GARDEN + GARDENING + GARDENING TIPS & ADVICE

Home gardening is a favorite hobby for millions of people around the world. Tomatoes are one of the most popular fruits (or vegetables if you want to engage in that argument) people grow. They are not very expensive, easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest of fresh, juicy tomatoes that are a summertime treat.

Unfortunately, tomato plant problems are very typical. Problems may include harmful insects, diseases and fungus that can be caused by harshweather conditions, inconsistent watering, nutrient deficiencies or inherent genetic factors bred into the seeds or plants.

We will explore some of the more typical problems home tomato gardeners might face and provide suggestions on how to prevent or cure most of them.

Brown circular spot on the blossom-end of the tomato

Symptom: This is a typical problem with homegrown tomatoes. It initially appears as a small, depressed, leathery, brownish area on the blossom end of the fruit and grows in size as the fruit ripens. The area may end up being as large as a dime or half-dollar if left unchecked.

Cause: Blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency coupled with wide fluctuations in available moisture. Training and pruning the tomato vines may also increase blossom end rot.

Remedy: Remove the affected fruit so other fruits on the plant will develop without a problem. Keep the plants well watered. Mulch around the base of the plants to maintain a more uniform moisture supply. Avoid cultivating or hoeing near the roots of tomato plants. Some gardeners also add crushed eggshells to the soil before planting seedlings to fortify calcium availability.

Flowers form but drop before tomatoes develop

Symptom: Tomato flowers fall off prematurely causing very little or no fruit to actually develop.

Cause: “Blossom Drop” is usually caused when the tomato plant experiences a sudden change in the weather, typically earlier or later in the season when night temperatures are lower than 55 degrees F. The heat of the summer is also a common time when this occurs, when day temperatures are higher than 95 degrees F or when night temperatures remain above 75 degrees F. Hot drying winds and a sudden lack of moisture for the plant may also intensify the problem.

Remedy: Add mulch around the plant to retain available soil moisture. You can also use a tomato blossom set spray, available from your local garden store. It is an all-natural plant hormone that helps blossoms set fruit despite poor weather conditions, producing larger, meatier tomatoes with fewer seeds. Improving weather conditions may also solve the problem without any further action.

Tomato skin suddenly splits or cracks

Symptom: The skin of the fruit suddenly develops large cracks, most times radiating out from the stem end. Cherry tomatoes are especially vulnerable to this condition, and it can occur anywhere on the fruit.

Cause: Splitting or cracking typically happens when the fruit experiences accelerated growth which can be brought on by a sudden increase in moisture after being too dry, like a sudden summer rain after an extended dry period. Cracking also may occur when the fruit is overripe.

Remedy: The good news is that splitting or cracking does not affect the flavor and the tomato can still be eaten, however unsightly it may appear. To avoid the problem, provide consistent moisture to the plant or research and select varieties that are resistant to cracking. With cherry tomatoes, pick ripe or nearly ripe fruit right before a forecast rain storm to limit the risk of cracking.

Tomato plants have a stunted appearance

Symptom: Nematodes live in the soil and cause swelling of the plant root which, in turn, causes stunted plants and discolored plant leaves. The only way to confirm diagnosis is to pull the plan and inspect the roots.

Cause: Root-knot nematodes are soil-born microscopic eelworms.

Remedy: The bad news is there is no treatment for an existing nematode infestation. The good news is the affected plants can still grow and produce edible fruit. Preventative measures to stop nematodes in the future include selecting varieties labeled with “N” and planting marigolds with your tomatoes. Many varieties of marigolds, including’ Nema-gone’, ‘Golden Guardian’, or ‘Tangerine’, release a chemical into the soil that kills nematodes.

Visibly chewed leaves and tomatoes

Symptom: Chewed up plant leaves and damaged fruits that are still unripe are clearly visible.

Cause: Tomato hornworms are large, green-grayish caterpillars that feed off tomato fruits and plants.

Remedy: Although they can blend very well with surrounding foliage, once discovered, they can be easily picked off by hand and disposed of.

Although some of the more common tomato plant problems have been highlighted, it is important to remember that there are many more diseases and pests that may affect your plants. If you have a problem that you can’t easily diagnose, please check with your local extension agent or garden center to learn what treatment is best for your specific problem.

Visit the author’s detailed, illustrated article Preventing and Solving Common Tomato Plant Problems for more information about preventing, diagnosing and fixing tomato plant problems… and make sure you spend a little time in Suzy’s Garden – a great place for more gardening and crafting information and fun !

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Water, Food and Sunlight. Basic Guidelines For Growing Indoor Flowers and Plants.

A big majority of plants or flowers can adapt and prosper indoor very well. All they really need is more or less to have the same conditions as outdoor plants and flowers demand. These conditions are simple. A good supply of fresh air should be available, the presence of good sunlight, an adequate supply of h2o, and adequate flower or plant food (fertilizer).

Implement these simple tips posted below, that would for sure make your indoor plants and flowers develop healthier and add a special touch to your indoor living space.

- Basic Sun Light Guideline for growing plants and flowers indoor:

Generally, your NORMAL indoor plants or flowers will always be pointing towards the sunlight naturally, no matter how many times you repositioned them. This is normal as the sun is the main source of their nutrition. Your plants or flowering plants will need a minimum of 2 hrs of sun rays per day. Best practice by moving them near a window if you know that this is not happening. If you do not have a room where you can have the required sunlight, and cannot reposition the plants, then you should consider purchasing a couple of indoor gardening lights. Do NOT try this with normal house lights. Special Indoor gardening lights are available at many shops in ourdays, and they will provide enough of the “ultraviolet light” to nourish the plants and flowers.

- Adequate Watering Guideline for growing plants and flowers indoor:

You must Provide adequate and regular water intake for your plants. It is important that you DO NOT OVER WATER the plants or flowers. The majority of plants or flowers die because of, #1: insufficient amount of water or, #2: to much water. This will cause them to die most likely more often than they do from any other reasons. If you are going away from your home for a while, ask your neighbors to come over and water your plants and flowers instead of “doubling” up on the watering.

Here’s a easy tip that you can implement to find out if your plants and flowers need watering. Try poking the ground with a “Shish-Kabab” stick or a similar kind of stick. If the stick goes in the ground with ease, then the soil is at the right dampness, if not increase the quantity of water a little bit.

- Appropriate Fertilizing (feeding) Guideline for growing plants and flowers indoor:

To fertilize is also really important when it is time to feed your plants or flowers. The guideline here is to add a scoop or so of indoor plant fertilizer, once every 2 weeks (or as directed on the directions), to your plant or flower pots. A good natural way to feed instead of purchasing fertilizer is to save your “Used tealeaves” as they are also a very good supply of nutrition for your plants and flowers.

The Flowers and Indoor Garden Tips in this article were provided to you from the New Zealand Florist experts at “The Blossom Room – Send Flowers to New Zealand Online. Visit us at ‘TheBlossomRoom.co.nz’ for all your floral arrangement needs and flower deliveries anywhere in New Zealand.
Article by: staff/RBizz@’TheBlossomRoom.co.nz’ -
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