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 Disease Prevention
Illness prevention in tomato plants starts with healthy growing practices. Preparing the soil, watering correctly, and feeding appropriately are all keys to tomato disease prevention. Tomatoes like a well draining soil filled with lots of organic material. Tomato roots penetrate into the soil, helping to stabilize plants and take up water. With well-prepared soil, watering deeply and infrequently"every 4-6 days, will permit the tomato plant to have enough water, without putting the plant in danger of Problems of excessively "wet feet." Always water in the morning, so plant leaves have the time to dry during the day. Leaves are a perfect spot for illness incubation, and water ripens those conditions more. Prune your plants to provide air flow through the leaves and branches, which should also aid drying time. Ensure that your tomato plants receive proper nourishment by conducting a soil test, and treating the soil according to the result. All of these practices will give your plants a great start fighting off illnesses and pests.
Diagnosing Tomato Pests and Illnesses
If all your well-intentioned cultivation practices have not stopped your plants from capitulating to a difficulty, then you must diagnose the issue. Tomatoes can suffer with pest issues, nutrition Problems, viral, bacterial and fungal issues.
Pest damage to tomato plants causes observable physical changes. Cutworms basically cut off the plant from its root system, causing the plant to wilt and die. Aphid damage leads to sticky remnant on the plant. Except for the damage they inflict, you can regularly see the pest itself on the plant. Caterpillars bury into fruit and eat it, causing fruit to rot. Whiteflies and spider mites are apparent on the leaves. Diagnosing pest Problems is simpler than other Problems because most pests can be observed on the plant.
Tomato Disease Prevention
Illness prevention in tomato plants starts with healthy growing practices. Preparing the soil, watering correctly, and feeding appropriately are all keys to tomato disease prevention. Tomatoes like a well draining soil filled with lots of organic material. Tomato roots penetrate into the soil, helping to stabilize plants and take up water. With well-prepared soil, watering deeply and infrequently"every 4-6 days, will permit the tomato plant to have enough water, without putting the plant in danger of Problems of excessively "wet feet." Always water in the morning, so plant leaves have the time to dry during the day. Leaves are a perfect spot for illness incubation, and water ripens those conditions more. Prune your plants to provide air flow through the leaves and branches, which should also aid drying time. Ensure that your tomato plants receive proper nourishment by conducting a soil test, and treating the soil according to the result. All of these practices will give your plants a great start fighting off illnesses and pests.
Diagnosing Tomato Pests and Illnesses
If all your well-intentioned cultivation practices have not stopped your plants from capitulating to a difficulty, then you must diagnose the issue. Tomatoes can suffer with pest issues, nutrition Problems, viral, bacterial and fungal issues.
Pest damage to tomato plants causes observable physical changes. Cutworms basically cut off the plant from its root system, causing the plant to wilt and die. Aphid damage leads to sticky remnant on the plant. Except for the damage they inflict, you can regularly see the pest itself on the plant. Caterpillars bury into fruit and eat it, causing fruit to rot. Whiteflies and spider mites are apparent on the leaves. Diagnosing pest Problems is simpler than other Problems because most pests can be observed on the plant.
About the Author:
Steven Wilson has a hunger for growing tomatoes and has spent over 25 years earning a living from tomatoes and achieving mastery of how to grow tomatoes the correct way.
