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(Now thru Sept 11)
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2501 E. Cumberland St
Philadelphia, PA 19125

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Our Local Initiative for Food Education (LIFE) program is a community driven food share for households in zip 19125 receiving SNAP benefits. Learn more...

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My tomato leaves turn brown. What can I do?

A question from one of our members... goes like this:

 

I hope you can help me.  For YEARS,  I've been planting Juliet tomatoes.  The plants ALWAYS grow to me oven 6ft. tall, and the tomatoes just keep coming and  coming and coming...  However,  for the past two years,  around the middle of August,  the leaves, starting from the bottom of the plants, start to turn brown and crumbly,  and this continues to progress upwards to the top of the plant. How can I prevent this from happening again this year,  for a 3rd year in a row? I live in the 19125 zip code,  in a row house,  the tomatoes are in the ground,  and in full sun all day.  Because of the way my yard is situated, there's nothing I can do about the sun exposure.  The yard is small,  and there's only one small patch of soil. Am I overwatering???  Should I just wet the soil, or the soil and the entire plant , when I water? Is it better to water tomatoes in the morning, or in the evening?  How often, since they're exposed to full sun from sunrise to sundown? Are used coffee grounds good to use around the tomato plants since the alley cats consider my yard to be their own personal litter box, and the squirrels think my yard is a free for all buffet?  How do I keep the squirrels from stealing my tomatoes,  or  just taking bites of them while still on the vine? ANY help you can offer me will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!


I believe you have what is called   Septoria leaf spot  wihch is caused by the fungus Septoria lycopersici. This fungus can attack tomatoes at any stage. begins on the oldest leaves and works its way up. It is a fungal disease in all likelyhood cause from replanting your tomatoes in the same spot year after year (due to your space limitations). There is fungus left on the ground from the previous year that splashes up to the underside of the leaves , catches and grows.

Staking and mulching can also help reduce infections. Staking increases air circulation and helps to dry the leaves-this reduces favorable conditions for infection. Mulching acts as a barrier between the soil (containing infected fragments of plant debris) and the tomato and prevents splashing of spores onto the lower leaves. This is often the primary way the disease gets started each season. Since you cannot move your plants it appears the only answer is to insure that you remove all debris from previous years plants, redig and dig as deeply as you can and add healthy compost to your soil in the fall. I hope this helps.

 



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