![]() ![]() Hornworms are voracious eaters, stripping leaves from the stem. Tomato hornworms are large greenish caterpillars with white to tan markings and a green or reddish horn on the hind end. See fact sheet 5.540: Potato and Tomato Psyllids, for more information. Control by dusting the foliage with sulfur. Damage to the plant includes yellow leaves with purple veins and distorted stems with a zig-zag pattern. ![]() Psyllids are small (aphid size) yellow to green insects that feed on sap and can be found on the underside of leaves. Two common fungal diseases are early blight and fusarium wilt. Common insect problems include psyllids and tomato hornworms. Tomato plants can be damaged by insects and diseases. When temperatures reach 90 degrees before 10 a.m., newly opened flowers abort. When nighttime temperatures fall below 50 degrees, pollen will not be produced. Temperature plays a big role in the development of flowers on tomato plants, which produce best in a fairly narrow temperature range. Management of blossom end rot includes consistent soil moisture levels and proper fertilization. For more information on finding the correct nutrient balance, see fact sheet 7.846: Plant Health Care: Growing Tomatoes.įluctuations in soil moisture and high temperatures contribute to a disorder called blossom end rot the fruit has tan, water-soaked lesions on the blossom end (the opposite end from the stem) that enlarge and become black as the fruit matures. Lack of nitrogen results in yellowing of older foliage, reduces fruit production and makes the plant more susceptible to early blight, a fungal disease. Nitrogen is critical for growth, but too much results in vegetative growth at the expense of flowers. Adding a layer of surface mulch helps conserve soil moisture.Īpplying fertilizer to tomato plants is tricky, since they are fussy about nitrogen. Check soil conditions daily and water when the top 2 to 4 inches of soil feels dry. Tomatoes need about 1 inch of water per week during August. Improper watering, poor fertilization and temperature fluctuations affect plant health and the quality of fruit (yes, tomatoes are a fruit). Many of the problems associated with growing tomatoes are caused by environmental problems. The Master Gardener desk receives calls this time of year regarding problems with tomatoes including damage to plants, lack of fruit and less-than-perfect fruit. But there can be challenges to growing tomatoes. While tomato plants can be fussy about temperature, moisture and fertilizer, many homeowners find them easy to grow. As a summer treat, there isn’t anything better than a slice of vine-ripened tomato. ![]()
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