What to do if your tomatoes have black stems – effective remedies to save tomatoes

Perhaps one of the most common causes of tomato death is blackleg. As the name suggests, infected plants experience thinning of the basal stem, followed by rotting and death. What causes this disease, and how can it be treated?

Causes of tomato diseases

There are only two reasons that can lead to the death of a plant:

• Fungal soil diseases. This is the most likely cause. If you notice darkening of the stems of your seedlings, the soil is most likely the culprit. Fungi are the causative agents of plant diseases. They don't manifest themselves immediately, but only when conditions allow them to actively reproduce. Under favorable conditions, the pathogens first infect small areas and then affect the entire seedling.
• The second cause, which is much less common, is root fly. Blackening of tomato stems occurs because the insect's larvae, while in the soil, feed on the plant's roots. The source of root fly larvae is compost made from animal manure.

Plant death occurs more quickly when the pathogen is exposed to favorable factors. These include:

• increased soil moisture;
• frequent planting of plants (dense planting);
• lack of lighting;
• a sharp drop in temperature;
• insufficient ventilation of the greenhouse;
• excess fertilizers.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the plant disease are clear from its name:

• at the very beginning of the disease development, the plant stem darkens to a brown color;
• then an abscess can be seen in the darkened area;
• then the lower part of the stem becomes soft and watery;
• As a result, the seedling breaks at the site of the abscess.

Treatment

If blackleg has already appeared on tomatoes, proper treatment is essential. Over many years of dealing with plant death, gardeners have identified several effective methods.

Treatment with chemical drugs

The first thing to do is separate the healthy seedlings from the infected ones. After that, treatment can begin.

To help combat the pest, the following preparations are most often used:

• Baktofit;
• Fundazol;
• Fitolavin;
• Planriz;
• Fitosporin.

Each of these agents is an antifungal. They are all effective in treating the plant, but Fitosporin is the most widely used.

This medication is a natural, biological product. Unlike many other treatments, it is not chemical. It works by harnessing beneficial bacteria that can absorb pathogens.

Fitosporin can also be used to treat soil and seeds.

Treatment with folk remedies

Some gardeners, unwilling to treat their plants with special products, resort to folk remedies. They recommend several ways to combat plant rot:

• onion infusion;
• vodka diluted with water;
• manganese solution;
• baking soda solution.

Resistant varieties

A good harvest also depends on the plant variety you choose. It's best to choose tomatoes that are resistant to fungal diseases. These include Spartak F1, Virtuoz F1, Little Prince, Orange Giant, Agatha, Ranetochka, and others.

Disease prevention

Proper prevention is the key to success in growing healthy vegetables.

Seed preparation

It's best to start preparing your seeds by selecting them. To avoid worrying about blackleg, choose varieties resistant to the fungus.

Then treat the tomato seeds with a potassium permanganate solution or pour boiling water over them. This will ensure that all fungal spores are destroyed.

Preparing the land

If the soil is free of pathogens, you won't have to worry about blackleg. To completely eliminate fungal pores in the soil, it's necessary to properly prepare it:

• In the fall, prepare soil where tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers have never been planted before, and leave it outside for the entire winter so that it freezes;
• in the spring, just before planting the seeds, warm this soil in an oven or stove to 130 degrees for half an hour;
• If for some reason you cannot warm up the soil, steam it with very hot water;
• Next, determine the location for planting tomatoes and water it with a manganese solution;
• After the sprouts emerge, lay a 2-centimeter layer of wood ash on the soil.

Adviсe

Proper care will help you avoid tomato plant death. Here are a few recommendations to consider:

• First of all, it's important to remember not to plant seedlings too often. Plant them at a distance from each other;
• ensure regular ventilation of the tomato greenhouse;
• Water the plant only in the morning to avoid excess moisture;
• Maintain optimal temperature conditions. Tomatoes thrive at temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.

Simple recommendations will help you avoid such a nasty tomato disease as blackleg. Pay close attention to seedling and soil preparation, as well as plant care. To avoid worrying about your tomatoes' vulnerability to fungus, purchase resistant varieties.