What Causes the Wilt in Tomato Plants?
Tomato plant wilt can be a sign of a serious problem that may require the disposal of the entire plant, or it could be caused by a less severe issue. No matter what, the cause of the tomato plant wilt must be identified and remedied quickly to prevent the loss of the plant.
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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 1 inch of water per week. In the absence of sufficient moisture, the tomato will plants will wilt, shrink and die.
Too Much Water
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Water also can be the cause of tomato plant wilt. Overwatering plants potted in containers without sufficient drainage or watering the plants from above late in the day when the leaves have insufficient time to dry can allow mold to set in, causing the leaves to wilt.
Warning
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If you notice that, in addition to wilt, the fruits of the plant have green or brown rings on them, you may have a case of tomato spotted wilt virus. Plants infected with this virus need to be disposed of and burned to prevent its spread to other tomato plants.
Weeds
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Tomato plants that are being 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.
Planting Note
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Tomatoes planted in the soil and not in pots 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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