We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Most Common Tomato Plant Problems?

By Jeri Sullivan
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 12,055
Share

The most common tomato plant problems are diseases, insects and environmental issues. Growing tomatoes from tomato seedlings into healthy tomato plants requires an understanding of what issues may affect the vegetable garden and how to avoid tomato pests.

Diseases are the most frustrating of the tomato plant problems because there is often no treatment. Successful tomato cultivation will include observing the plants from tomato seeds through harvest. Fungi that are transmitted through the soil such as Fusarium and verticillium damage the stems and cause the stems to become discolored. When the stem becomes damaged, nutrients are not carried to the upper part of the plant, which causes the plant to wither and die. There is no treatment, so it is important to buy resistant varieties.

Other types of disease that can cause tomato plant problems are the tomato spotted wilt virus and tobacco mosaic virus. The tomato spotted wilt virus is spread by the thrip, and it causes cankers to develop on the tomato and the leaves and stems to die back. Since there is no cure, the infected plants have to be removed from the garden and thrown away. The tobacco mosaic virus is usually spread by gardeners who smoke or have come into contact with tobacco. To prevent, gardeners should wash their hands before handling any plants.

Insects also contribute to tomato plant problems either through carrying diseases or eating the plants. Horn worms are a type of caterpillar that eats the foliage. They are typically three to four inches long and easily noticeable. Simply removing them from the infected plant often is sufficient. Another type of insect that eats the leaves is a flea beetle. The best way to rid your plants of this insect is to wipe down the leaves with soapy water.

Juice-sucking insects such as aphids and psyllids also create tomato plant problems. Both are found on the underside of leaves, causing the plants to be stunted. If the infestation is severe, no tomatoes will form. To rid infected plants of aphids or psyllids, an insecticidal soap can be used.

Environmental issues are the most common tomato plant problems and also the easiest to control. Blossom end rot, which causes the bottom of ripening tomatoes to turn black, shrivel up, and rot, is caused by insufficient calcium during development. Keeping the tomato plant watered at regular intervals and not allowing prolonged dry spells usually prevents blossom end rot.

Growth cracks are another environmental issue that can be easily controlled. Growth cracks can form a circular pattern on the top of the tomato or form deep fissures running vertically from the stem to the base. Both are caused by an initial over watering or heavy rain period followed by lack of watering that resulted in the plant's growth being stunted. To prevent this, the plants should be watered regularly and not allowed to get over watered.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Rundocuri — On Feb 20, 2014

Another tomato plant problem is that many tomato varieties are large and too heavy for the plants to support. This causes the plants to fall over, and vine on the ground. Tomatoes often rot before being picked when their delicate skins touch dirt. Tying tomato plants to stakes as they grow is the best way to have upright plants and healthy fruit.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-most-common-tomato-plant-problems.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.