Question
QUESTION: (too long a thread again!)
Steve
Glad the photo got through.
Early blight is what I presumed I had with the tomato. However, the similarity in appearance with those lesions and those on the iris and daylillies - in color if not in distribution - were what made me think they were also a disease symptom. Your suggestion of moisture control is not unreasonable, as I earlier indicated our tendency to let them fend for themselves. I will look into that and am interested in your color evaluation of the roots. As you didn't mention it, I presume that a nutritional deficiency is not obvious.
Appreciate your input.
DBRJ

ANSWER: Dave:
One easy way to recognize EB is that the spots usually have a "target spot" look, that is there are darker lines that are configured as concentric lines with a lighter brown background. Sometimes the spot may be surrounded by a yellow halo.  Keep in mind that this disease often starts at the bottom of the tomato plant and works its way upward. This disease produces similar spots on the stems. The disease can also affect the fruit- so it is very versatile!! As a good general rule, keep the leaves dry as best as possible. This applies to other veggies too.
Water may help your daylily out, especially if it has been hot and dry as it has been here the last several weeks. They are quite hardy plants--that is up to a point.

Let me know if you have any additional questions.  I do not like healthy plants!! (just kidding).

Steve

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

QUESTION: Steve
I "drip/irrigate" my tomatoes (milk jug with pin-hole) 2X/wk. to minimize wetting the leaves. Also, tried more mulch at base to minimize rain splash-back infection. Problem does seem to be less this year. Is there any virtue, other than cosmetic, in pruning out contaminated leaves to prevent spreading?
Then there's LB.
DBRJ

Answer
Dave:
Drip irrigation is great. And for tomatoes as well as other vegetables, good idea to keep the fruit from coming in direct contact with the soil- so mulch is useful to not only conserve moisture but to prevent soil from touching the fruit, because there are quite a few organisms that can live in the soil for YEARS..
Removing diseased leaves as soon as you see them can help limit spread of the organisms to other leaves. Do not compost diseased plants or plant parts. Burn them (if your community allows this practice) or put on the street for the garbage truck.  There are a lot of publications out there on recognizing diseases on veggies and other plants.  These may be a good reference for your library.

Regards
Steve