Over the winter of 2004/2005 we, here at GW, became engaged in a lively discussion about Aspirin administered as a foliar spray to Tomato plants would help bolster their immune system and ward off disease.
Recap
The logic behind the discussion (and since I can no longer find the discussion here I’ll have to trust my memory) was that it was discovered that when Tobacco plants became infected with TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus) they immediately began to emit acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) to fight the infection. Surrounding tobacco plants were able to detect the presence (or ‘smell’) this "aspirin" and begin producing "aspirin" of their own to combat any contagion that they may come in contact with.
It was reported that by applying a small amount of Aspirin at a rate of no more than 1 part per 10,000 (3 regular strength tablets per 4 gallons of water OR 3 "low-dose" tablets per 1 gallon of water) the plant would build up it’s own immune system in response to the presence of the acetylsalicylic acid and thus be better prepared to ward off any contagion that they may come in contact with.
My Personal Experience Last Summer
Last summer I thought I would give this a try as Late Blight and Powdery Mildew had attacked me quite viciously the year before. Unfortunately I am a Balcony Gardener so I had no room to plant control specimens so my results are going to be purely allegorical in contrast to the year previous.
For the 2005-growing season I planted Marmande OP Heirloom tomatoes. I began the regimen while the plants were still quite young, after hardening off and transplanting into their permanent beds. I continued the spraying once a month throughout the growing season of 2005 and had NO foliar disease problems to report at all. Without the control specimens however, I do not know if this was from the aspirin spray or from a lack of available contagion.
I have already begun repeating the process for the 2006-growing season using Parks Super Bush tomatoes. (Again, no room for control specimens) but so far so good. Plenty of green, healthy foliage and no sign of disease.
I am using the 3 "low-dose" tablets in 1 gallon of water method.
Best Wishes
Amino-X
