Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Prevalent in Gardens

Every year, it seems that certain vegetable garden problems are more prevalent than others.  The last few years, our summers were quite wet and there were more fungal leaf diseases. This year, our summer has been the opposite and very, very dry. Fungal diseases are not too bad but other problems such as tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) are showing up everywhere. County Extension offices all across the area have been getting calls on stunted and wilted tomatoes.  Such reports are never good news.   The likely culprit - TSWV. 

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) is a serious and, unfortunately, un-curable tomato disease.  Plants that are infected with TSWV are stunted, may wilt, and often die. Initially, leaves in the terminal portion of the plant stop growing, become distorted, and turn pale green. In young leaves, veins thicken and turn purple, causing the leaves to appear bronze. Dark purplish-gray ring spots frequently occur on infected leaves. Stems of infected plants often have purplish brown streaks. Infected fruit may exhibit numerous ringspots and blotches and may become distorted if infected when immature.

TSWV is spread by thrips and aphids. Currently, there is no effective way to control TSWV expect through controlling insect feeding and growing TSWV resistant tomato varieties.  Gardeners can prevent and reduce the spread of TSWV by spraying plants with malathion, neem, or insecticidal soap.  At the first sign of TSWV or any suspicious looking plant, always remove and destroy all infected plants as soon as possible. Leaving an infected plant can serve as a source for the disease and will only aid in the spread of it. Sacrificing one plant or a few may help save the others.

Lawn Burweed

Summertime is when many of us adults and children like to walk barefoot out in the yard and lawn.  The cool softness of the grass just feels good on our feet and between our toes.  Well, the last thing we expect and desire to step on is a something sharp or briar-like out in the middle of the grass.  Ouch!  What was that?  It may have been the spurs of lawn burweed.

If you look close, between the blades of grass, you will find lawn burweed and its spiny fruit. This low-growing annual weed pops up in the lawn each winter and by spring it develops small fruit with very sharp spines.  You really don’t notice this weed until you actually step on it.

Since lawn burweed is bad news and can ruin summer fun, especially for children., you will need to do whatever is necessary to get rid of it. The best strategy is to apply a pre-emergence herbicide, such as atrazine, in the fall to prevent it from coming up.  Remember lawn burweed is an annual and will come back from seeds that develop each spring.  The only way to kill it in the spring and summer is to spray the lawn with post-emergence herbicide containing 2-4-D.  Some severe situations may call for killing the entire area, including the lawn, with a non-selective herbicide, such as Round-up just to get rid of lawn burweed for good.  Of course, one will have to replant grass or lay new sod but by this way there would be no more lawn burweed!     

Container Gardening Workshop

This Saturday, June 24, 2006, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System will be conducting an area container gardening workshop in Tuskegee.  This workshop will begin at 8 a.m. and feature growing vegetables and bedding plants in raised beds and various containers.  We will discuss the types of soil medium and potting soils, benefits and types of containers, planting procedures and spacing, and garden pest management. We also plan to demonstrate how to construct a raised bed and even show some results from growing plants in containers.   Did I mention there will also be door prizes?

The area container gardening workshop will be held at the farmer’s market off Main Street in Tuskegee in Macon County, just a few blocks north of the Extension office.  The workshop will be held outside, some in the sun and some under a pavilion. We get started at 8 a.m. and hope to conclude by 11 a.m. There is no charge to attend.  For more information and to participate, please contact the Macon County Extension Office at (334) 727-0340.  

For more information, contact the Tallapoosa County Extension Office at 256-825-1050 or visit us online at www.aces.edu.