Wait for cooler weather to allow for vine-ripening to occur. Slow-ripening fruit: Temperatures above 85 degrees can slow the ripening of tomatoes, which ripen quickest at 70 degrees to 75 degrees. Avoid overhead watering, give plants plenty of room, stake and prune to keep air circulating and plants dry. The spots rapidly enlarge to form purplish black lesions, which girdle the stems and leaves, killing the foliage. Take care when pruning to protect the developing fruit.Įarly and late blight: These are fungal diseases caused by warm, wet weather and characterized by irregular, greenish water-soaked spots on lower leaves and stems. There is no cure, only prevention by reducing foliage diseases that can cause leaf loss. Sunscald: Green tomatoes can get sunburned if exposed. Learn more in Extension’s guide on leaf roll. Some tomato cultivars display leaf rolling as a normal growth habit. Leaf roll: A physiological problem that is most often the result of heavy pruning or root injury. Add lime to the soil in the fall to increase the calcium level for next year’s crop. Usually not all blossoms will fall off, and another set of flowers will appear.īlossom-end rot: The end of the fruit farthest away from the stem turns brown or black – a condition caused by irregular watering practices and calcium deficiency. – Knowing the hows and whys of tomato diseases gives gardeners a leg up for successfully growing the most-treasured of vegetables.īrooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service, troubleshoots the following common problems that might afflict your tomatoes as the season goes on.īlossom drop: It's usually caused by dry soil and dry winds, but also may be caused by a sudden cold spell, heavy rain or too much nitrogen.
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