Overwatering of Tomato Plants

Overwatering tomato plants can result in split fruit.

Tomato plants are a staple of any vegetable garden, but overwatering is a cause of issues such as poorly-formed fruit, yellowing leaves, and root rot. In some cases, symptoms of overwatering such as brown leaves mimic drought symptoms, leading to more overwatering.

Types

Overwatering a tomato plant can cause problems like root rot, while also causing symptoms in a plant that look like disease, such as yellowing leaves, leaf-tip burn, and wilted, droopy leaves. Under-watering can cause similar symptoms.

Considerations

Other factors combined with overwatering can create completely different problems. One example of this is overwatering tomato plants during cloudy and humid weather, which can cause oedema, a collection of fluid in the leaf veins, causing little bumps. A combination of overwatering and under-watering can also cause the tomatoes to crack.

Prevention/Solution

Tomato plants should be allowed to dry out slightly before watering again. If the top inch of soil has dried, it's time to water. Thoroughly soak tomato plants when watering, but don't water again until the top inch of soil is dry.

References

• How to Gardening Guide: Know When to Water Your Tomatoes
• North Carolina State University: Tomato Plant Physiological Disorders: Causes, Prevention and Remedies

Resources

• Colorado State University: Recognizing Tomato Problems