Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

8/12/04

Contacts:
Dustin Paulson, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-2710, dustin84@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

For the week of August 9, 2004

You Say TO-MAY-TOE and I say TAH-MOTT-TOE

By Dustin Paulson
Reiman Gardens' Intern
Iowa State University

The tomato has delighted thousands of people with its unique pronunciations and atypical classification as a "fruit." However, you do not really know tomatoes until you have eaten one freshly picked from the vine. Given the devotion to tomatoes, there is a lot you can do beyond spraying chemicals and offering hopes and prayers to ensure a bountiful harvest.

This week, Reiman's Pick focuses on non-chemical and best practices to control diseases that devastate and defoliate prized tomato plants, no matter how you say it.
Control begins when planning your annual vegetable garden. Each year remember to rotate the location of your garden crops. Rotation and fall tilling will reduce the incidence of fungal organisms that can infect plants the following season.

Next, give the plants plenty of room to grow. Adequate spacing will allow proper air circulation and keep the foliage dry.

Proper plant selection is also important. Purchase healthy plants from reputable sources. Inspect the foliage on the young transplants. Make sure it is dark green, healthy and free of disease lesions.

Watering techniques also are critical to the health of your tomato plants. If possible, water the soil around the plant and avoid wetting the leaves or, water early in the day so foliage will dry before evening. Tomato foliage diseases spread rapidly when the leaves are wet for prolonged periods. Additionally, make it a point to keep the watering regimen consistent, using deep soakings to encourage root growth.

Weeding is another vital practice in keeping your tomato plants healthy. Weeds shade garden crops and steal water and nutrients from the soil, resulting in weakened plants that are more susceptible to disease. Pull weeds when they are small so that they come out easily and do not disturb the roots of nearby garden crops.

Because it is frustrating to lose garden plants to disease, early detection and diagnosis are important. Inspect your plants often. If tomato leaves turn yellow due to fungal organisms, do not be afraid to remove infected leaves from the plant and the garden. This will reduce the source of inoculum that could infect other leaves.

At the end of the growing season, remove dead tomato plants from the garden. Debris from the dead plants can harbor disease organisms that will infect next year's tomato crop.

Using good practices in your garden will allow your tomatoes to grow disease-free and be productive until the first fall frost. If you have problems or questions about your tomatoes or other garden crops, call the Iowa State University Extension Hortline at (515) 294-3108. The Hortline is available weekdays between 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.

No matter how you spell it or pronounce it, you will enjoy seeing the vegetables and fruits growing in the Home Production Garden at Reiman Gardens.

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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 488K. Caption: Foliage diseases on tomatoes can be devastating. Keep them in check using practices such as proper variety selection, plant spacing, watering practices, weed control and frequent inspection.

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