil microbes vital to plant growth.

Yes, agree. This is why you only use it when you have a severe problem. Once is usually enough to eliminate that virus in the soil.

 

[cpp gardener]

Fungus

 

[oneeye]

If you have to put fungcides on your plants there something wrong in the growing environment. I have never seen a fungicide fix a fungus problem after its already present in the soil. When the conditions are just right the fungus will always return. What one needs to do is change the soil conditions to minimize a fungus bloom.

When you add a lot of chicken manure and coffee grounds to a soil mix, it will become acidic. Remember that tomatoes need a lot of calcium to grow well in acidic soils or they will become diseased. Be sure and add some lime in the bed 3 months before planting time to asure the calcium is available to the plants when you plant them in Spring.

 

[Meadowlark]

If you have to put fungcides on your plants there something wrong in the growing environment. I have never seen a fungicide fix a fungus problem after its already present in the soil.

Completely agree. Throwing copper at your soil as a prevention is not something I would advise.

... Be sure and add some lime in the bed 3 months before planting time to asure the calcium is available to the plants when you plant them in Spring.

Agree again. That is something I always do as preparation of my tomato bed each year. I prefer ag. lime as the agent.