Ailing tomato plant - Ask Extension
Hello - until a week ago this yellow cherry tomato plant was doing well, like its nearby mates in the garden. They are still doing very well, but this...
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Ailing tomato plant #875494
Asked July 01, 2024, 12:56 PM EDT
Hello - until a week ago this yellow cherry tomato plant was doing well, like its nearby mates in the garden. They are still doing very well, but this one looks in trouble. As you know, we have gotten plenty of rain; otherwise I might think it is very dehydrated. I see no discoloration, bugs, or bug damage. In person, the stem looks just somewhat dirty, like the others. What is ailing this tomato plant?
Thanks as always.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
There are several reasons for tomato wilt besides lack of water; including injury from an herbicide spray, bacterial or fungal diseases, or possibly improper planting (roots are damaged in some way). In all these cases, not all the plants would necessarily be impacted.
It is hard to tell from the pictures so check the websites below and see if either of these explain your symptoms. In either case, the plant probably won't survive and should be removed and discarded (not composted).
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fusarium-wilt-tomatoes-home-garden/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/herbicide-damage-vegetables/
Please contact us again if you still have questions. Robin
It is hard to tell from the pictures so check the websites below and see if either of these explain your symptoms. In either case, the plant probably won't survive and should be removed and discarded (not composted).
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fusarium-wilt-tomatoes-home-garden/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/herbicide-damage-vegetables/
Please contact us again if you still have questions. Robin
Hello, Robin - thanks again for answering my question. You mention that the dirt should be discarded. I dug widely, so there is a lot of dirt, probably over 25 lbs. My wife and I think it is a shame to put this much dirt into the trash. Is there another avenue for getting rid of this? We have some woods about 25 feet from the garden. That seems a bit perilous. Would some other woods or the official Howard County garden waste program be options?
Thanks again for your help.
- Jim
Sorry, I meant that the plant itself should be discarded in the trash. But, if you believe you have a diseased plant you do want to be concerned with the dirt. Here is some information on planting and soil management to manage for diseases.
Cultural practice: Use disease-free seeds and
transplants. Rotate away from tomato and
other solanaceous crops for 4-5 years to
reduce the inoculum level in the soil. Prevent
movement of the infested soil clinging to
machinery, transplants, vehicles, tools, and
stakes into areas where are free of the
pathogen. As there is no cure for Fusarium
wilt, remove and destroy diseased plants
from the field or garden when it is confirmed.
Do not place the debris in compost pile. Raise
the soil pH to 6.5-7.0 by liming and use
calcium nitrate fertilizers, which can reduce
disease severities.
Robin
Cultural practice: Use disease-free seeds and
transplants. Rotate away from tomato and
other solanaceous crops for 4-5 years to
reduce the inoculum level in the soil. Prevent
movement of the infested soil clinging to
machinery, transplants, vehicles, tools, and
stakes into areas where are free of the
pathogen. As there is no cure for Fusarium
wilt, remove and destroy diseased plants
from the field or garden when it is confirmed.
Do not place the debris in compost pile. Raise
the soil pH to 6.5-7.0 by liming and use
calcium nitrate fertilizers, which can reduce
disease severities.
Robin
Robin - The mistake was mine, so no apology is necessary! But I think, in retrospect, that what I did is logical. I wonder why it is not recommended to remove the soil, actually! Now that we have removed the soil, Would it be inadvisable to toss it into the underbrush at the back of our property? We hate to chuck out the soil in the trash. Thanks for all the time you are spending to educate me on this issue. I really appreciate it. - Jim On 7/2/24 5:05 PM, Ask Extension wrote: >
Hi Jim...yes, if your tomatoes are diseased, removing the dirt could be helpful. And, tossing it into the woods would certainly be acceptable.
Then when you get replacement plants, be sure to look for ones that are resistant to wilt diseases.
Happy Summer! Robin
Then when you get replacement plants, be sure to look for ones that are resistant to wilt diseases.
Happy Summer! Robin
