For all the joy and satisfaction that growing tomatoes can give a gardener, the frustration and aggravation can be equally as great!
Several issues can plague the tomato grower. I have listed a few of the most common problems below.
I would also like to mention I don't recommend putting Epsom salts on your tomato plants. I have heard several times over the past couple of weeks that it is a cure-all, it is not.
More on that next week.
Blossom Drop -- Temperature related. If temperatures are below 55 degrees, or over 85 degrees, for an extended time.
Leaf Curling -- Is caused by an excessive amount of rain.
Blossom-end rot -- Appears as a black leathery scar on the blossom end of the fruit. The cause is calcium deficiency. But we have plenty of calcium in the soil!
The problem is it can only come into the plant when water is available. So, keeping the soil evenly moist is very important. Mulching can be helpful. Irrigation is also important. Do not over fertilize.
This is most commonly seen when we go from periods of really wet weather to periods of hot, dry weather.
Fruit cracks -- Usually occur during hot rainy periods (above 90 degrees), especially when preceded by a long dry period.
Sunscald -- First appears as a yellow or white patch on the side of the fruit facing the sun. The spot may blister and dry, forming a paper-like surface. Poor foliage cover allows exposure. Maintain overall health of the plant to retain foliage. Caging the plants helps; do not let them just lay on the ground.
Diseases -- Various diseases, mostly fungal or bacterial in nature, effect tomato plants. Most start at the base of the plant and work their way up.
The most common diseases I see are Early Blight and Septoria. Prevention is key with plant diseases. Just applying chemicals should not be the answer.
Plants need nutrients. Tomatoes benefit from being fertilized before being planted and then around the time of the first fruit being set.
Do not plant your plants to closely together.
Air flow is important for disease prevention!
Mulch around your plants.
Many plant diseases live in the soil. By putting mulch around your plants, you are creating a natural barrier between the plant and the soil.
Water at the ground level.
Leaves don't need to be watered. The longer they are wet, the more likely they are to get sick.
At the end of the season, clean out the debris from garden. Any sick plant material from the season left in garden and can infect the plants next season.
Aphids are very small, pear shaped insects that are about an 1/8th of an inch long. They come in a variety of colors. These insects remove sap from plants by sucking sap. They are usually found on the bottom of the leaf. They reproduce very quickly. Severe infestations can cause leaves to look distorted.
If found early, you can simply crush aphids with your hand. If the population is greater, then you can use a mixture of dish detergent and water to spray on the plant.
For more information on problems with tomato plants, go to http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/id/id172/id172.pdf
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The Link LonkJuly 11, 2020 at 01:01PM
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Growing tomatoes can be fun -- and frustrating | Community - Richmond Register
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