You’ll find a host of potential problems with tomatoes listed in the gardening books but in the real garden it does not seem to be so complicated. Many of the problems listed are more likely to be encountered by the commercial growers.
The main tomato troubles and diseases you are likely to suffer are listed below.
Tomato Blight Phytophthora infestans
Tomato Blight
This is really potato blight, Phytophthora infestans, don’t forget tomatoes are the same family as potatoes, so they can get blight.
There are now varieties of tomato coming onto the market that are blight resistant like Ferline, Koralik and Crimson Crush which is reputed to be the best so far.
My experience with blight is that there is little you can do if your tomatoes get it and just to accept defeat. You can prevent blight by practising good hygiene when it is about and using clean mains water rather than water from an outside butt in the greenhouse.
Outdoor tomatoes are far more likely to be affected by blight than tomatoes grown under cover which keeps the spores off the leaves.
There are fungicidal sprays you can use that will help if used at the very first sign of blight.
Tomatoes that are ripe on the plant can be used but the rest will probably rot without treatment
There is some evidence from the USA that the use of high-nitrogen fertilisers can improve resistance to early blight.
Information on blight – Phytophthora infestans
Tomato Blight – Resistant Varieties
Virus Infection
Tomatoes can get virus infections and these too can be fatal. Symptoms are usually yellowing or mottling of the leaves and reduced yield.
Smokers should keep in mind that tomatoes can catch a mosaic virus carried in tobacco and so you should never handle the plants whilst or just after smoking.
Washing your hands after a cigarette before handling tomato plants is a good idea. In commercial greenhouses they use anti-septic sprays for hands just like hospitals (only they really insist the spray is used, unlike the hospitals)
It is often difficult to know if your tomatoes are affected by a virus or by magnesium deficiency, which is easily treated. If you think you have a virus, try treating for magnesium deficiency as well. It can do no harm and just might be the cure.
Tomatoes Splitting & Unripe Patches
Tomatoes Splitting due to poor watering practice
This is caused by allowing the plants to dry out and then watering heavily.Basically the fruit inside swells faster than the skin can grow when water is suddenly available after a period of drought.
The split skins allow fungal spores in and shortly cotton wool mould growths etc will take hold rotting the fruits.
There is no cure, just ensure you water regularly – little and often is by far the best with tomatoes.
Tomato Pests
Marigolds Repel Whitefly in Greenhouse
Tomatoes can suffer from aphids, green fly, white fly and slugs. I hang yellow sticky cards in the greenhouse to control white fly and slug controls for the outside ones.
For many decades in parts of the world it has been the practice to grow African or French marigolds of a certain type to repel white fly on tomatoes in greenhouses or outdoors. It has also been found that the tomatoes grow better and bear more fruit with marigolds around them.
French marigold petals are edible as well as attractive – brightening up borders and that includes greenhouse borders
Apart from slugs eating the fruit, outdoor tomatoes do not seem too bothered by pests, except for slugs. It may be that I have been lucky.
Tomato Greenback
Greenback Affected Tomatoes
The top of tomato around the stalk remains hard and remains green, refusing to colour. The main cause is a lack of potash but it’s more common in hot, sunny years so using shading in the greenhouse will help. Many varieties of tomato do not suffer from it.
Soil Sickness
Like most plants, it is not a good idea to grow the same thing in the same spot year after year.
Tomato Leaf Curl
If you grow in a greenhouse with soil borders, grow the tomatoes in the soil by all means but dig this out and replace with fresh soil each year.
With outdoor tomatoes rotate them. They are the same family as potatoes but do not grow next to potatoes because they are susceptible to potato blight. If they are far away from the potatoes they may well escape it. You can also try shielding them with clear plastic walls or even build a large cloche as the season ends.
Tomato Leaf Curl
You will often see curled up leaves on tomatoes – this is not a problem! It just happens and may be related to the temperature getting too hot. The leaf curl doesn’t seem to harm the plants, fruits or flavour.
Tomato Blight – Blight Resistant Tomato Varieties
Tomato Blossom End Rot | Causes & Cures for Tomato Blossom End Rot
