Problems in Growing Tomatoes and Tomato Plant Diseases

Tomatoes, scientific name- Lycopersicon lycopersicum, are the world’s most popular fruit rich in Vitamin A, C, fibre and lycopene. Researchers have found that consuming lycopene which is the most powerful antioxidant of the carotenoid family helps in preventing cancer. Tomato also helps in keeping the skin healthy and young by protecting from harmful rays. Since lycopene is present in the cellular wall of tomato, it is better to consume cooked tomato to have higher concentration of lycopene. Lycopene is present in huge amount in tomato ketchups, sauce, soups, juice and canned tomatoes. Let us see how to grow and maintain such a wonderful fruit.

How to Grow Tomatoes

• Tomatoes can germinate and grow in any type of soil provided that there should be regular and even watering. You can also add compost and manure to have better results.
• Plant tomatoes with 2 to 3 inch space between each other to maintain easily.
• Provide support such as pole or stake when the plants grow up to prevent from disease and to increase the crop product.

Problems in Growing Tomatoes

• Grow the right variety of tomatoes, either the dwarf variety or the tall variety.
• Choose variety based on the season and soil type that you are growing.
• Planting site should have enough sunlight to have more fruits.
• Plant the tomato plants with enough space between each other; this will lessen spreading of disease and pests and also helps the fruits to get enough sunlight.
• Even watering is a must for healthy tomato plant, too much or too less watering makes the plants prone to diseases.
• The soil should be rich in nutrients or can be supplemented externally.
• Prune the tomato plants if necessary to maintain a manageable size. Pruning should be prohibited after the plants start bearing fruits otherwise direct sunlight will lead to fruit sunscald.
• Check tomato plants regularly for any kind of pests and diseases.

Common Tomato Plant Diseases and Identification
Here I am listing some of the common tomato plant diseases and symptoms, which will help you in identification of the diseases.

Early Blight - Disease caused by soil borne fungi, which affects the leaves, stems and fruits of tomato plant. Symptoms include dark spots with concentric rings, premature yellowing and falling of leaves.

Late Blight - Disease caused by fungi, which affects the leaves and fruit of tomato plant. Symptoms include gray spots on the leaves and fruits, blackened areas on the stem.

Southern Blight - Disease caused by fungi mostly affects the stem part and prevents the plant from taking up nutrients and water from the soil. Affected stems are covered with dark, round spots.

Gray Leaf Spot - Disease caused by fungi affecting both the upper and lower side of the leaves. Affected leaves become gray and fall of simultaneously.

Verticillium Wilt - Disease caused by soil borne fungi, which mostly affects the leaves and stem of tomato plant. Symptoms include wilting of leaves and discoloration of stems.

Prevention of Tomato Diseases
Apart from the above diseases care should be taken to prevent from common pests such as worms, snails, snugs and rats. Soil should be free from debris of earlier plant remains and should be treated first before tomato plantation like fumigating with proper fungicides or solarizing to prevent from nematodes. It is always better to choose resistant plant varieties and follow crop rotation as far as possible.