Allegedly there is a confirmed case of late blight in tomatoes as far north as Northern Kentucky (Boone County) (part of the greater Cincinnati area). Late Blight normally freezes out over the winter in the northern states so it's usually not a problem in the northern states until the spores work their way north which is usually later in the year. The ground is already wet and there is a forecast or more rain and some cool days; which regretfully would be idealistic conditions for late blight to flourish.
Sometimes late blight can get a jumpstart in the northern states when precautions are not followed. Sometimes contaminated seeds or potatoes can reintroduce the late blight. I would imagine that the late blight could survive the winter in the shelter of a greenhouse.
Last year there seemed to be some particularly aggressive strains of late blight; in combination with an unusually wet and cool summer in many areas which allowed the late blight to decimate many crops like tomatoes in many areas.
Allegedly Late Blight Already Heading North
Thanks for warning us. We here along the Gulf Coast are worried about the oil spill.
Manitoba...Fungal ailment known as late blight was discovered on tomato seedlings at many retail sites in Winnipeg and Brandon.
Source and full story
http://topnews.us/content/222263-province-officials-issue-counseling-regarding-blight-discovered-tomato-seedlings
Washington DC area... On May 7, late blight was detected in a greenhouse in St. Mary's County.
Source and full story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061006077.html
Hollidaysburg, PA.... Late blight has been detected on tomato transplants in Somerset County and in a community garden outside of Hollidaysburg, Tom Ford, educator at the Penn State Cooper-ative Extension office in Blair County, said.
Source and full story
http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/530798.html
What does Blight look like. Is it white residue on the stems of plants?
What does Blight look like. Is it white residue on the stems of plants?
http://growit.umd.edu/Late%20Blight%20Tomatoes/Late%20blight%20-%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20from%202009.cfm
Purdue pathologists confirm tomato disease (late blight) in Indiana
http://media-newswire.com/release_1122473.html
Late blight found North Dakota potatoes.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/167913/
Late Blight Confirmed In Manitoba Potatoes
http://www.portageonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18039&Itemid=468
Late blight and downy mildew have both been confirmed in Ohio
http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/food/97623739.html
Ignoramus (that may be the most inappropriate nickname here that I've ever seen!), your original post was very interesting to me. I've always had a problem with late blight on my tomatoes but have never really researched it; what I *have* observed is that it always starts when we are having rainy, cooler weather. I never had any idea that it actually was coming from the south and moving northward every year, that's very interesting. This year I have some of my tomato plants in a hoop house and I'm anxious to see if the more controlled (and warmer) conditions will keep my plants healthier.
Behillman -- of course the oil spill is a different topic, but I can only imagine it is far ahead of late blight in your list of worries. I am praying (not something I do very often) that they will have it contained soon so that cleanup can actually get underway. What a tragedy for our country!
Sandy
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