Tomato Diseases

Blossom End Rot: Nutritional disorder, not a disease. (calcium deficiency) Sunken brown or black patches on the blossom end of the fruit. Caused by too much nitrogen, acid soil, uneven watering or high humidity. These conditions inhibit the plants intake of calcium. Correcting these has always worked for me, but if you still have blossom end rot, one of the liquid calcium products available at garden stores should do the trick.

Catface or Scarring: Caused by injury to the plant during blossoming, often from a period of cold weather.

Cracking, Mold: Uneven watering, or a period of insufficient water or moist, cool weather.

T-Tobacco Mosaic Virus: Leaves become mottled with yellow and green mosaic patterns. Brown sunken rings in fruit.

V-Verticillum Wilt: Over winters in the soil. Wilts during the day but perks up at night.

What To Do!: The fruit may still be used, but production will be less. With most of the wilt diseases, about the only options are to rotate planting locations every year. (always a good idea anyway) Attempt to sterilize the planting area with solar heat using clear plastic, grow varieties resistant to the type of wilt you have, or just live with it.