Temperatures of below 60 degrees Fahrenheit [16 degrees Celsius] for several consecutive days before bloom may result in tomato catfacing. Other factors like physical trauma, herbicides containing phenoxy, excess nitrogen, and aggressive pruning may also result in this defect. Tomato catfacing is not a disease, it is a physiological defect that results in abnormal cavity…
Do you have a tomato plant full of green tomato fruits with no sign of turning red? This can be quite a frustrating experience, especially when frost is fast approaching. So, why are tomatoes not turning red? Tomato fruits won’t turn red when the temperatures are not conducive. Overfeeding and overwatering the plant can also…
Seed germination is the first step in tomato gardening. This is a process where a mature seed breaks open to develop roots, stem, and leaves under ideal conditions. Under normal conditions, tomato seed takes 6 to 10 days to germinate. Viable seeds require optimum soil moisture content, temperature, humidity, and proper air circulation for successful…
The main aim of planting tomatoes is to get the maximum yields possible. You may want to remove the unnecessary suckers and leaves for the plant to maximize the use of nutrients towards productions of fruits Selectively removing unwanted plant growth from indeterminate tomatoes can help to improve production and the taste of the harvested…
Those eggshells you are tossing in the garbage after preparing breakfast can be turned into something useful in your garden. If you are practicing either outdoor or indoor tomato gardening, there are several ways you can use the eggshells to give your plants a nutritional boost, as well as improve the condition of the soil….
Growing two or more plants within the same area is referred to as inter-planting or companion planting. Many plants can complement each other well when grown together. However, there are those that can create harm to each other when interplanted. So, can you plant tomatoes and peppers together? Yes, tomatoes and peppers can be grown…
Is everyone in your family using coffee and disposing of the used coffee grounds in the garbage? Something positive can come out of collecting the grounds. They are high in nitrogen and can be reused as a fertilizer in your tomato garden. Its smell can also deter some pests from destroying your plants. Coffee grounds…
It is quite unfortunate and disappointing for a gardener to raise a tomato plant, then suddenly it starts to wilt and die before producing the fruits. A tomato plant can die prematurely due to lack of water, viral and fungal infections, lack of nutrients, inadequate light, pests, and toxicity. However, a dying tomato plant can…
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the male part of the flower, called the stamen, to the female part known as the pistil. Flowers can be male, female, or complete. A tomato plant has a complete flower. This means that it has both male and female parts within the same flower. This simply…
Blight is a fungal disease that commonly affects tomato plants. It thrives well in damp and warm conditions. It systematically destroys the plant by killing the leaves, stems, and fruit tissues. Without treatment, this infection can be detrimental. Dark spots on the tomato leaves, stems, and fruits are the telltale signs that your plants may…