Tomato Troubleshooting
July 14th, 2009
Filed in Fruits, Veggies and Herbs
Tags: aphids, blossom end rot, nutrients, tomatoes, virus
This is the time during the summer that tomato problems start to show you if they are happy with the way you are growing them, or unhappy. They show signs of stress and insect damage. In Northeast North America, there has been an outbreak of tomato disease affecting many tomato growers – both commercial and homeowners. Unfortunately, you can’t fix every problem that might plague your tomato plants, but you can help with some of them. Here are some of the most common tomato “issues” and how to fix them.
Blossom End Rot
This is a more common tomato problem than you might think. Tomatoes grown in containers are especially susceptible to this problem. The wet/dry/wet/dry nature of life in a container doesn’t agree with them. You know you have this problem if your tomatoes develop a brown scab or rotten spot at the end of the tomato opposite of where it attaches to the vine (that’s the blossom end). You can correct this problem on future fruits by keeping the soil evenly moist and making sure there is enough calcium in the soil.
Sun Scald
One side of the tomato turns dry and leathery. This is due to too much sunlight on the fruits. Stop pruning your tomatoes all of the time if you have problems with this. Leave some leaves to protect the fruits.
Aphids
Aphids are tiny yellow, orange, or white colored soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap. The best control for these involved lady bugs and lacewing larvae. You can also blast your plants with water, or use an insecticidal soap.
Viruses
There are several different viruses that affect tomatoes. Mosaic, spotted wilt, wilt, etc. The only way to rid the plant of viruses is to dig up the plant. Never compost any plant with a virus, as you might transmit the virus to additional plants. Viruses are easily transmitted from one plant to another with tools, so always clean your tools after you’ve worked with an infected plant, before you work with an un-infected plant.
Too Many Leaves; No Fruit
Your plant has an excess of nitrogen. If you fertilize at all, use a fertilizer with 0-5-5, or 0-(any other number) . (The 0 is for the nitrogen.)
Yellow Looking, Stunted Growth
The tomato probably needs food. Add a vegetable-tone organic fertilizer or some compost.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Please just tell me when they are going to turn red. I have been watching the same tomato for a month, and nothing. My poor plants are falling over from the weight of dozens of green tomatoes. Waiting for the blossom end rot now, due to the crazy weather that we have been having.