Problems with Growing Tomatoes
So now you have your tomatoes planted. You’ve nurtured them, and they are getting bigger, but suddenly you have a problem with your plants. If this situation sounds familiar, here are a few examples of what may occur to your tomatoes and a few suggestions on how to resolve your issue.
Problem: My Tomatoes Keep Splitting or Cracking!
Reason: Most of the time, cracking or splitting in the tomato is due to the tomato absorbing too much moisture all at once. If there is a very dry, hot spell that is followed by a cool, heavy rain; the tomato plant may soak up all that extra moisture into the fruit and—with only so much skin to cover the outside—cracks may occur.
Solution: Don’t fear! Cracked tomatoes are fine—especially heirloom tomatoes, which are prone to cracking—and are still edible! To prevent further cracking, make sure you are providing enough water to your plants. Keep the water reservoir full. It’s common for the reservoir to run dry several times a day when tomatoes are reaching maturity, and you may have to fill it up to three times a day. For future reference, you can buy crack-resistant tomato varieties like big boy, big beef and black cherry.
Problem: My Tomato Plant’s Leaves Have Black and Yellow Spots!
Reason: Black spots on a tomato plant can probably be contributed to a type of fungus causing cankers on the plants. It’s especially common in humid and hot areas where fungus can grow rapidly.
Solution: Be sure to keep your EarthBox® gardening systems spaced far enough apart so the leaves can get air and breathe easier, and fungus will have a more difficult time establishing itself. If you’re in a high-humidity area or are expecting long periods of rain, you can pre-treat plants with a fungicide to help prevent mold and fungus.
Problem: Something is Eating My Tomato Plants!
Reason: Tomato Hornworms. You’ll want to be on the lookout for any large green caterpillars—they will eat your plants!
Solution: Try just picking them off or hosing down your plant with water. There are also organic treatments that contain the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to get rid of these pests.
Note that if you find a hornworm with white rice-looking eggs on it (left), let it be. Parasitic wasps lay their eggs on them to use as a host, causing the hornworm to die.
Problem: My Tomatoes are Rotting on The Vine!
Reason: A common disorder with tomatoes (and sometimes peppers), Blossom End Rot—also known as BER—can be caused by:
- A lack of calcium and magnesium—which is why it is so important to add dolomite at the start of every growing season.
- Infrequent watering. Make sure the water reservoir never runs dry!
- Rapid growth. This is common with plants grown in the EarthBox® gardening system because they are established in an ideal growing environment.
Solution: When fruit begins developing, check the tomatoes regularly as they grow. At the bottom of the fruit (where the yellow blossom withers up and falls off), you may start to see what looks like a dark water stain, which will start turning brown–and eventually black if not caught early enough. As soon as you see signs of BER, pick the affected fruits off and discard (once the tomato fruit is affected, it can’t be reversed and saved, so it’s best to let the plant put its energy into developing new fruit). After discarding the affected tomatoes, mix ¼ cup of hydrated lime or pickling lime with one gallon of water. Tip the system toward the overflow drain and empty the reservoir. Add the solution to the reservoir and fill as usual the following day.
As new fruit begins to set during the first 2 weeks after treatment, it could still be prone to BER, so you should continue monitoring regularly and discarding affected fruit.
Bonus Tip: Add 1 tsp. of Calcium Nitrate to the water reservoir 1 time per week to help reduce the risk of BER.
You can read more about Blossom End Rot HERE
