Tomato is one of the most popular and widely used vegetables in the world. Tomato plants can grow on every ground that has a good structure and water housekeeping. In terms of mass production, tomato yields is highly seasonal. Farmers and gardeners seldom plant tomatoes during rainy season due to high risks exposure on garden flooding and prevalence of pests and tomato plants diseases.

Tomato plants may suffer blooms that keep falling off without production of fruit could be caused by Blossom End Rot, a Fruit Rot – A mold growing inside tomatoes as they ripen but outside the tomatoes are healthy, or Early Blight – Leaves that curl up, turn a yellowish brown color and almost look like black spot found on rose bushes.Early blight is a fungus. Dark brown to black spots on the leafs with concentric rings, usually starting on the lower leaves. Leaves can turn yellow and drop off the plant.

Various research groups around the glove in the plant industry have conducted a painstaking research, and studied on how to improve tomato production especially during off-season. In the Philippines, researchers at the Bureau of Plant Industry in Los Banos National Crop Research and Development, a research laboratory based in Los Banos Laguna, have discovered a

new technology for tomato off-season production. This new tomato off-season production technology is now being commercialized in the region.

Tomato growers, farmers and gardeners who wants to earn more from tomato harvested during rainy season, may find this technology beneficial. Even the hobbyist gardeners may find this tomato off-season production technology, enjoyable, as they continuously plant tomatoes in pots, boxes, or any available containers, for easy and accessible fresh tomato yields during

mealtime.

Grafting tomato on eggplant rootstock is one way of eliminating bacterial wilt, which is a very destructive disease of tomato. Research showed that grafted tomatoes in the eggplant rootstock yielded a 21% higher than the ordinary tomato seedlings. The grafting process is simple. Sow seeds of eggplant for rootstock 5-7 days ahead of tomatoes. Graft when eggplant is 3-4 weeks old. Cut the stock and scion ( the same size ) with a sterilized blade at 70-80 degree angles above the first two leaves (the cotyledon). Insert rubber tubing, 10mm long and 1-1.5 cm diameter on the stock allowing the cut portion of the scion or splice to get in touch with each other. Set the grafter plants inside the humidity chamber and transfer seedlings in a cool dry place with complete black net cover for 4-7 days. The seedlings are then ready for transplanting.

The eggplant variety used for rootstock is EG-203 which known and identified to be very highly resistant to bacterial wilt and other soil-borne tomato plant disease organisms.

The tomato variety for scion must be an indeterminate type wherein trellis must be provided for favorable vegetable development.

Try this tomato off-season production technology and enjoy a fruitful tomatoes growing on eggplant rootstock.

Tomatoes are notoriously picky plants. Tomatoes are in the potato family, which makes them susceptible to tens, if not hundreds of pest and disease problems; however, that should not stop any tomato loving gardener from harvesting buckets of healthy tomatoes. The key is to learn how to prevent, diagnose and treat tomato problems.

Tomato Disease Prevention

Disease prevention in tomato plants starts with healthy growing practices. Preparing the soil, watering properly, and feeding appropriately are all keys to tomato disease prevention. Tomatoes like a well draining soil filled with lots of organic matter. Tomato roots penetrate deeply into the soil, helping to stabilize plants and take up water. With well-prepared soil, watering deeply and infrequently—every 4-6 days, will allow the tomato plant to have enough water, without putting the plant at risk of problems of overly “wet feet.” Always water in the morning, so plant leaves have time to dry during the day. Leaves are a perfect spot for disease incubation, and water ripens those conditions even more. Prune your plants to provide air flow through the leaves and branches, which will also aid drying time. Ensure that your tomato plants receive proper nutrition by conducting a soil test, and treating the soil according to the results. All of these practices will give your plants a good start fighting off diseases and pests.

Diagnosing Tomato Pests and Diseases

If all of your well-intentioned cultivation practices have not stopped your plants from succumbing to a problem, then you must diagnose the problem. Tomatoes can suffer from pest problems, nutrition problems, viral, bacterial and fungal problems.

Pest damage to tomato plants causes visible physical changes. Cutworms actually cut off the plant from its root system, causing the plant to wilt and die. Aphid damage results in sticky residue on the plant. Aside from the damage they inflict, you can often see the pest itself on the plant. Caterpillars bury into fruit and eat it, causing fruit to rot. Whiteflies and spider mites are visible on the leaves. Diagnosing pest problems is easier than other problems because most pests can be observed on the plant.

Nutrition problems in tomato plants manifest in several areas of the plant. Tomatoes absorb a wide variety of nutrients, minerals and trace elements from garden soil. Deficiencies in each nutrient result in specific symptoms in the plant. Excess nitrogen causes deep green, lush, leafy plants with little fruit. Nitrogen deficiency causes yellowing of lower leaves. Calcium deficiency causes blossom end rot, a common problem on tomato fruit characterized by yellow, leathery spots that spread into black, rotting patches on the blossom end of the fruit. (The end away from the stem.) Nutrition problems can be seasonal, or soil related. A soil test helps determine what nutrients are lacking in the soil. If all nutrients are in the soil, factors such as overly wet or cold soil can make it more difficult for plants to absorb nutrients.

Viruses, bacteria and fungus all cause tomato diseases and problems. Wilts, damping off, leaf spots, mildew, fruit rot, cankers, and leaf mosaic problems are all common tomato problems caused by a cocktail of tiny organisms. Each problem shows in the tomato in different ways. Leaf mosaic viruses show up in leaves, causing mosaic-like patterns. Cankers are growths on stems, leaves or fruit. Root rot often shows up in the leaves of the plant, as they shrivel and die from not having enough water. For a comprehensive, pictorial guide on diagnosing tomato plant pests and diseases, consult How to Grow Tasty Juicy Tomatoes (available from www.bestjuicytomatoes.com).

Treating Tomato Pest and Disease Problems

The phrase: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely applies to tomato growing. As earlier related, properly caring for tomato plants and their soil prevents many problems. However, should your plants fall prey to a problem, there are many ways to treat.

First, correctly diagnose the problem. Once diagnosis is certain, follow procedures related to the particular problem. Many plant problems can be alleviated by changing gardening techniques. Plants that are stressed are more susceptible to pest and disease problems. Examine watering, mulching, and feeding practices. If those techniques are in balance, many pest and disease problems will go away. Nutrition deficiencies may be corrected by adding correct nutrients to the soil in easily accessible forms. Some nutrients are best delivered as leaf or soil drenches, while others work well in time-release granular applications. Pest problems can be corrected with beneficial insects, changes in gardening techniques, and insecticides-both synthetic and organic. Viral, bacterial and fungal problems can also be treated with a combination of gardening techniques and soil and plant drenches and sprays. Safety is an important consideration when applying any sort of pesticide. Read the label carefully and follow all directions. More is not better when pesticides are concerned.

While all of this information can seem daunting, tomato growing is a rewarding hobby. Keep a good reference on hand, and whenever your plants are under the weather, open the book and identify the problem. How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes contains over 260 colored photos of diseases, pests and common nutrition deficiencies and is a must-have for any top-notch tomato grower!