Common Tomato Problems

For gardeners everywhere, we're looking forward to a productive gardening season. Tomatoes are one of the most commonly planted vegetables, adorning gardens from anywhere from a backyard gardener to a city dweller, that specializes in container gardening. Everyone seems to love the fresh taste of a tomato.

There are some common problems that occur with tomatoes, though. Know what to look for, and what could and could not be potentially harmless.

Cracking - Tomatoes crack during warm, rainy periods after a dry spell. They expand too fast which is what causes them to crack. Avoid this by selecting resistant varieties. Read your seed package, or ask at your local garden center which varieties are the best to help avoid this. Keep soil moisture as consistent as possible, to help prevent cracking.

Catfacing - This is cracking and unusual scarring. It is commonly seen on tomatoes but it is completely harmless, other than just it's looks! It is believed to be caused by cool weather, but no one seems to be sure of the root cause of this.

Blossom drop - This is when the earliest blooms drop, for no apparent reason. Cool overnight temperatures around 55 degrees can lead to this. Later in the season, temperatures at 90 degrees or above during the day and nights at 75 degrees can cause this problem as well.

Leaf curl - This is common but not harmful, and usually occurs after heavy rains. The oldest leaves get hit first, and it can spread to other leaves as well. To help prevent leaf curl, plant in well drained soil.

Sunscald - This is caused by too much sun exposure. The first sign is a yellowish, white patch that appears on side of the tomato facing the sun. Plant so that you can ensure foliage is there to protect tomatoes from sun, and don't over prune. Growing plants in tomato cages can help.

As you can see, the most common problems are harmless to the tomatoes, but can be frustrating to the person growing them! If you see any of these above problems on your tomatoes, don't worry. Take the proper steps as best as you can by ensuring a healthy environment for your tomato plants. Unfortunately though, things can still happen no matter how diligently you set up your garden and care for your plants. It is natural, but now you know what to be on the look out for!