Early Blight Control in Organic Tomato

Early Blight Control in Organic “Valencia” Tomato with Copper Hydroxide

The majority of pest control in organic production systems relies greatly on management
and cultural practices. The goal is to minimize the opportunities for pest organisms
to survive, reproduce, and increase to levels that can negatively impact crop production.
However, some insects, weeds, and diseases are not easily stopped at the farm gate.
They are migratory and are able to arrive from distant fields in spite of the best local
practices. When environmental conditions that encourage an increase in a pest also
hinder a producer’s ability to culturally control the problem, a crop failure can occur.

Identifying and using organically certifiable crop protectants can provide some
assistance in managing these pests. Copper containing products have been shown to
provide moderate to good protection of non-infected foliage during an outbreak of
disease caused by a range of bacteria and fungi. One of these products was tested here
as a means of reducing incidence of early blight on an heirloom tomato.

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