Marissa Schuh , Integrated Pest Management Extension Educator The last few years have seen an uptick in the occurrence of three bacterial diseases in Minnesota tomatoes: bacterial spot , bacterial speck, and bacterial canker . Control of all of these diseases begins during transplant production. These diseases are known to be seedborne, and the trays, tables, and tools used in the greenhouse provide places for the disease to survive from year to year. Like all bacteria, water is key in moving the bacteria from plant to plant, and wounds provide ways for pathogens to enter the transplants. Greenhouse Sanitation Good greenhouse sanitation is the basis of bacterial disease control, especially if you struggled with one of these diseases last year. Try not to reuse transplant trays, and give tables and tools a good cleaning and sanitizing before the season starts. Wood tables aren’t sanitize-able, but a good cleaning followed by adequate drying time will help reduce places the bacteria can ...
