Tomato Blight and Leaf Spot
Tomato leaves rarely stay perfect all season in Alabama.
Warm, humid weather favors several fungal and bacterial diseases.
Common Symptoms
Look for:
- Brown spots
- Yellowing lower leaves
- Dark lesions
- Concentric rings
- Leaf drop
- Stem lesions
Different diseases can look similar.
Early Blight
Early blight often begins on older lower leaves.
Spots may show:
- Dark concentric rings
- Yellow tissue around lesions
Septoria Leaf Spot
Septoria commonly causes:
- Numerous small round spots
- Tan or gray centers
- Dark margins
Lower leaves are often affected first.
Bacterial Spots
Bacterial diseases can create:
- Dark leaf spots
- Fruit lesions
- Rapid spread in wet weather
Reduce Soil Splash
Mulch around tomatoes.
This helps keep soil-borne disease organisms from splashing onto lower leaves.
Water at Soil Level
Use:
- Drip irrigation
- Soaker hose
Avoid frequent overhead watering.
Improve Airflow
Space plants properly.
Prune only where appropriate and avoid stripping too much foliage.
Remove Diseased Leaves
Remove heavily infected lower leaves when practical.
Do not handle wet plants unnecessarily.
Rotate Crops
Avoid planting tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant in the same bed year after year.
They share many diseases.
Resistant Varieties
Choose disease-resistant cultivars when available.
GardenGrowz Tip
In humid Southern gardens, prevention is usually easier than trying to reverse a severe tomato disease outbreak.