I need help identifying and correcting a problem with an Early Girl Tomato Plant. The leaves near the bottom are getting brown irregular spots on them, the edges are brown and the leaf is drying up. In addition the stem going to the leaf is turning black. What is it? How do I save the plant? Any help will be appreciated.

-- Ken Scholl (kennethscholl@msn.com), April 22, 2001

Answers

Sounds like blight. If you use chemicals in your garden, Daconil can be used as a treatment. An organic freindlier fungicide is to spray with a mixture of baking soda and water. Also if its only one plant it may be better to remove it before treating the others. Some articles that I have read in Organic Gardening suggests layering an area of compost around the base of plants to help against fungus and blights also.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 23, 2001.