Question
QUESTION: Hi.  I have several different tomato plants growing in containers.  I live in No. CA about 1 mile from the ocean.  The fruit on my plants has reached a decent size and some are starting to ripen.  But some of the plant stems are getting mushy about 4-6 inches above the dirt and the rest of the stem is slowly rotting.  The fruit still hangs on but will also start to rot if I don't cut them off.  I don't think I am over watering because the rotten part is not near the dirt.  Help!  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks...

ANSWER: Jennifer:
Sounds like you might have blight. It is a problem in warm, damp weather. Try spraying with a sulfur product or neem oil, but usually there's not much you can do. You might want to cut off all the ripening fruit and ripen it indoors, just to save it.

Elyse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If I do have blight, is it contagious to the other tomato plants I have in the same space?  Right now it only seems like two of my plants have it.  Of course the ones with the largest, most fruit are the affected ones.   I have 7 other plants all in containers within 2-3 feet of the affected plants.  Thanks for your help.

Answer
Yes, it can spread. The ones that do not have it will benefit from an anti-fungal spray. I don't know how effective a baking soda solution is against blight, but it can be used (1T soda/1 gal water).

Also, be sure to destroy or dispose of the infected plants, do not compost them. And do not plant any of the nightshades in that bed next year.

Elyse