What to do if a tomato has a black leg - effective means to save tomatoes

Perhaps one of the most common causes of death of tomatoes is a black leg. As the name implies, in an infected plant, one can observe the thinning of the root stem, and then its rot and death. What leads to a disease of culture, and how to deal with it?

Causes of Tomato Disease

There are only two reasons that can lead to the death of a plant:

• fungal diseases of the soil. This reason is the most probable. If you notice a darkening of the stem of seedlings, then, most likely, it is in the soil. Mushrooms are pathogens of a plant disease. They do not manifest themselves immediately, but only when factors arise that allow them to actively reproduce. Under favorable conditions, pathogens first infect small areas, and then affect the entire seedlings;
• the second reason, which occurs much less frequently, is sprout flies. Blackening of the legs of tomatoes occurs due to the fact that the insect larvae, being in the soil, feed on the roots of the plant. The source of larvae of germ flies is compost made from animal humus.

The death of the plant occurs faster if favorable factors influence the pathogen. Among them:

• increased soil moisture;
• frequent planting (dense planting);
• lack of lighting;
• a sharp drop in temperature;
• insufficient ventilation of the greenhouse;
• excess fertilizer.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a plant disease are clear from its name:

• at the very beginning of the development of the disease, the stalk of the plant darkens to a brown color;
• then in the place of darkening you can notice an abscess;
• further, the lower part of the stem becomes soft, wateriness appears;
• as a result, the seedling breaks in the place of the abscess.

Treatment

In the event that a black leg on tomatoes has already appeared, it is necessary to resort to competent treatment. For many years of struggle with the death of plants, summer residents have identified for themselves some effective methods.

Chemical treatment

The first thing to do is to plant healthy seedlings from already infected ones. After that, you can start treatment.

To help combat the pest, they most often turn to the following drugs:

• Baktofit;
• Fundazole;
• Phytolavine;
• Planriz;
• Fitosporin.

Each of these remedies is antifungal. They are all effective in treating plants, but the leader in the operation is Fitosporin.

This drug is a natural biological product. Unlike many other means, it is not chemistry. And the principle of its action is the work of beneficial bacteria that can absorb the causative agent of the disease.

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Fitosporin can also be used to treat soil and seeds.

Treatment with folk remedies

Some summer residents, not wanting to process plants with special means, resort to folk methods. So, they advise several ways to combat rotting plants:

• onion infusion;
• vodka diluted with water;
• manganese solution;
• baking soda solution.

Resistant varieties

A good crop also depends on the plant variety you choose.It is best to opt for fungal resistant tomatoes. Among them are Spartak F1, Virtuoso F1, The Little Prince, Orange Giant, Agatha, Ranetochka and others.

Disease prevention

Proper prevention is the key to success in growing a healthy vegetable.

Seed preparation

It is better to start preparing seeds with their choice. In order not to think about whether the plant will become infected with a black leg, get fungus resistant varieties.

Then treat the tomato seeds with a manganese solution or pour over them with hot boiling water. So, you can be sure that all spores of fungi will be destroyed.

Land preparation

If pathogens are not present in the soil, you will not have to worry about the black leg. To completely exclude the pores of the fungus in the soil, it is necessary to properly prepare it:

• in the fall, prepare the ground on which no tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers have ever been planted before, and leave it outside for the whole winter to freeze;
• in the spring, just before planting the seeds, warm this earth in an oven or oven to 130 degrees for half an hour;
• if for some reason you cannot warm the soil, steam it with very hot water;
• next, determine the location of tomato planting and pour it with manganese solution;
• after germination of the sprouts, lay on the ground a 2-centimeter layer of wood ash.

Advice

Proper care will help to forget about the death of tomatoes. It is necessary to consider several recommendations:

• in the first it is very necessary to remember that it cannot be shared with seedlings. Plant them at a distance from each other;
• ensure regular ventilation of the greenhouse with tomatoes;
• water the plant only in the morning to avoid excess moisture;
• observe optimum temperature conditions. Tomatoes feel good at a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees.

Simple recommendations will help you avoid such an unpleasant disease of tomatoes as a black leg. Pay attention to the preparation of seedlings and soil, as well as caring for the plant. And in order not to worry about the vulnerability of tomatoes to the fungus, get varieties resistant to infection.