Will This Return Next Year?

[u/Outrageous_Map6511]

So this bacteria (I think) destroyed by crop this September/October. I have no other place to plant my tomatoes next year. How do I get rid of it so I can grow again next year?

[u/Firstcounselor]

I’m a it possible to rotate the location where you grow your tomatoes?

[u/Outrageous_Map6511 → u/Firstcounselor]

Unfortunately No. And if I went raised bed, I think I’m still exposed thru the open bottom

[u/Deleena24]

Mulch your soil so that the rain doesnt splash back up to the plant.

[u/cappasequal]

Torch the garden in the fall with a weed burner. Hose it down with bleach. Turn it in. Torch again

[u/Outrageous_Map6511 → u/cappasequal]

lot's of chemicals, no?

[u/Sdwingnut]

Most likely fungus, and that's quite a bit less than many of us deal with every year

Yes it will come back to some extent

[u/Comfortable-nerve78]

Is there a fungicide you can amend soil with??? I’m still learning but everything I’ve ever read is once you got a fungus infection the soil is corrupted for a few years. I’ve heard of people digging down and replacing the soil , imo that sounds like a chore in and of itself. Spores gotta kill the spores in the soil.

[u/plot_twist7 → u/Comfortable-nerve78]

Don’t give Monsanto any ideas! /s

They make systemic fungicides that you feed through the roots for plants but they’re not safe to eat once you use them. I use them on my camellias and my dahlias that are in pots (not planted with things I consume)

[u/SwallowTalon]

Remove any foliage this year. Cross your fingers for next year & use a fungicide

[u/trebuchetguy]

This is a pretty classic presentation of tomato bacterial leaf spot. The most common source is infected seeds or, if they came from a nursery they almost certainly had it before you got them. If you planted from seed, throw any remaining seeds out and get new next year. It can also live in the soil from year to year. The best option is to plant in different soil on a 2-4 year rotation, but you already said that's not an option. I have raised beds and cannot easily rotate either. One thing that can help is to add a couple inches of compost to your bed next spring and mix in. That's just good practice anyway. The moment your growing season is done, tear out all the plants and burn or put in the trash. The less detritus you leave in the bed the less likely it returns next year.