NEWARK, DE Tomatoes are close to the heart of most gar deners. They’re usually easy to grow, providing satisfaction for young and old alike. But how frustrating to look at a juicy red tomato only to find that the has rotted, or to watch the big' green vines slowly wither away to. nothing just as their first fruits begin to mature. With a little extra care, home gardeners can prevent most tomato problems, says Delaware State College extension agent Glenn Layton. He offers the following practical advice for recognizing and correcting or better yet, preventing some of the more common problems. Blossom Drop Early season blossoms sometimes fall off as a result of cool night temperatures (below 55 degrees F). During summer months, some blossom drop may also occur when tem peratures exceed 75 degrees. Unfortunately, says Layton, there’s little one can do about the temperature except plant at the proper time. 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Hershey Ave. (Bareville) Leola, Pa. 17540 Phone (717) 656*6898 Hours: Mon. & Tues. by Appointment Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10 to 8; Sat. 10 to 4 Expert tells how Blossom End Rot This con dition, which affects both green and ripe tomatoes, is prevalent on the bottom or blossom end where it appears as a large dry, darkened area. It’s usually more of a problem on the earliest fruits of the season and generally results from moisture stress caused by hot, dry summer weather while the plant is actively growing. Home gardeners can prevent blossom end rot by keeping their plants evenly moist, the extension agent says. Mulching with plastic, straw, bark, dry grass clippings or newspaper will also aid in prevention. Cracking Following a dry spell, warm rainy days may make the tomatoes crack if they expand too fast as they take on more water. Early Blight and Light Blight Both these diseases are caused by fungi which release wind-blown spores. They can infect plants rapidly when conditions are right for their development. Early blight (also called target spot) first appears as small, SPECIALISTS lit: The Ideal Machine For: • POST HOLE DIGGING • INDOOR WORK • BACKHOE WORK -FREE ESTIMATES Gordonville, PA to stop problems with tomatoes irregular, dark brown spots on the leaves. These enlarge into circular spots with target-like markings. Lower leaves are attacked first. The leaf tissue around the spots turns yellow, an 9 when the disease is severe, leaves fall off. If not controlled in the leaf stage, stems and fruit may also be infected. Fruits will develop dark leathery spots near the stem end. Heavy dew or rain favor early blight. Plants already in poor vigor are most susceptible. Plants infected with late blight first develop greenish-black; water-soaked blotches on the leaves. Under moist conditions, these blotches enlarge rapidly. A white, fuzzy fungus growth may also be seen on die undersides of leaves. Infected plants eventually wither and die. Elongated black cankers develop on the stem and leaf stalks. Water-soaked spots develop on fruit, enlarging rapidly and turning a blotchy greenish brown. A whitish mold may cover the infected tissue during moist weather. Late blight is favored by rainy, foggy weather, Layton says. STANDING SEAM ROOFING in 26 guage Galvanized Steel other Materials available THE LONG LASTING ROOF WATER-TIGHT, DOUBLE CRIMPED NO FACE NAILS TO WORK LOOSE <For a Free Estimate On Installed \ Standing Seam • Contact / STRICKLER’S METAL ROOFING Phono (717) 865-3093 or 865-2305 Work Approx. 50 Mile Radius of Lebanon. PA Larry Herr Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 18,1986- To prevent these diseases, plant To prevent losses from soil rot, resistant, adapted varieties. Use grow plants in well-drained soil, only disease-free transplants. And using a mulch or sinking plants to follow a regular fungicide spray keep fruit from touching the schedule. ground. If necessary, follow a 2, 4-D Injury Tomatoes are regular spray schedule, exremely sensitive to 2,4-D weed Sunscale This problem occurs killer, Fumes and spray drift may during hot, dry weather, especially injure plants a half mile or more on staked tomatoes. Large, whitish away. Symptoms include curled, 0 r tan, slightly sunken areas ap twisted and distorted leaves and pear on the fruit. Mold often stems. Leaf margins become wavy ' develops on the surface of affected and frilled. Some blossoms drop areas and the entire fruit may without setting fruit. Tomato fruits later rot. may crack open or develop cat To prevent sunscald, water and face —severe cracking or scarring fertilize plants to keep them on the blossom end. (Cool weather vigorous. Handle fruit carefully, is also believed to contribute to cat wilt Diseases These diseases face on tomatoes). are caused primarily by two soil- To prevent herbicide injury, borne fungi, Fusarium and Ver don’t use 2,4-D near the garden ticillium, which invade plant* area, or spray on windy days, thorugh the root system. Always use a separate sprayer for First symptoms are the fungicides and insecticides than yellowing and death of leaves at that used for weed killers. the bottom of the plant. Then Soil Hot This condition is leaves highe^^|^H|HH| caused by fungi which are dull widespread and commonly present Fusarium in the soil. It frequently occurs likely when fruits lie on the ground, weather, especially when rain or irrigation first fruit^^^^^^^^^^^H water repeatedly splashes soil on gradually wilts Under these conditions, coUapsing.^^^^^^^^^^H tomatoes develop large, rotten open, there^^^^^^^^^H spots which are sometimes sunken streaks and may have alternating bands of The only light and dark brown color. As the is to spots enlarge, they frequently varieties, crack and break open. build-up wise to of to Delawar tereated i« healthier 1 helpful fa tomato (U county exti (451-2506)3 Georgetova We Specialize In Aerial Work Using Our Twin f- Bucket Boom Truck y COI Extends 55 Ft AGI ■SabljH Also Red And We Have Poles In Stock 25 30 35 &45 00/ Pint /O • Credit Toj KAWAi TAKING IT JO 1986 300 cc 4 Stroke Engine Front & Rear Racks Shaft Drive Dual Mode Differential Electric Start Trams l-AM CYCIE SUES IK. Kawasaki Taking It To The Limit! 65 KFL3OO Power For Work Or Play 933 Lititz Pk Lititz, Pa. 717-626-4765
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