Whether you are a seasoned home gardening veteran or a first timer in the world of gardening, it is easy to become confused about what are common tomato diseases. With thousands of plant diseases identified each year, how do you know if your tomato plant has a disease of tomato? Is it worth investing in an expensive and time consuming manual on how to cure the problem? Fortunately there are simple methods and guides that can be used to determine the disease quickly and correctly.
What are the symptoms of a disease of tomato? The most common symptom is the yellowing of leaves or a partially greened growth of stems and leaves that drop off. There may also be some brown spotting on the leaves. Some diseases cause the complete defoliation and death of a plant. Symptoms of this disease of tomato can range from mild to severe, with occasional mild cases not producing any recognizable symptoms at all.
Early blight is a common plant disease of tomato plants. It results from a bacteria known as Phytophthora. This bacteria thrives on rotting organic matter such as fallen leaves, tree stumps, or compost. The organisms feed on the sugars in the affected matter, releasing an organic sludge that eventually becomes a wet and dark place. As the sludge begins to eat away at the plant, it rots and breaks up.
Septoria leaf spot is a moderately common disease of tomato plants. It is characterized by a small dark spot on the leaves of plants. The spot is usually light brown in color. The disease generally produces poor fruit or buds. The leaves may appear healthy until the disease is spread to the whole plant. Affected plants may die from the disease before other parts of the plant are affected.
Mycenone rust is a fungal disease of tomato plants that produces large, brown patches on plant leaves. This condition often occurs when too much water has been applied to the plants. Too much water causes the meconium to develop too quickly, resulting in the breakdown of plant leaves. As a result, too much water seeps into the soil, creating a perfect environment for bacteria to flourish. The mycenone bacteria create a dark, thick rot that slowly eats away at the plant leaves until they become soft, bleached, and fall off.
To protect against what are common tomato diseases, it’s best to make sure you properly prepare the soil for your plants. Tomatoes love well-drained, fertile soil. You can help them grow healthy with regular and consistent application of organic materials such as compost or bark dust. Both of these substances are highly beneficial to the health of your soil and the overall health of your plants.
If your soil is not completely treated, your plants will eventually succumb to what are common tomato diseases. For example, if you have a wet soil that is regularly watered, then this will promote the growth of what are called ects, which are roots that can penetrate the underground media and cause decay. The problem will continue unless the water table rises significantly. On the other hand, if you have a soil that is slightly acidic but is regularly watered, then the growth of what are called fungal toads may result.
When you notice that some leaves on your tomato plants are turning yellow or brown, then you probably have what are common tomato diseases. However, there are other conditions that can cause wilting and leaf curling on your plants. Consult a garden professional to learn more about the various types of diseases that can affect your garden crops.