Mold is a ubiquitous problem when growing tomatoes. From sowing to harvest, the growing conditions for tomato plants provide an excellent breeding ground for mold. Here's how to fix the problem.
Avoid mold during cultivation
Tomato seeds only germinate at temperatures around 20 to 24 degrees Celsius in a constantly humid environment. Since mold also feels at home in this ambience, the impending danger is obvious. You can avoid mold on the sowing by observing the following precautions:
- Always sterilize seed soil in the oven at 180 degrees for 20-30 minutes
- Carefully wash out the seed pots (16.68€) with hot soda water
- Soak tomato seeds in garlic tea or valerian flower extract before sowing
- Air the seed pots and mini greenhouse (€7.95) daily for several minutes
If mold nevertheless spreads during the course of cultivation, to be on the safe side, discard all infested seedlings. Hundreds of mold species exist, some of which are highly toxic in nature. Only trained experts are able to tell the difference between harmless and poisonous.
Preventing and combating mold diseases on tomatoes
Tomatoes are afflicted in the field as well as in the greenhouse. If mold spreads to leaves, blossoms and fruits, immediate countermeasures are required. The focus here is on the following causes:
Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea)
All parts of the plant are covered with gray-green spots, which quickly turn into a gray lawn of fungi. The water and nutrient supply comes to a standstill and the tomato plant dies.
- discard all infested plants
- as a preventive measure, ensure an airy, dry location
- Do not leave green clippings on the bed soil because the spores overwinter here
- Sprinkle the leaves and stems repeatedly with rock flour
Powdery mildew (Oidium cycopersicum)
A white, floury mold coats the leaves and shoots. In the further course, the leaves wither and fall to the ground. The fruits are no longer cared for and rot.
- Cut off plant parts infected with powdery mildew
- do not apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer
- treat every 2-3 days with a milk-water solution
- Tomato plants strengthened with liverwort extract or horsetail broth are more resilient
tips and tricks
Do not eat tomatoes that have mold on them. It is a mycotoxin that - depending on the type of fungus - is extremely hazardous to health. There is no point in cutting out the moldy areas, because mold can spread quickly in the juicy fruit.