“Any advice to keep the chances of blight down?
Plant blight resistant varieties.
Lose the wood chips and use straw if you can. Don’t add more wood chips to your raised beds. I’m in the Anti-Wood Chips Club.*
Mulch well but leave a ring around the base of the plant so you can water directly at the base of the plant.
Plant tomatoes far enough apart so you have good air circulation around your plants.
Prune your tomato plants, removing lower leaves/stems that are closest to the bottom; blight starts from the bottom UP. It’s in the soil.
At the first sign of trouble, use a copper spray on the bottom 1/3 of your plants - again, blight starts in the soil and moves UP the plant. Copper is organic.
If you have Early Blight and are getting brown ‘bruises’ on your fruit, abandon ship! This is rare, but it happens from time to time. It has to be introduced to the area through a plant that already has it; it won’t be your fault! Late Blight is what most of us deal with.
*Why I don’t use wood chips. MOST people do not do it right and make more problems for themselves and their soil in the long run. Your mileage may vary:
http://www.reformationacres.com/2014/05/5-things-you-should-know-about-wood-chip-mulch.html
Thanks. Apparently I know all your tips already! I thought you had some secret sauce for me! Hahaha
I love the woodchips. Free and easy to move in buckets when delivered.
Retains moisture in soil like crazy.
Here in the Seattle area straw gets too waterlogged and mold sets in.