Slow Growth & Tomatoes

Disease

• Tomatoes are not immune to disease and may be affected by diseases of the bacterial, fungal and viral varieties. Diseases often infecting tomatoes include wilt, blight and rot. Aside from slow or stunted growth, signs of disease include discoloration, drooping stems or leaves and dropped leaves. Once your tomato disease is identified, treat immediately with antibacterial, anti-viral or anti-fungal plant medication. Remove diseased plants from areas containing healthy plants. If the disease is recognized and treated quickly, there is a chance that your plants will recover and get growing in no time.

Pests

• Pests such as insects often infest tomato plants, wreaking havoc on the fruit and foliage of the plants. White flies, aphids, thrips, beetles and mites are only a few of the pests known to damage tomatoes. These pests feed on the fruit, leaves and stems of the plants. This often causes the plants to slow down in growth as they try to recover under the stress of the pests. Treat pests with insecticides, natural remedies or soap sprays. Once pests are treated, tomato plants should recover and begin growing normally.

Moisture

• Tomatoes require plenty of water to stay hydrated and strong as they grow. Over-watering or under-watering often causes stunted growth in tomatoes. Furthermore, poorly draining soil may be the cause of stunted growth, as the plants sit continuously in standing water. Proper watering procedure for tomatoes is to water daily until soil is moist. Another option is to soak the plants weekly, allowing the water to keep the plants moist for a week at a time. Soil should never be allowed to go soggy, muddy, damp or excessively dry. If you are unsure whether to water you tomatoes, insert your finger into the soil. If the soil feels moist, tomatoes do not need water. If soil feels dry, water immediately.

Fertilization

• Tomatoes are known as heavy feeders, meaning the plants grow quickly and need extra nourishment to keep up with their rapid growth rate. A lack of adequate nutrition often leads to problems such as stunted or slow growth of tomatoes. Work an organic fertilizer such as peat moss, compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting tomatoes. After planting, fertilize tomatoes every one to two weeks with a well-balanced, nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Properly fertilizing your tomatoes normalizes their growth rate and helps them to produce a bountiful harvest.