What diseases do tomatoes suffer from and how can they be treated?

Tomato seedling diseases (photos) and their treatment should be carefully considered while the seeds are still being planted. The more carefully a gardener approaches the tomato planting process at this stage, the stronger and more productive the seedlings will be.

But don't worry if your tomatoes are already blooming and bearing fruit, but pests have made their presence known. The most important thing is to spot the disease early. Then, treat it quickly, and everything will definitely work out. So, are you determined to have a great harvest? Then you'll have to study tomato seedling diseases (photos) and their treatments (photos).

The main diseases of tomato seedlings: treatment and prevention

Late blight

Let's start with this one, because it's a common guest in our latitudes. When planting seeds for seedlings, you can begin preventative measures. Simply soak the seeds in potassium permanganate, but the soil in which they are planted will need to be additionally disinfected. This disease is transmitted through the soil.

As for the growth of tomato seedlings and bushes, late blight can appear at any stage. The appearance of this disease indicates a nutrient deficiency in your tomatoes, specifically potassium, copper, iodine, and manganese. You'll need to provide additional fertilizer, applying it to the roots.

Interesting! A popular method for preventing late blight in the garden is planting tomatoes next to basil, potatoes, onions, and garlic. The substances these plants secrete will protect the tomatoes from late blight.

Streak

This is caused by a virus. It can appear on leaves and stems as red or brown stripes. Diseased leaves die, and the affected stems become so brittle that they can no longer support the plant. To eliminate the disease, infected plants must be destroyed. This must be done quickly. Do not use seed from these tomatoes next year (even from healthy plants), as the virus outbreak could reoccur.

Blackleg

This disease of tomato seedlings is transmitted by a fungus (photos and videos of treatments can be found online). The fungus lives in the soil, so seedlings can fall over while still just sprouting. To prevent this, you need to prepare the soil properly. Excessive moisture or excessively high temperatures can activate the fungus in open ground, so keep this in mind.

The disease manifests itself on the stems, but gardeners often miss it in its early stages because part of the stem is hidden in the soil. If the leaves begin to wilt, it's recommended to dig up the stem a little and take a closer look. You can sprinkle the affected areas with tree resin, adjust the watering schedule, and lower the air temperature to accommodate these infected tomatoes.

Types of tomato leaf spot

White

The disease is transmitted by a fungus and often occurs if seedlings are not cared for properly. Since the fungi are present in the soil, the lower leaves are initially affected. The disease then spreads upward if not stopped promptly.

If a white or gray coating appears on the leaves, this indicates white spot. Later, the leaves will turn brown and simply dry out, falling off. To save your seedlings and the future harvest, use a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. Spray the seedlings, and if possible, if only a few bushes are affected, it's best to destroy the affected seedling altogether. It's also recommended to additionally water the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Brown

The leaves are affected, but brown spotting manifests itself as yellow spots. The spots also appear on the underside of the leaf, but are olive-colored. Eventually, the leaf turns brown and dies. Brown spotting often affects seedlings growing in damp conditions.

Black

Unlike the previous two diseases, it can be transmitted not only through the soil but also through seeds. It's easy to distinguish from other tomato diseases: black spots will appear on the leaves. Treating the plants the same way as for white spot will help.

From now on, you know not only the main tomato seedling diseases (photos) but also their treatment using traditional methods. Also, be sure to use not only traditional methods, but also various modern chemicals. The key is to choose something that is ideal in composition and does not interfere with the future growth and development of tomatoes.