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Tomato plants can be very susceptible to disease, mainly fungi-based varieties which are very difficult infections to get rid of.  Taking preventative steps and giving your tomato plant the right care, is the best method to save you the problem of tomato plant diseases. However, here are some ways to spot a disease and advice on how best to handle it. The majority of diseases make dark spots and patches on the leaves of your plant or even on the actual fruit and these patches frequently discolor in wet weather turning dark brown or black. Diseases that strike during hotter, dry weather conditions will be of a lighter color.

They are inclined to disturb the natural flow of water, oxygen and nutrients running through the plant’s system which inhibits growth in the external reaching areas of the plant. If the upper leaves turn yellow and start to wilt, this is one of the first signs of tomato plant diseases. As most tomato plants won’t survive an outbreak of diseases, you must make it a priority to remove the plant away from the others as soon as you notice any sign of disease as this will prevent it spreading to the rest. This must be done in a very specific manner because if you uproot it there and then, this will help the disease spread throughout your vegetable garden.  Applying a generous amount of a reputable anti-funal spray to all of your other plants is the first step. This needs to be done immediately, as the disease will spread quickly if there is any delay. Get a large black bag ready next to the infected plant then uproot it carefully ensuring the leaves shake to a minimum before placing it in the bag.  This bag should then be dumped far away from your home in a rubbish disposal area.

Preventing tomato plant diseases is the key, so by looking after your plants correctly, you can avoid the problem occurring at all. Excess damp or moisture is a common cause of disease and a lack of ventilation may be the reason for this. By trimming the lower leaves of the plant, you can assist this as these are not necessary for the plant’s growth and will deflect energy from the fruits. A trim will ensure that plenty of air gets in which will dry up any excess moisture. For plants growing outside a greenhouse, bad weather conditions like too much cold or frost can be dangerous. Any damaged plant is more vulnerable to fungus so you can protect them from any unexpected cold spells with a plastic cover or blanket.  If the plant is exposed to too much sun, this may also weaken the plant. You should also ensure that your plant gets sufficient nutrition with decent compost and that the there is adequate drainage for the soil. Regular application of an anti-fungal spray to the leaves can also make a big difference.

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 29th, 2011 at 3:51 pm and is filed under Growing Tomatoes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.