Common Cherry Tomato Plant Diseases:
How to Identify and Treat

Cherry tomatoes are a popular addition to many home gardens, thanks to their sweet flavor and easy-to-grow nature. However, like all plants, they are susceptible to diseases that can harm or even kill them if left untreated.

In this article, we will discuss some of the most common cherry tomato plant diseases, how to identify them, and what steps you can take to treat and prevent them.

Early Blight

Early Blight is a fungal disease that affects cherry tomatoes as well as other tomato varieties. It typically appears on the lower leaves of the plant as brown spots that eventually spread and cause the leaves to yellow and wither.

To treat Early Blight, remove any infected leaves as soon as you notice them. You can also apply a fungicide to the plant to help prevent further spread of the disease.

Late Blight

Late Blight is another fungal disease that affects cherry tomatoes and other tomato plants. It typically appears as dark spots on the leaves, which eventually turn yellow and die off. The disease can also affect the fruits themselves, causing them to rot.

To treat Late Blight, remove any infected leaves and fruits from the plant immediately. You can also apply a fungicide to help prevent further spread of the disease.

Verticillium Wilt

Verticillium Wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that affects cherry tomato plants by blocking the flow of water and nutrients within the plant. The leaves of an infected plant will begin to wilt and turn yellow before eventually dying off completely.

To treat Verticillium Wilt, there isn’t much that can be done once a plant is infected. It’s important to remove any infected plants from your garden to prevent the spread of the disease. You can also try planting Verticillium-resistant tomato varieties in the future.

Fusarium Wilt

Fusarium Wilt is another soil-borne fungal disease that affects cherry tomato plants. It causes the lower leaves of the plant to wilt and turn yellow before eventually spreading to the entire plant.

To treat Fusarium Wilt, remove any infected plants from your garden and dispose of them properly. You can also try planting Fusarium-resistant tomato varieties in the future.

Bacterial Spot

Bacterial Spot is a bacterial disease that affects cherry tomatoes as well as other tomato varieties. It typically appears as small, dark spots on the leaves of the plant, which eventually grow and merge together.

To treat Bacterial Spot, remove any infected leaves and fruits from the plant immediately. You can also apply a copper-based fungicide to help prevent further spread of the disease.

FAQ

How can I prevent cherry tomato plant diseases?

The best way to prevent diseases in your cherry tomato plants is to practice good garden hygiene. This includes cleaning up any dead or diseased plant material, rotating your crops each year, and avoiding overhead watering which can splash soil-borne diseases onto the leaves of your plants.

Can cherry tomato plants recover from disease?

It depends on the disease and how severe it is. Some diseases can be treated with fungicides or by removing infected plant material, while others may require you to remove the entire plant from your garden. If caught early enough, many diseases can be successfully treated and your cherry tomato plants can recover.

What are some signs that my cherry tomato plants are healthy?

Healthy cherry tomato plants will have bright green leaves that are free from spots or discoloration. The plants should be producing plenty of fruit and growing vigorously.