What are the best blight resistant tomatoes for Maine climate?
Question:
What are the best blight resistant tomatoes for our Maine climate?
Answer:
Pamela Hargest, Horticulture Professional
I wouldn’t say there is one tomato that has the best blight resistance since there are several factors to consider, such as what’s available to you locally. If you plan on purchasing tomato seedlings locally, I’d recommend connecting with the grower to find out what they’d recommend for your area. For Maine’s climate, it’s best to look for a tomato variety that doesn’t have a very long ‘days to maturity’. You may also want to check out this comprehensive list of disease resistant tomato varieties from Cornell University and UMaine Extension has a bulletin on vegetable varieties for Maine Gardens which includes tomatoes.
Also, consider implementing some cultural practices that will reduce the risk of disease on your tomatoes. Watering early in the day, mulching your tomatoes, pruning your tomatoes, and removing any dead leaves are all ways to promote healthy growing conditions. You can read more about these practices and common insects/diseases in this UNH Blog.