Reasons for Tomato Plants Wilting
Tomato plant wilt can be a sign of a serious problem which requires the disposal of the entire plant or it may be caused by a less severe issue. No matter what, the cause of tomato plant wilt must be identified and remedied quickly to prevent the loss of the plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Lack Of Water
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The primary reason for tomato plant wilt in hot dry climates is lack of water. In order to thrive, tomato plants need approximately one inch of water per week. In the absence of sufficient moisture, the tomato will plants will wilt, shrink and die.
Misconceptions
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Water can also be the cause of tomato plant wilt. Over watering plants potted in containers without sufficient drainage or watering above can cause mold to set in, causing the leaves to wilt.
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Weeds
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Tomato plants that are crowded by weeds often suffer from wilt. This is not caused by the weeds themselves but from an insect called the stalk borer which lives on weeds and likes to bore into the stalks of healthy tomato plants. Removing the weeds and damaged areas of the plant will remedy the wilt.
Warning
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If you notice that in addition to wilt the fruits of the plant has green or brown rings on it, this is tomato spotted wilt virus. Plants that are infected with this virus need to be disposed of and burned to prevent the spread of the virus to other plants.
Location
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Tomatoes planted in the ground should not be located within 100 feet of a black walnut tree. Black walnuts produce a toxic chemical that is deadly to tomatoes, causing the plants to slowly wilt and die.
Prevention/Solution
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In most cases, it is best to completely remove and destroy wilted tomato plants rather than risk spreading fungus, disease or pests to healthy ones.
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