Leaf spot disease on tomatoes »Recognize and combat

click fraud protection

The symptoms of illness in tomatoes

the Leaf spot disease can be identified as such on closer inspection. These are the signs that point to them:

  • Spots 4-5 mm in size
  • they are watery and gray inside
  • a dark border separates it from the healthy tissue
  • the rest of the sheet yellowed
  • the lower, older leaves are affected
  • there are black spore bearings on the underside
  • they can grow together to form large areas

also read

  • Hibernating tomatoes - illusion or reality?
  • Do tomatoes also thrive in partial shade?
  • Are tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable?

Note:
Leaf spot disease can often be observed on tomatoes when celery grows in their immediate vicinity. This is very susceptible and in turn becomes a source of infection.

Effect on tomato fruits

Although the tomato plant is beautiful in appearance, it is invariably cultivated for its fruits. Therefore, with any tomato disease the question immediately arises: will it ruin my harvest?

The red tomato fruits are not infected by this fungal pathogen. Accordingly, nothing stands in the way of their consumption. However, the harvest will be more modest depending on the severity of the infestation. The leafy green provides the energy that is needed for fruit formation. The less healthy leaf mass is available, the fewer or smaller tomatoes can be expected.

Fight disease?

The red fruits remain edible, and the tomato plant is an annual plant in this country anyway. Does it make sense to generate more sales for the chemical industry? Home remedies do not help against this fungus called Septoria lycopersici.

Nevertheless, one must warn against ignoring this disease. The fungal pathogen can spread to other nearby plants. Leaf spot disease, for example, also affects Cucumber, arugula and many other types of vegetables and flowers.

Appropriate control measures

Remove any stained leaves from the tomato plants and collect any fallen specimens. They all need to be disposed of. But please don't compost! A damp and wet environment favors the spread. In the following year at the latest, make sure that your tomato plants are dry and airy.

From now on, if you haven't already done so, water your tomatoes only over the root area. Estimate whether you can let the diseased plants stand for some time. However, after the harvest at the latest, you should clear them out of the bed immediately and dig it up deeply afterwards.

Sign up to our newsletter

Pellentesque dui, non felis. Maecenas male