What can I add to my garden soil to prevent disease in tomatoes?
by
Kat11773738
+3
I have a very limited area in my front yard to plant tomatoes (the only produce I want to grow) so it has to be reused every year. I know crops should be rotated but I don't have that option. The last three years the plants have grown nicely but then a disease takes over the plants. The leaves at the bottom start getting brown and die and the condition moves up the plant limiting the amount of tomatoes I get. I plant a variety of tomatoes, mostly tommy toes, but my favorite, Mr. Stripy, is the worst. Is there anything I can add to the soil to prevent this happening?
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it could be a fungus issue in your soil. try a fungicide on the plants. you may have to let that patch of dirt rest. raised beds or containers next grow season should also help.
It most definitely is a fungus issue. Since you cannot rotate your crops you will have to resort in container planting or this will continue. There really is no way to control the disease once it sets into the soil unless you are willing to remove most of the soil,add amendments and a fungicide.
Tomato plants also turn yellow from too much water. Always check the soil before watering. Fertilize regularly, especially when the plant starts to bear fruit. Also clear up the bottoms of the plants to let air and light in. Do not plant too close together, no matter how little room you have. You will get the same amount of tomatoes from one plant with room as you will from two plants too close. Add crushed egg shells to soil yearly. Let them dry in a shallow pie tin, then crush when dry with a plate or bowl. Put in a container and keep going. You have to amend your soil to some degree every year. Mix the soil from the areas that are normally bare, with the used soil. Take some out and replace with bagged compost. If this is hard for you, ask around to find someone to do it in exchange for some tomatoes. Search for yellow leaves on tomatoes, I didn't see anything about fungus. Good luck.
Blight and other fungal issues will attack especially if your plants are struggling. Recharge your plant soil with worm castings or compost. Allow airflow as P said. If you have a damp, cold spring or fall..the wet soil can splash spores up on your tomato plants...the spores are in the soil. Use mulch. Trim off lower leaves if they touch the soil. Make sure your area drains well. Waterlogged plants prohibit calcium from being available to your plants. We all fight this no matter where we live. Water your plants from the bottom...don't wet the leaves especially if they won't dry before nightfall. actovate is a tomato fertilizer that is helpful.