Yes it's safe to eat the tomatoes. If the blight had infected them they'd be rotting There is nothing you can add to the soil. Late blight does not live in the soil--although some may if you didn't do a thorough cleanup of all plant matter. I hope you did not compost the affected plants or you would be putting the blight in your compost. Any time you have a diseased plant throw it in the garbage. Early blight is caused by the plant staying wet. The best thing to avoid all fungal diseases when growing tomatoes is to put them in full sun, so they dry off fast after a rain. Never water the plant only the soil. A depression around the plant will hold and keep water around the roots where you want it. Always rotate your tomatoes and don't grow them where you grew potatoes--they are of the same plant family. Buy seed that is disease resistant. The best way to find this out is buy from a seed company. They usually have a list of fungal diseases that variety is resistant to. Mulching them will not only keep them moist so you avoid blossom end rot but will help with soil borne fungus. by not letting the soil splash on the leaves. If you see lesions on the leaves pick the infected ones off so it doesn't spread. Now bugs and hornworms are another matter that you will have to deal with. Tomatoes are really a plant that takes care. If they didn't taste so darn good I think people would stop growing them.

Superficially resembles shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus). Might be in the same genus.

NO NO NO!!!!!!! While I have no knowledge of the fungi of Australia it is the spittin' image of the amanitas of America--a deadly group of fungi! In fact, it most resembles the Destroying Angel--a mushroom that, if eaten, is fatal--there is no known antidote!! PLEASE-- NEVER eat any wild mushroom on the basis of a description or photo, no matter how clear or detailed. Join a mushroom club and participate in walks & programs inorder to educate yourself, or at the very least take the mushroom to a real mycologist to have it identified. NOTE THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE A TOXIC MUSHROOM SAFE NOR IS THERE ANY GENERAL "RULE OF THUMB" REGARDING A SAFE MUSHROOM. Here is a link to an Australian website that may be helpful: http://fungimap.rbg.vic.gov.au/fni/fni15.html Note that it specifically mentions Amanita phalloides, the Death Cap mushroom! And this photo of Amanita verosa looks very like the one you posted: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/3_from_franklin_gravely_ill_fr.html DISCARD THAT MUSHROOM WHERE NO CHILD OR PET CAN INGEST IT! The link below takes you to Steve Brill's website. (Ignore the fact that he looks like a kook--he is-- but does know his stuff!)Scroll down to the link about mushrooms; from there, scroll down to Mushroom Groups; click on Amanitas, and read the Amamnita Overview. (Sorry--seems the site does not have separate URLs for each page.) I just hope this is not too late... !! :-) CK Here is a link that might be useful: Amanita overview

"To me, when anything is deep fried and crispy, and greasy, my first thought would be the person who did the frying doesn't know how to do it." Thank you, Marilyn_c, I was thinking exactly the same thing! I hadn't thought about the possibilities of a medical issue, but thanks to jkayd, I can understand how that could be a problem. But I know this person well enough to be quite sure she doesn't have any such issue. Mainly I was just wondering if there is a 'proper' way to eat such foods. And I've come to the conclusion that 'proper' depends on the person mainly, also the location and maybe the occasion, too. As for me, I will continue to eat them with my fingers. as long as they are not greasy, overly large, or dripping juices. Lars, knowing you are originally from Texas, I thought for a minute that you were talking about Castroville, Texas. That would be kind of an out of the way route to Monterey for you. LOL. I've never had fried artichokes, but I'd surely try them if I ever saw them offered anywhere. Not likely around here, though. :^) Rusty