skip to main content

Growing Tomatoes

Tomato Disease - what more can I do?

11 years ago

Hi All:

Just wanted some help identifying some form of disease on my tomatoes. From Internet research it looks like some form of blight. Am I going in the right direction with that? I sprayed Daconil a few days ago and will repeat in 7-day intervals. I'm removing all affected foliage (more creeps up every few days). It's affecting my AR Travelers, Brandywine and other heirlooms more than my Early Girls (as to be expected), but there are a few spots on those, too.

All leaf pictures were taken in the mid-to-top range of the plants. Also, I haven't used any fert since the plants first started growing. Would a dose of MG hurt or help at this point?

Is there anything more I can? Are these tomatoes still fine to eat? Does the infected leaves have anything to do with the spotty fruit (last picture) or is that just blotchy ripening patterns due to the Arkansas heat?

Thanks in advance, y'all.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

jessicabauer84
Original Author
11 years ago
Just finished some more leaf/stem removal and it appears I need to make an amendment. It is actually the worst on one of the Early Girl plants - the stem is started to turn brown/black in the center. However, the fruit seem fine and the unaffected leaves seem fine.

Any insight from anyone?
suncitylinda
11 years ago
jessica_ I am sure some experts will be along shortly. Spraying with Daconil is an appropriate response to leaf / fungal disease. I am not surprised your Early Girl is also showing symtoms. The disease resistance many hybrids have is to soil born rather than leaf disease.

Fruit can be blotchy for several reasons but one of them is not enough ferts during the ripening stage I would agree that a dose of MG would be good. YOur tomatoes are fine to eat.
Related Discussions
What disease/problem do I have now?
Q
Comments (3)
It looks like it may be Early Blight and/or Septoria. I would remove the affected foliage, and spray the plant with a fungicide, such as Ortho Garden Disease or Daconil. Fungus can be controlled with a regular regimen of spraying.
...See More
What should we spray tomato plants with to prevent diseases and i
Q
Comments (2)
Spray leaves (underside also) once a week with fish/seaweed emulsion (from an organic gardening store). Put a tsp or so in a spray bottle with water. Also get a good tomato food and sprinkle a capful around the base once every week or so, before watering. Or you can mix w/ water in watering can. Some people use organic tomato food, some like Miracle-Gro, Hasta-Gro, etc. This year, I also started spraying a fungicide/insecticide/miticide on everything because in recent years the entire garden gets destroyed by stink/leaf-footed bugs, spider mites, and some kind of blight or wilt. Using organic AND non-organic to cover both bases. So we'll see if this helps in the long run. But of course wait til you see signs before you start treating, and do some research to make sure of what you're dealing with. So it's not really a preventive thing, but you have to try to nip the issues in the bud before they get a lot worse.
...See More
What disease do these tomatoes have?
Q
Comments (4)
looks like black mold rot (which can be caused by several organisms). it is not blossom end rot keeping the foliage dry and doing cultural methods to prevent cracking will reduce it (even watering, mulching, limiting quick release fertilizers, crack resistant varieties). preventative sprays for fungus could also be used
...See More
More tomato problems! Disease and/or pests? See pics:
Q
Comments (7)
I am looking into this myself for my plants and will also be posting about it... I believe it is a fungal infection called Early Blight... If so the only way to " get rid of it", if you lucky, is to remove all infected plant tissue. This includes leaves and stems...make sure none have fallen and are on the soil etc. After that, pray it slows so that you can get some tomatoes before it takes the plant. What at I have read about it is that it stays in the soil...don't use the same soil or pot for next years tomatoes. Again I am not confident but that's what I believe it is.
...See More
jessicabauer84
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for your insight, Linda. Fertilizer it is and hopefully the weekly Daconil will head off any trouble with new leaves. I was just unsure as to whether the more infected plants would give me problem tomatoes or if I should just leave them there, ugly plant and all.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Tree Care: Common Tree Diseases and What to Do About Them

By Falon Mihalic

Learn to recognize trees that may be affected by diseases or pests so you can quickly take action

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

COLOR 10 Reasons to Make a Splash With Tomato Red

By Laura Gaskill

You won’t duck at these tomatoes. See how bold red shades can play up architecture, light up a dark spot and add drama

LIFE Kitchen Traditions: Tomato Season Meets a Family Legacy

By Tiffany Carboni

Somewhere a Sicilian great-great-grandmother is smiling at a bowl of American-made sauce

ARCHITECTURE Houzz Tour: Fresh Ideas in a Former Tomato Packing Shed

A formerly metal-clad structure is now a beautiful wood home designed to capture the light and preserve open space

LIFE The Polite House: How Can I Tell a Construction Crew to Pipe Down?

If workers around your home are doing things that bother you, there’s a diplomatic way to approach them

EDIBLE GARDENS 6 Summer Edibles That Can Really Take the Heat

By Steve Asbell

When garden temperatures soar, these herbs and vegetables rise to the challenge

COMMUNITY Community Building Just About Anyone Can Do

By Vanessa Brunner

Strengthen neighborhoods and pride of place by setting up more public spaces — even small, temporary ones can make a big difference

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Natural Swimming Pools: More Beauty, No Chemicals

By Falon Mihalic

Keep your skin and the environment healthy with a pool that cleans itself, naturally

FRONT YARD IDEAS Welcome Edibles Into the Front Yard for Fresh Food and More

By Abundant City

Give your front yard design a boost and maybe even make new friends by growing fruits and vegetables

Sponsored

More Discussions

Has anyone heard of a storage tomato? Looking at Giallorosso di Crispi

4

"Purple" tomatoes?

4

What tools and materials for planting tomato

0