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Most Heirlooms were developed in the time before DOW chemical co. That is most of the fields were fertilized
with manure. Most fields being slightly acidic. A soil pH between 6.5 and 7.0, Low NPK numbers
V and F wilts.
V = Verticillium
F = Fusarium
These a known as vascular wilts,
At UCONN there is a web page showing that there is a relationship to vascular wilts and soil pH.
IIRC The V wilt likes a soil pH of 6.5 and below, and F wilt likes an pH of 7.5 and above. (might be flipped)
A very simple method of preventing these diseases in heirlooms is to keep your soil pH between 6.5 and 7.0
A little lime or sulphur, both OG.
N = nematodes, a small "bug" that gets into to roots of your plant roots. For homegrowers living above about the 40th Parallel, usually deep frezzing of the soil kills them and not a worry.
An OG method is companion planting with African marigolds
A hand-me-down 8 oz of corn syrup plus warm water in a 20 gal hose end sprayer. Apply to 200 sq ft of soil, in the spring.
T (or TMV) stands for Tobacco Mosaic Virus.
This is no longer a major disease, If you use sources at NC, KY NMSU, UCONN and UMASS.
NCSU in 1998 TMV was 0.237%, UMASS has had 4 cases in 30 years those were seed borne sweet bell peppers.
UKY has not seen TMV in chewing tobacco in over 30 years.
Also observe most new varieties of tomatoes and peppers do not include the TMV resistant strain.
Another souce of disease in tomatoes is excessive nitrogen.
This stress the plant and makes it less immune.
Bottom line, for maximum disease resistance, soil pH 6.5 to 7.0 and low nitrogen. That easy, that simple.
Byron
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