How to save tomatoes if they turn black?

Tomatoes

Fruit turning black is a common problem for gardeners. Instead of harvesting a bountiful crop, they're forced to dispose of dead vegetables. Fruit rotting doesn't happen without a reason. This means every gardener can avoid this problem.

Why do tomatoes rot on the bush?

There are many causes of tomato diseases. To avoid a repeat of this unfortunate situation, it's important to understand what you're dealing with:

Gray mold. Also known as ash dust, it occurs as a result of a fungal infection;
Late blight. Caused by the spread of fungus on vegetables. A characteristic feature of late blight is brown spots;
Dry soil. Uneven watering can also cause fruit rot;
Blossom-end rot. This disease is caused by excessively hot air in the greenhouse. The plant has nowhere to draw moisture from, so it draws moisture from the fruit, which leads to the death of tomato cells;
Brown or dry spot. The disease is called Alternaria leaf spot and is caused by a parasitic fungus;
Stem necrosis is caused by viruses and is characterized by the appearance of cracks on the lower part of the stem;
Lack of care. Lack of care means a lack of fertilizer and infrequent watering.

Why do green tomatoes turn black?

Blackening of green tomatoes isn't as serious a problem as rotting of ripe tomatoes. In the former case, correct identification of the disease and prompt action can save the entire crop.

Typically, the causes of green fruit turning black include lack of moisture, various pests, improper soil fertilization, or simple plant rot. A visual and tactile inspection will allow a more accurate determination of the cause of fruit rot.

Blossom end rot

This disease causes sunken spots to appear on the tops of the fruit. These initially take on a green tint, then turn gray-brown or even green. The infected plant stops growing, and small cracks begin to appear in the affected area.

Incorrect fertilization

Incorrect fertilization can result in either excess salt in the soil or a calcium deficiency. Fruit turning black will indicate that the plant is not receiving the nutrients it needs.

Lack of moisture

Black spots also appear on the surface of tomatoes when the plant is deprived of moisture. When the plant lacks nutrients, it begins to draw moisture from the air. You can tell if underwatering is the cause if you notice the tomato roots protruding above the soil.

Late blight

This disease, on the contrary, is caused by excess moisture. High humidity or temperature fluctuations promote the growth of fungal bacteria, which causes dark spots to appear on the surface of the fruit.

Why do tomatoes turn black in a greenhouse?

Greenhouse tomato blackening is also caused by various diseases. And, surprisingly, the causes are the same as those for green tomatoes: temperature fluctuations, temperature imbalances, and high humidity in the greenhouse.

But there are also cases where already ripe plants begin to rot. The cause is anthracnose. The disease begins with the appearance of small spots on tomatoes, very similar in color to the rest of the fruit. But very soon, the spots begin to darken, and the blackness spreads throughout the fruit.

Important!

An infected crop cannot be saved. It is prohibited to eat it fresh, use it for cooking, or take its seeds.

Signs of tomato blackening

Signs of tomato blackening don't depend on the source. The disease always begins the same way. Here's what gardeners should pay attention to:

the appearance of small black spots on the fruit,
black spots are soft to the touch,
the spots have already affected most of the fruit,
the blackening has a light fluffy coating,
An unpleasant odor emanates from the affected areas.

The appearance of the above symptoms can indicate only one thing: the plant is developing a viral or fungal disease.

Often, blackening can be seen on the leaves and stems of tomatoes.

How to save the harvest - how to treat

Treatment for the plant will depend on what exactly it is infected with.

Cause of blackening	Plant treatment
Gray rot	Treatment begins with removing infected fruit. This should be done in sunny weather. Afterward, the plant is sprayed with fungicides. If the tomatoes are not heavily infected, a solution such as Topaz or Champion will do. If the damage is extensive, Fundazol, Skor, Ordan, and other fungicides are recommended.
Late blight	Hom, Furacilin, Fitosporin, Trichopolum and Ordan are widely used as medicines.
Dryness of the soil	Dry soil can be treated with simple, sufficient watering.
Blossom end rot	Treatment options include Fitosporin and Bordeaux mixture. The latter is prepared as follows: mix 0.1 kg of quicklime with 1 liter of water, then dissolve 0.1 kg of copper sulfate in 9 liters of water. Mix both solutions.
Brown or dry spot	If the disease has already manifested itself, the following products can help: Antracol, Ditan, Flint, Infinity, Quadris, and Ridomil. Treatment should be carried out at least once every two weeks.
Stem necrosis	Infected bushes cannot be saved, so they must be removed and burned. The soil will need to be treated with Fitolavin.
Lack of care	To ensure proper care, you only need to regularly feed the plant's soil and fertilize it properly.

How to prevent the spread of the disease - prevention

It's much easier to prevent a disease than to treat an already infected plant. Let's look at several common methods.

Folk remedies

Mix 10 liters of water and 300 grams of garlic, let it sit for 24 hours, and then spray the plant beds with the mixture.
Lactic acid bacteria prevent fungus from multiplying and infecting fruit. Dilute 100 grams of lactic acid product in 1 liter of water. Spray the mixture onto the beds.
Dissolve about 1 cup of rock salt in 5 liters of water. Spray the tomatoes with this mixture until they are fully ripe.

Watering

Watering the piles should be done when the sun has not yet reached its peak intensity. It is usually recommended to do this early in the morning or in the evening.

Important!

Watering is carried out strictly under the roots of the plant.

Pinching out stepsons

Pinching out the side shoots of tomatoes

To speed up fruit growth and prevent plant death, pruning is recommended. Be sure to remove side shoots and lower leaves from tomato plants.

Crop rotation

Maintain crop rotation. If a bed already contains any nightshade plants, it is strongly recommended not to replant them for 3-4 years.

Landing site

Choose a well-ventilated planting location. Tomato soil should be slightly acidic, with a low nitrogen content. It's also important to consider the soil's dryness and its ability to warm up.

Tomato varieties resistant to fungal diseases

Even following all recommendations doesn't guarantee 100% disease-free plant growth. Therefore, we recommend choosing seeds that are resistant to fungal diseases. These include:

early ripening varieties: Gnome, Chimgan, Orange Miracle, Dubok;
special varieties: Stolypin, Prima Donna, Gosudar, Black Bunch.

Tips, secrets

There are several tips that will make life much easier for gardeners and help them avoid tomato damage. Here are a few:

Before you begin sprouting the seeds, warm them in the oven for just a few minutes.
Complex fertilizers will help improve the plant's immunity.
Leave space between bushes. The optimal distance is 30 cm. If a disease does infect one bush, the virus or fungus will not have time to spread to the neighboring plant.
Pierce the base of the seedling's trunk with copper wire.
After each watering, be sure to hill up each bush.

Reviews

Rimma

For a long time, I suffered from tomatoes constantly turning black and rotting. I couldn't figure out what the problem was. As it turned out, the problem was the plants were too hot. High temperatures set in very early in the region. On top of that, I couldn't water the plants regularly.

Evgeny

Dark spots also started appearing on the fruit. It turned out to be the fertilizer. I added calcium, and the problem was solved.

Conclusion

Proper garden maintenance, the right choice of fertilizers, and scheduled watering are not a matter of whim. Following each recommendation and planting specific varieties will ensure a bountiful tomato harvest.