7 Blunders Leading to Premature Decay of Tomatoes Before They Ripe
Growing Gorgeous Tomatoes 🔥
Nothing compares to the joy of tasting the first juicy tomato of summer 🍅, but sometimes these delicate fruits can rot before you get a chance to savor them. Whether it's due to pesky bugs and diseases or improper care, we've got the secret formula to ensuring your tomatoes stay fresh until they hit your plate. We talked to the experts to learn about the top 11 mistakes that might be ruining your tomato plants and how to avoid them.
- 💃🏾 Susan Mulvihill 📔, organic gardener and author of The Veggie Garden Problem Solver Handbook and The Veggie Garden Pest Handbook
- 🌱 Charlotte Germane 🌱, master gardener, master composter, and trainer in edible landscaping
11 Gardening Faux Pas that Harm Your Tomato Plants--and How to Steer Clear ⚠️
1. Overcrowding Plants
To flourish, tomatoes require ample airflow. It's easy to forget that those teeny seedlings in spring will grow into tall, lanky plants by late summer. Make sure to space 'em out when planting so they've got room to breathe when they grow. If you don't, you could block the airflow, leading to diseases that can cause the fruit to rot before it ripens.
2. Blossom-End Rot
One of the most common issues you might encounter when growing tomatoes is blossom-end rot. This condition causes brown or black decay at the end of tomato fruits, near the blossom. "Blossom-end rot is a righteous pain in the butt—a frequent frustration for tomato growers. But it can also strike peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, melons, and squashes," warns Susan Mulvihill.
Regular watering is the best way to prevent blossom-end rot. "By sticking to reliable watering schedules, you help the roots efficiently absorb calcium, a key nutrient for fruit growth," Mulvihill explains. Plus, avoid disturbing the tomato roots when weeding, making it hard for them to do their job. Blossom-end rot is more prevalent during the early growing season when the roots are still small.
3. Over-Fertilizing
Too much of a good thing can be a nightmare. Gardeners often over-fertilize their tomato beds with nitrogen. Tomatoes are sensitive to nitrogen, and too much can kill 'em. Too much nitrogen can cause the leaves to turn yellow or wilt, and the fruit to rot. Don't rush to add nitrogen--test your soil first to ensure it needs this nutrient.
4. Inconsistent Watering
Tomatoes are prone to cracking, which can lead to rotting. Tomatoes usually crack when the soil is too dry for long periods and then you water heavily. But even a sudden, heavy rainstorm can do the trick. "Tomatoes are surprisingly resilient when it comes to rain," says Mulvihill. "But a sudden drenching can cause the flesh of ripening tomatoes to expand, causing the skin to burst open," she warns. Stay consistent in your watering schedule to minimize cracking. Water deeply, frequently, and consistently to keep the soil just moist.
5. Lack of Crop Rotation
Even small-scale gardeners need to practice crop rotation, especially with tomatoes. "There are many soil-borne fungal diseases," says Charlotte Germane. "Crop rotation can help reduce their impact, making gardening life easier," she advises. Basic rotation means planting different types of vegetables each year in the same spot. But if you're low on space, try growing tomatoes in containers, making it easy to refresh the soil each growing season.
6. Too Much Sun
Tomato leaves provide a natural umbrella, protecting fruits from direct sunlight. "If the leaves are attacked by pests or diseases and wither, the young tomato fruits can get too much sun exposure and develop big, blistery white or tan patches, called sunscald," Germane cautions. She suggests discarding damaged leaves and fruit and avoiding pruning the plants for shape. If you want to protect your plants, cover them with shade cloth.
7. Fungal Infections
Fungal diseases like early blight can also cause rotten fruit. "Early blight shows up at the start of the growing season," says Germane. "The dark spots on the lower leaves are caused by a fungus that lurks in the soil." To solve the problem, prune off and toss away the sick leaves and fruit, then use rubbing alcohol to disinfect your pruners to prevent spreading disease to other plants. Then, spray your tomato plants with an organic fungicide like copper spray and avoid overhead watering.
1. Discover exciting ideas for a vegetable garden that includes tomatoes, by browsing articles from Martha Stewart's home-and-garden section, focusing on her expertise in lifestyle, health-and-wellness, and nutrition.
2. Incorporate gardening into your fitness-and-exercise routine by maintaining a vegetable garden, signing up for a local master composter training like Charlotte Germane, or reading books such as The Veggie Garden Problem Solver Handbook by Susan Mulvihill, to improve your green thumb and overall wellness.
3. For organic gardening insights, consider following Susan Mulvihill, an expert on tomatoes and author of both The Veggie Garden Problem Solver Handbook and The Veggie Garden Pest Handbook, on social media or newsletters to stay updated on gardening science and best practices.
4. Enhance your tomato garden's success by employing crop rotation and adhering to soil testing to balance the nutrients, promoting healthy growth and minimizing the risk of soil-borne fungal diseases, as suggested by Charlotte Germane, a master gardener.
5. Implement a balanced approach to watering methods by following recommended watering schedules to prevent issues like blossom-end rot and cracking, as advised by Susan Mulvihill and Charlotte Germane, while also maintaining a proper watering routine to foster a thriving lifestyle for your vegetable garden ideas.
