[Modo]

Location Kingston/Wimbledon in a very warm UHI.

Got first blight attack on fruits in last 24 hours. I had to remove some leaves on Tuesday on return from visit to North Yorkshire. Given the forecast huge day night-day temperature differences... and damp weather the previous week I had sprayed, but regrettably I have got blight on some large Marmande fruits.

Every precaution had been taken and USA style I had pretty much defoliated the lower stems in early August.

Be aware - but to date it looks limited/sporadic rather than total collapse as can happen in some years

[Modo]

Obviously wishful thinking - by this aftermoon the whole Marmande vine was riddled with blight and I have also lost a Gardener's Delight. On the positive side I picked a decent basket of Ceps this morning so we won't starve.

[Suzie]

Thanks for the warning, useful as my tomatoes are being very slow to ripen this year. Also struggling with botryis on the autumn raspberries.

[Modo]

Slight change of topic but my autumn raspberries have got that grub that leaves a maggotty area at the top of the fruit. Pretty much renders them useless this season having not sprayed them. But I'm not complaining Figs and Peaches have been magnificent and looks like an unusually good second strawberry crop - which having shot the most of the plague of squirrels I might get some for myself.

[Suzie]

I've got blight on my tomatoes after all. two plants close to collapsing so I've removed them and tried to save any green tomatoes that look ok. Other plants have some evidence.

I have no idea what to do with my plants that I've removed. I'm not composting them! We aren't allowed to put green waste in our general rubbish - it has to go in the green waste container, but I can't in all conscience put them into green waste can I? I dont have spare space to burn it and besides its all damp anyway.

Apples are very good this year.

[Dave W]

Yes a freind I went to see yesterday in Brockley was suffering as well.. watch out London gardeners!

[Modo]

Suzie I'm afraid "looking OK" is no surety that the fruits won't suddenly go blighted after a week or so indoors!

As a keen mushroom picker I can't help but notice the coincidence between the mushroom flush late last week, with the blight outbreak.

The other remarkable thing about the Tomatoes I have grown this year, was that the first truss of outdoor Marmade's ripened in the third week of July, and yet the second truss is still barely showing any colour change!!!