One of the greatest achievements in a gardener’s eyes is a thriving crop of tomatoes at harvest time. In order to get a good yield of the beautiful and delicious fruit though you must first learn how to avoid the problems that can occur when growing tomato plants.
Plant diseases are common and it is inevitable that you will encounter them at one point or another. Knowing how to manage the problem and even how to avoid it completely in the future will increase your chances of a high yield crop.
What you must understand is that different areas are more prone to specific plant diseases so in order to avoid a disaster you need to pick a variety of tomato plant that is resistant to the diseases common in your area. These types of disease are not fatal at all and if you pay close attention and fight them early they can easily be eradicated.
Gray leaf spots are a very common problem on tomato plants and usually first appear on the older leaves of the plant. This is evident by the small dark spots that will begin to appear all over the leaves. These spots will soon begin to grow larger and turn a brownish color before cracking and fallout apart. After this the rest of the leaves will start to turn a yellow tint and dry up before they too fall off soon after.
If you do encounter this problem your plants will not produce any tomatoes. The best approach to battling this disease is removing the infected leaves as soon as you see them. Make sure you pick up the ones around the plant that have already fallen off as well. During the time the plant is infected you should damp and warm conditions as much as possible.
Early Blight is another common plant disease you might come across. This particular disease will affect the stem, leaves and even the fruit of the plant. It starts as dark rings near the center of the plant and from there the rest of the plant will start to turn yellow and fall off after dying. With the leaves gone the amount of sun the fruits receive is too much so they soon get scorched and die as well. Soil is usually where this disease comes from especially when planting in areas where tomatoes have been planted in the past. The best way to avoid the effects the disease can bring is by getting rid of any sick plants as soon as you seem them and cleaning the surrounding area of fallen leaves. You can also spray on some copper or sulfur to the area for added protection.
Light Blight is another form of the blight disease you often see. The leaves and fruit of the plant are affected by this disease and it happens more severely during colder months of the year. Greasy appearing spots on the plant are the first warning sign and even appear on the fruit as well. The spots will begin to grow mold around them soon after. Spraying with copper and cleaning up fallen leaves from the area is the best way to battle the problem if it occurs.
One more variety of blight you should know about is Southern blight. This specific variety starts as a white mold close to the soil line on the stem and then develop into dark spots on the stem as well. The unique aspect of this particular disease is that it keeps the plant from getting the water and nutrients it needs to be healthy. In a very short amount of time the plant will grow too weak to stand and fall over. Using fertilizer rich with ammonium and some added calcium it the best way to treat the problem.
Knowing how to avoid common problems like this can help you to grow stronger and healthier plants that will yield a great harvest for you the whole season. Education is key to be a good gardener so you know how to solve problems when they do occur.
Growing Tomato Plants This site will really surprise you with the huge amount of how to videos and articles. The report is a great free resource, get your copy now. Make sure you do not miss out on any of these freebies – put your email in the subscribe box.
Related posts:
- Cultivating Tomatoes In Planters Is Surely An Easy Solution To Grow Them
- Growing Zucchini from Start to Finish
- Use This To Avoid The Risk Of Using Bone Meal For Plants
- Simple Suggestions That Can Make Your Backyard Garden Flourish This Year
- Sewage Treatment Plants Information
- 3 Sensible Ideas To Help In Planting An Attractive Backyard
- How To Handle Poison Ivy
- Basil, Do Me a Flavor…
- Three Important Horticulture Ideas To Bare In Mind
- Easy Tips On How To Avoid The Most Typical Farming Mistakes We Can Make
Tags: gardening, hobbies, Home, tomato growing, vegetable growing