Extreme heat, drought, torrential rains and hungry critters may be wreaking havoc on your garden.
After weeding, watering and waiting you may be finding fewer, diseased or misshapen tomatoes. Don't give up. Make a few adjustments in garden maintenance to boost the current and future tomato harvests.
Blossom end rot is a common problem on the first set of fruit. It's due to a calcium deficiency often caused by fluctuations in soil moisture frequently seen on the first set of fruit and those grown in containers.
Always water thoroughly to encourage a deep, robust root system. Adjust your watering as needed and mulch the soil to help keep it consistently moist. Have your soil tested before adding any calcium fertilizer. Avoid overfertilization and don't use ammonium-based nitrogen fertilizers on tomatoes.
Fortunately, it is safe to eat the firm red portion of the affected tomato. Since this is a physiological disorder, not a disease or insect problem, you can cut off the black portion and toss it into the compost pile.
Cracked fruit is also common in the garden. Fluctuating temperatures, moisture stress and improper fertilization result in irregular development of the fruit that results in cracking. You can't change the weather, but you can reduce the risk of this problem with thorough, less frequent watering to encourage deep roots. And just like blossom end rot, mulch the soil to keep it evenly moist and be sure to avoid root damage.
Several fungal diseases, such as early and late blight, septoria leaf spot and anthracnose, can cause spots on the leaves and fruit of tomatoes. Minimize the problem by rotating your plantings whenever possible. Move your tomatoes to an area of the garden where unrelated crops, such as beans, lettuce or onions, grew the previous season.
Mulching the soil also helps keep soil-borne fungal spores off the plant. Water early in the day if possible. Apply the water directly to the soil with a soaker hose, drip irrigation or a watering wand to reduce the risk of disease.
Properly space and stake or tower your tomato plants to promote healthier growth and reduce the risk of disease. Remove any volunteer tomatoes that sprout and crowd out the current season's planting.
Remove weeds as they appear. Many serve as hosts for insect pests and diseases and compete with tomato plants for water and nutrients. Removing them before they flower and set seed eliminates hundreds of weeds you would need to pull next year. Always clean up and dispose of disease-infected plant material in the fall.
If you choose to use a fungicide, select one labeled for food crops and apply it at the first sign of the disease. Repeat applications are usually needed. Be sure to read and follow all label directions carefully whether using organic, natural or synthetic fungicides.
Enjoy this year's harvest and continue to make any needed changes now and in the future to boost your gardening success. And as a gardener, you know there is always next year.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including "The Midwest Gardener's Handbook" and "Small Space Gardening." She hosts the Great Courses' "How to Grow Anything" DVD series and the syndicated "Melinda's Garden Moment" program on TV and radio.
