By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Each year the weather presents challenges for farmers and backyard gardeners alike. The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture recently released information concerning the occurrence of disease popping up in tomatoes and cucurbits because of hot weather, coupled with too much rain.
Summer rains have been more plentiful in some areas as opposed to others, but the wet spring most of the state experienced created many of the problems growers are seeing now. The diseases include bacterial leaf spot, early blight, Septoria leaf blight and bacterial canker on tomatoes.

“The first three problems can be managed with cultural practices and fungicides; the degree of success depends on timeliness of treatment and also the length of environmental conditions that favor disease,” said Kenny Seebold, UK extension plant pathologist. “Bacterial canker, however, can be nearly impossible to stop once it gets started in the field, and there are no bactericides labeled to control it.”

According to information from UK, “bacterial wilt is affecting a number of cantaloupes and cucumbers, and yellow vine decline is beginning to appear on some squashes and pumpkins.”
Seebold added for the areas where summer rains have not been so prevalent, high dew points have been a contributor to these problems. He also noted the best thing for growers, be they gardeners raising vegetables for their own use or on a commercial basis, is to continue to apply fungicides or bactericides.

The presence of disease isn’t limited to one particular area, but is being found across the state. Richard Jones and his family own and operate Happy Jacks Pumpkin Farm in Franklin County. He said he, like many others, has had problems with disease this year and sometimes too much rain is as bad as too little.
“We live by a creek so we can irrigate if it gets too dry, but when it gets too wet we can’t dry it out,” he said.

Jones grows a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, watermelons and, of course, pumpkins. He said his watermelons and pumpkins are being affected more than anything else. In fact, in the midst of watermelon season he estimates a 30 percent loss of that crop so far. He also said his acre of potatoes did not do as well as last year’s.

His tomato crop has shown signs of early blight, but Jones said he has kept that under control for the most part through the use of fungicides. But, between the added cost of prevention and the losses already, his bottom line is being affected. “This hits you in the pocketbook,” he pointed out.

One bright spot for Jones has been his sweet corn crop. So far he hasn’t had to water it and the crop has been “great.” He added the biggest problem he has had with the corn has been the many raccoons around that want to add it to their diets.

Even with disease problems, Jones has taken an optimistic look at the season. “What we need now is a dry spell, but we’ll take what we get. All in all we have had a pretty decent year. It hasn’t been the best, but if I had to chalk it up, it’s been pretty good,” he said.

UK extension offers a series of publications for nearly every kind of grower, to help combat these disease problems. ID-36 Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers and ID-128 Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky are available on the college’s website and at county extension offices.