If you have some problems growing well formed, and blemish-free tomatoes you may not be alone.

The Tomato Problems
Some of the more common tomato problems are Leaf Spots and Fruit Rots which are caused by fungus, virus and bacteria.

Some of the tomato problems arise not from micro organisms but from what is termed “physiological” disorders which are commonly caused by poor growing environmental factors and an inadequacy in management of the crop by the producer.

By becoming more skillful as a gardener you will improve the environment in which your plants will be grown and in no time you will have taken positive steps to reduce and eliminate the above tomato growing problems.

Blossom End Rot Enemy # 1
If your tomato plants have brown or black round or large and leathery areas near the end of the fruit then they may be the victim of Blossom End Rot disease.  This disease is due to a lack of calcium in the developing tomato fruit.

Lots of wet weather or variances in the moisture in the soil and high humidity are also come contributing factors to Blossom End Rot.

The disease begins at the blossom end of your green tomato plant and can be first seen as a dark greenish, water soaked spot. It can grow to cover well over half of your tomato plant

Other environmental facts that may contribute to this condition is that when the vine growths fast at the beginning of the season, the growth spurt will cause the calcium to be diverted from the tomato fruit

Slow Root Growth
If the plant’s root system does not grow property then there will be a reduction of water and calcium that the plant receives and thereby Blossom End Rot disease will take hold.

A poor root development is generally created when you dig too deep around your tomato plant or by planting the small seedlings too early in soil that is too cold or by planting too early in the tomato planting season.

The Cures for Blossom End Rot
The best way to avoid and minimize Blossom End Rot condition is to improve the amount of moisture in your soil.  You can do this by using Mulch, like black plastic, newspapers or even black plastic. Mulches are used to keep your soil temperature and moisture levels at optimum and moderate levels

Mulches are also useful in helping to prevent pests from infiltrating your crops and mulches are also helpful in keeping your tomato and other fruit clean

Black Plastic Mulch
By using black plastic Mulch early in the season, it will assist in warming the colder spring soils. The other types of Mulches can be placed in the soil later in the growing season when the soils have had a chance to warm up.

Also be sure to water your plants often and water them deep.  About 1 inch of water per week is more than enough for most tomato plants.

Be sure your tomato garden is in an area that has good drainage, a good and fertile soil and that the soil is neither too dry nor too wet.

Fertilize Your Tomato Garden
It is extremely important that you fertilize your garden moderately. Be sure to do a soil test at regular intervals to be sure that the level of soil nutrition is at a satisfactory level.

Do not use fertilizers that are high in Nitrogen in order to keep the soils pH at optimum levels.  Your local nursery should have soil testing kits complete with instructions and other helpful hints about how to maintain your soils nutrition.

Other Tomato Problems To Watch Out For

Cracking which is due to the tomato growing too fast especially after a long dry period.

To prevent the cracking problems you should try to find resistant types of tomatoes and try to maintain the soil’s moisture at an even condition.

Catfacing or scarring is due to swelling and some scar tissues which come from abnormal developments of the plant’s flower at the time of blossoming. Cooling and cooler weather conditions are thought to create these problems in the plant’s flower.