To a gardener their is nothing any better than to see a garden full of bright and juicy tomatoes. If you want to grow plants that yield high volumes of tasty, healthy fruit you will need to educate yourself on common problems and how to fix them when growing tomato plants.

Plant disease is probably the most common problem that growers encounter and it is inevitable that you will experience it too. By arming yourself with the knowledge to combat these problems you will ensure yourself a bountiful crop come harvest time however.

What you must understand is that different areas are more prone to specific plant diseases so in order to avoid a disaster you need to pick a variety of tomato plant that is resistant to the diseases common in your area. These types of disease are not fatal at all and if you pay close attention and fight them early they can easily be eradicated.

Gray leaf spots are one of the most common problems that growers encounter. It begins with the appearance of the spots on the oldest leaves the plant has. They will soon spread to all the leaves as well and then start to turn a brown color. Soon after the brown spots will dry and crack before falling out leaving holes in the leaves. After the holes appear it doesn’t take long for the rest of the leaves to turn yellow, dry up and fall off too.

If you happen to be presented with this particular disease you can be assured that your plants will not produce any fruit. The best way to get rid of the problem is by removing any affected leaves as soon as possible. Pick up the dead leaves that have already fallen to the ground as well. During this time you will also need to keep the plant away from wet and warm conditions to prevent further spread of the disease.

Another disease that is quite typical is something known as Early Blight. The leaves, stems and fruit will all be affected by this particular disease. It begins as dark colored rings near the central area of the plant and then turns the plant yellow right before it dies. Problems in the soil are usually what brings this about, more often than not in areas where tomatoes have bee grown before. Clean the area of all plant debris, remove affected plants and spray with either copper or sulfur to combat the problem.

Light blight is also a problem frequently encountered. It affects the leaves and fruits of the plant and spreads more quickly during colder months. The disease will be present by spots appearing on the plant with a greasy appearance. These spots may also be present on the fruit itself. These spots will soon have mold appear around the edges of them. Spraying with copper and cleaning any falling plant pieces from the area can help keep the problem under control.

Another form of blight known as Southern blight appears as a white mold on the stems close to the soil. The stems will start to get dark spots as well. This particular disease prevents the plant from taking in water and needed nutrients so as a result the plant may fall over from weakness. To avoid the problem you can use fertilizer with ammonium and adding calcium to the plants.

Knowing how to avoid common problems like this can help you to grow stronger and healthier plants that will yield a great harvest for you the whole season. Education is key to be a good gardener so you know how to solve problems when they do occur.