Summary: We reviewed recommended sanitation practices after a tomato crop is finished to reduce disease in following crops.
Discussion: Dan Egel offers the following suggestions after finishing with a tomato crop in a high tunnel or hoophouse to reduce disease pressure on future tomato crops.
1. If possible, allow three years between
tomato crops in the same structure and location.
2. If three years without tomatoes isn't
possible, take tomato plants out of the structure. Compost or bury the plant material. If
composting, do not use compost on future solanaceous crops unless the compost
has been well-managed so that all portions of the compost reach temperatures
high enough to kill plant pathogens.
3. Landscape fabric on the floor of the
structure makes it easier to sweep and get plant parts out. After sweeping the
fabric could be sprayed down with a disinfectant.
These next two suggestions have potential
to reduce disease, but they should be considered more experimental because we
don't understand the cost/benefit relationship as well.
4. Close the tunnel up and put clear
plastic over bare soil to solarize the soil. It might help to kill
pathogens.
5. Plant a bio-active mustard cover crop
and incorporate it into the soil to reduce problems with soilborne diseases. It
might be effective against white mold and fusarium crown and root rot.
6.
Be aware that some diseases, for instance white mold, could carry over to
winter crops, because they have a wide host spectrum.
Notes by L. Maynard. Please get in touch with corrections
or additions, or just post a comment.
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