Sunflower Growth

June 23rd ---------------- July 3rd

They grew a foot in 10 days.

Late Blight.... {cringe}

I've been checking daily, for Late Blight, which is sadly heading up the coast.

For those who don't know:

Late Blight is most notably know as the disease that was responsible for the Irish potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century.  Only effects potatoes and tomatoes and is caused by the fungus-like oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans.  It can infect and destroy the leaves, stems, fruits, and tubers of potato and tomato plants.

OSU Plant Disease Control

Symptoms: Water-soaked spots appear on leaves and stems, enlarge rapidly, and turn brown or black. Under humid conditions, a ring or surface of white mold may appear on the leaf underside at the lesion's edge. In cool, wet weather, blight may advance rapidly and ruin an entire field in a few days.  This is according to Oregon State University Pant Disease Control

It is caused by extended periods of leaf wetness, combined with cool to moderate temperatures and lack of sunshine (sounds like NE, hmmm) this combination results in perfect conditions for many crop disease pathogens.  The problem is that it seen later on in the summer, not now, and it is been reported in NY & NJ, not good.  It is carried by storm winds, which could help it land right smack in New England, our weather and lack of sunshine has created an ideal situation for the plant disease.