[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Qiviut : Saw your reference to Milk and Tomato growing
< /http://www.harvesttotable.com/2009/05/milk_and_tomato_growing/ > It reminded me of another issue that affects Tomatoes and Potatoes (and all other members of the solanaceous family-peppers , eggplant , etc.).

It is called : Tobacco Mosiac Virus
It is a virus that once it becomes established , the control is for the infected plants should be cut out, removed and destroyed.
A good photo of the virus effects on plants and fruit can be seen at :
< / http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-control-mosaic-virus-on-tomatoes.html \ >
It can be spread through the contact by tobacco products or where plants from the Nicotiana family are , or have been grown.
One of the controls for prevention is having cigar and cigarette smokers wash their hands in milk .
Apparently , milk holds not only fungicidal characteristics,but also some anti-viral properties.
Tobacco Mosiac Virus can also occur airborne , downwind of tobacco drying facilities , or in proximity to flowering plants of the Nicotiana family.
Qiviut , your post reminded me of my strickly organic farming days , and Tobacco Mosiac affects so many solanaceous plant in the garden.
Thanks for the reminder about milk products and their anti-fungal and anti-virus properties.

[Qiviut]

You’re welcome .... and thanks for the great info! ~Q

[greeneyes]

I am so suspicious of tomato stuff, that I don’t even put the plants in the compost pile - it all goes to the burn pile, and I rotate the plantings so that there is at least 4 years in between the times that tomatoes are planted.