Q. What is causing brown
spots and leaf scorch on my tomato plants? I grow about 17 different tomato
plants and several different varieties in containers. I always use good potting
soil and compost each year in the containers. They are drip irrigated.
spots and leaf scorch on my tomato plants? I grow about 17 different tomato
plants and several different varieties in containers. I always use good potting
soil and compost each year in the containers. They are drip irrigated.
A. This is the time of
year that brown spots begin to develop on tomato leaves. As the season
progresses, disease problems on tomatoes are often in inevitable. Prevention of
disease should be high on your list of things to do with tomato plants.
It’s too late this season but some varieties are more
susceptible to diseases than others. If you don’t know which variety you have,
do a little homework and pick varieties more resistant to disease that give you
the types of fruit you like.
susceptible to diseases than others. If you don’t know which variety you have,
do a little homework and pick varieties more resistant to disease that give you
the types of fruit you like.
Tomato cages are nice. They support the fruit off of the
ground. Fruit lying on the ground is more likely to rot than fruit supported
off of the ground.
ground. Fruit lying on the ground is more likely to rot than fruit supported
off of the ground.
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| The beginnings of tomato disease probably early blight |
Tomato cages can also be a menace. They force crowding of
the interior of the plant. Leaves and vines growing in the center don’t receive
enough sunlight to stay healthy. They also don’t provide good air circulation.
This encourages disease. Remove the oldest leaves near the center of the plant
to improve air circulation and reduce disease problems.
the interior of the plant. Leaves and vines growing in the center don’t receive
enough sunlight to stay healthy. They also don’t provide good air circulation.
This encourages disease. Remove the oldest leaves near the center of the plant
to improve air circulation and reduce disease problems.
Drip irrigation is good. Watering at the base of the
plant helps. Many vegetable plants, unlike us, don’t like showers. Avoid
overhead watering of these plants. Overhead watering keeps the center of the
plant wet which encourages disease. Splashing water can spread disease from
leaf to leaf.
plant helps. Many vegetable plants, unlike us, don’t like showers. Avoid
overhead watering of these plants. Overhead watering keeps the center of the
plant wet which encourages disease. Splashing water can spread disease from
leaf to leaf.
Regular feeding of plants is important. When fruit has
set then continue monthly feeding of tomato plants. They are taking nutrients
from the soil as they grow. You should be replacing these nutrients as they are
removed.
set then continue monthly feeding of tomato plants. They are taking nutrients
from the soil as they grow. You should be replacing these nutrients as they are
removed.
At the first sign of possible disease it is important to
take action. Applications of fungicides may be your last alternative. Choose a
fungicide for controlling the more common tomato diseases such as early blight.
Most fungicides are preventive and don’t cure a disease once they have begun
and running rampant.
take action. Applications of fungicides may be your last alternative. Choose a
fungicide for controlling the more common tomato diseases such as early blight.
Most fungicides are preventive and don’t cure a disease once they have begun
and running rampant.