How to Fix Soil Infected with BLIGHT Fungus?

[vanessaw315]

In 3 days time I lost all the tomatoes I had started from seed. I don't even want to look at my garden, but need to know how to fix the soil for next year, as I understand the fungus (blight) remains in the soil. Any post blight ideas would help

[dees]

Here is a FAQ from Cornell about Late Blight:
https://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/lbfaq.pdf

The answers to questions #18 and #28 may be helpful.

In a nutshell, you don't need to fix your soil. Late Blight can only survive on living plant tissue. It cannot live by itself in the soil after the plants it infected are dead.

[rainbowgardener]

Very sorry to hear about your loss! It's why, though I love gardening, I could never be a farmer and have any of my livelihood depend on what my garden produces. Seems like it's always something ... too wet, too dry, too hot, too cold, bugs, fungi.

Main thing for next year is when you pull your infected plants, do NOT put them in the compost. Much as you may hate to throw away organic stuff, just trash them, preferably in plastic bags.

[!potatoes!]

generally a good idea to rotate stuff, too, and not plant tomatoes in the same place two years running.