I have received several calls this week about tomato plants and how to deal with diseases and fungus affecting them.

So I think it is appropriate to discuss this more in depth and answer a few of the general questions.

Q. What are some common tomato problems I should watch for in my home garden?

Water Wilt — This is a common problem for many gardeners who over water their tomatoes or plants in areas with poor drainage.

Tomatoes like water like all vegetables, but when over-watered they suffer from “water wilt.”

This can be diagnosed when tomato leaves start to wilt on the top of the plant initially. Usually three or four days of extreme wetness will result in plant loss.

Therefore, I recommend planting your tomatoes in an area with good drainage or consider planting in a raised-row garden. Try to monitor how much water is supplied to your tomatoes; they need about one inch of water each week either in the form of rain or irrigation.

Blossom-End Rot- Signs of this begin with slight discoloration and fruits showing water soaked appearance.

The damaged area grows rapidly, forming dark brown or black blotches on the bottom of the fruit. The area slowly dries out and becomes leathery. Calcium deficiencies or extreme variations in water supply are common causes of this, it is more severe in plants receiving overdoses of nitrogen fertilizers.

First, monitor the soil’s moisture and use proper watering practices. If symptoms appear, spraying calcium chloride, which can be found at most garden supply stores, will help prevent further development but will not cure affected fruits.

If you do not have mulch now you may consider mulching around tomatoes to maintain uniform soil moisture conditions. Remove fruits showing symptoms when the problem is first diagnosed.

This does not prevent future cases, but by removing infected fruits that consume nutrients this allows the plant to allocate nutrients to fruits that are not affected. If problems continue to exist, a soil analysis should be conducted.

Q. What diseases harm tomatoes and how can I prevent them?

There are many diseases that affect homegrown tomatoes and there is not enough room in this column to discuss each.

However here are some important things to know to help with managing tomatoes in you garden.

Many of the diseases affecting tomatoes are caused by fungus that live in the soil and may remain there for many years even after infected tomatoes have been removed. So if you have problems with tomatoes in a specific area one year, I recommend you plant in another area of your yard or garden the following year and cultivate the soil deeply to bury any remaining fungus.

When purchasing tomatoes, look on the tag or label and choose varieties with “VFN” letters on the label. These varieties are resistant to Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, and root-knot nematodes which cause problems in many gardens.

However, one of the easiest ways to control for many of these diseases and problems and perhaps one of the easiest options is to simply plant tomatoes in patio containers.

Once again, I urge you to look at the Mississippi Extension Service website at www.msucares.com for additional information on tomato diseases, treatment options, or information.

Please call the Adams County Extension Office at 601-445-8201 or e-mail dcarter@ext.msstate.edu if you have a question you would like to see addressed next week.

David Carter is the director of the Adams County Extension Service. He can be reached at dcarter@ext.msstate.edu.