Root Rot in Tomato Plants

Signs of Root Rot

• Recognize root rot on your tomato plants by any shrinkage of the roots and lower stems and the appearance of reddish-brown spots. Theses spots grow until they encompass the stem or root. The root system's size gradually reduces, the leaves turn yellow and brown and they fall off. Eventually, the tomato plant dies.

Soil

• The first step to preventing tomato root rot is preparing the soil properly. Tomato plants don't like wet feet. Standing water around the tomato plant's root system creates the ideal breeding ground for root-rot fungi. Improve your waterlogged soil's drainage by adding sand or organic matter. Also, keep the pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Root rot loves acidic soils.

Watering

• Tomatoes do not like to sit in water and therefore should only be watered 1 to 2 inches once a week. One thorough soaking is preferred over frequent, light waterings so that the roots have plenty of time to dry out, and thus prevent root rot. Once the tomato plant is established, add mulch to the base of the plant so water doesn't evaporate too quickly.

Pest-Resistant Tomatoes

• The easiest way to avoid root rot in your tomato plants is to plant root rot resistant tomato varieties. Look for varieties that are marked with "VFN," which indicates that it is resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt and root-knot nematode. For small fruit varieties, look for Small Fry VFN, Supersweet 100 VF, Patio VF and Cherry Grande VF. The giant beefsteak varieties to look for are Big Beef VFNT, Beefmaster VFN, and Burpee Supersteak VFN. And medium to large tomato varieties to look for are Lemon Boy VFN, Better Boy VFN, Enchantment VFN and Abraham Lincoln Improved VFN.

Ridding Root Rot

• Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for root rot, and consequently, when a plant becomes infected, it is doomed. Prevention is key. Obtain transplants or seeds from reputable growers or retailers to safeguard against infected plants. When planting the tomato transplants, plant them at the recommended spacing to ensure sufficient air circulation. Also, don't overwater, keep the soil pH above 6.0 and don't plant where the disease existed before. The fungus can persist for several years in the soil, air, on dead plant material, on infected plants and on the roots of alternative hosts. Plant other crops that are not bothered by fusarium fungus in the infected area instead.