This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
Published on July 6, 2019, by ANN MACHARIA, a renowned agricultural expert, this article delves into the challenges faced by farmers growing tomatoes and capsicums in Limuru.
One of the major concerns for these farmers is early blight, a deadly fungal infection that affects the leaves, stems, and fruits of the crops.
Early blight initially manifests itself on leaves as circular brown lesions on the older foliage near the ground. It thrives best in heavy dew (colder mornings), frequent rainfall, and warm conditions.
According to the expert, the disease also occurs in dry spell especially if the crop is under irrigation. In humid areas, all the leaves may be affected, but in dry areas, only the lower leaves are affected, spreading the disease to the other parts of the plant.
The stems turn yellow, sunken, and dry while the fruits can be infected at any stage of growth. The fruits spots are leathery, black with raised concentric rings, which eventually results in fruit-fall.
Prevention and control measures include removing weeds after tillage and burning them, acquiring certified seeds that are free and resistant to the disease, pruning the crop, especially the lower leaves, and using disinfected tools.
Additionally, crop nutrition should be well taken care of by applying the required fertilizer using the recommended rates in line with the soil test analysis. Crop support in tomatoes is also vital as this increases air circulation around the plant and facilitates airflow and penetration of chemicals and bio pesticides.
Planting tomatoes in raised beds helps in preventing the disease since it improves the drainage and prevents the infection from spreading. Mulching the beds using organic or plastic mulch also plays a critical role in preventing the plant from being infected since they create a barrier between the contaminated soil and the leaves.
