NYS Agriculture Commissoner is warning gardeners of the late blight growing season

The New York State Agriculture Commissioner is warning gardeners and commercial growers of the late blight this growing season.

Late blight is a plant disease that spreads quickly from plant to plant in wet, humid weather. It affects tomato and potato plants.

The disease has been found in Suffolk County, but one expert says it doesn't mean it can't happen in Central New York.

"Seedlings that are planted in the beginning of the season are purchased from growers in other locations. A couple of years ago we had a bad late blight outbreak because a bunch of those transplants that came in from elsewhere were infected and got out into gardens," said Jim Manning of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County.

Plants that are affected have black lesions on the stems as well as white fungus on the plant.

If your plants are affected, you are urged to not compost it, rather put them in a black plastic bag and keep them out in the sun. This will kill the organism and prevent it from spreading.