Tomatoes are famously choosy plants. Tomatoes are in the potato family, which makes them at the mercy of tens, if not masses of pest and disease issues; nevertheless that should not stop any tomato loving gardener from cropping buckets of healthy tomatoes. The key is to find out how to stop, diagnose and treat tomato issues.
Tomato Illness Prevention
Disease prevention in tomato plants starts with healthy growing practices. Preparing the soil, watering properly, and feeding suitably are all keys to tomato illness prevention. Tomatoes like a well draining soil stuffed with a lot of organic matter. Tomato roots penetrate deep into the soil, helping to stabilise plants and take up water. With well prepared soil, watering awfully and infrequently"every 4-6 days, will allow the tomato plant to have enough water, without putting the plant at risk of issues of overly "wet feet." Always water in the morning, so plant leaves have enough time to dry during the daytime. Leaves are an ideal spot for disease incubation, and water ripens those conditions far more. Prune your plants to provide air circulation thru the leaves and branches, which will also help drying time. Ensure your tomato plants receive correct nutrition by conducting a soil test, and treating the soil according to the results. All these practices will give your plants a good start beating off sicknesses and pests.
Diagnosing Tomato Pests and Sicknesses
If all of your well-meaning cultivation practices have not stopped your plants from surrendering to an issue, then you have to diagnose the problem. Tomatoes can suffer from pest Problems, nourishment issues, viral, bacterial and fungal Problems.
Pest damage to tomato plants causes perceivable physical changes. Cutworms actually cut off the plant from its root system, causing the plant to shrivel and die. Aphid damage results in sticky residue on the plant. Aside from the damage they impose, you can often see the pest itself on the plant. Caterpillars bury into fruit and eat it, causing fruit to decay. Whiteflies and spider mites are visible on the leaves. Diagnosing pest issues is less complicated than other issues because most pests can be noted on the plant.
Tomato Illness Prevention
Disease prevention in tomato plants starts with healthy growing practices. Preparing the soil, watering properly, and feeding suitably are all keys to tomato illness prevention. Tomatoes like a well draining soil stuffed with a lot of organic matter. Tomato roots penetrate deep into the soil, helping to stabilise plants and take up water. With well prepared soil, watering awfully and infrequently"every 4-6 days, will allow the tomato plant to have enough water, without putting the plant at risk of issues of overly "wet feet." Always water in the morning, so plant leaves have enough time to dry during the daytime. Leaves are an ideal spot for disease incubation, and water ripens those conditions far more. Prune your plants to provide air circulation thru the leaves and branches, which will also help drying time. Ensure your tomato plants receive correct nutrition by conducting a soil test, and treating the soil according to the results. All these practices will give your plants a good start beating off sicknesses and pests.
Diagnosing Tomato Pests and Sicknesses
If all of your well-meaning cultivation practices have not stopped your plants from surrendering to an issue, then you have to diagnose the problem. Tomatoes can suffer from pest Problems, nourishment issues, viral, bacterial and fungal Problems.
Pest damage to tomato plants causes perceivable physical changes. Cutworms actually cut off the plant from its root system, causing the plant to shrivel and die. Aphid damage results in sticky residue on the plant. Aside from the damage they impose, you can often see the pest itself on the plant. Caterpillars bury into fruit and eat it, causing fruit to decay. Whiteflies and spider mites are visible on the leaves. Diagnosing pest issues is less complicated than other issues because most pests can be noted on the plant.
About the Author:
Steven Wilson has a taste for growing tomatoes and has spent over 25 years making a living from tomatoes and getting a grip on how to grow tomatoes the right way.