Black leg of tomato seedlings: what to do, control measures

Many gardeners are faced with such a problem as the black leg of a tomato. The fact is that when growing such a crop, many diseases occur. The appearance of a black leg is one of the unpleasant surprises. The disease occurs suddenly and is accompanied by the fact that the stem falls and dies. Often this occurs after the picking of the plant. But, with certain actions, you can get rid of this disease and, as a result, grow a he althy plant that will give a normal harvest. So, what control measures should be used for blackleg in tomato seedlings?

Causes of the black leg

If the stem falls, then you need to carefully examine the plant. If a darkening is visible above the soil surface, then this indicates the presence of this disease. It has the name black leg or, in a popular way, black leg. It often affects crops grown in greenhouses and other plastic covers.

The black leg of tomato seedlings occurs as a result of plant damage by a fungal infection. She attacks the roots through which the infection of neighboring bushes occurs. In addition to tomatoes, cabbage and radish often suffer from this disease.

Important: High humidity, insufficient lighting, low temperature and dense crop planting can provoke a disease in tomatoes. Therefore, the cultivation of tomatoes must be approached very carefully.

The main task in the process of growing this crop is to ensure normal lighting. To do this, it is recommended to make a foil shield, which is placed behind boxes or pots. Light rays will bounce off it and scatter. As a result, this will significantly increase the amount of light, without installing additional lighting fixtures.

What is better to do with a black leg in tomato seedlings

Before you start treatment, you need to know that a fungal infection occurs more often on tomatoes that germinate in soil with a high level of acidity. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to solve this problem. Acidity can be neutralized by treating with limestone or wood ash. Also, chalk and dolomite flour are highly effective.

Important: If, as a result of the inspection, there was a certain presence of a disease on the seedlings, then it is necessary to immediately begin its treatment. This will prevent the infection from spreading to other plants.

Many gardeners believe that the treatment of the blackleg is a thankless task, because after that the fruitfulness decreases. Therefore, it is easier to eliminate a diseased seedling and plants that are adjacent to it.

But, nevertheless, if you still decide to fight the black leg, then you should follow this sequence:

1. First of all, you need to disinfect the soil. To do this, pour the area with a solution of potassium permanganate.
2. You also need to limit the watering of the bushes. This will reduce the risk of such a disease. It is worth noting here that fungal infections do not develop in dry soil. Therefore, you need to water in moderation.
3. Falling plants are covered with woody vines. Charcoal is also used for this, which is first ground into powder.
4. Disinfect the soil. For this, a formalin solution is often used. In this case, it is worth carefully loosening the soil.

The best option in the fight and prevention of the disease is the complete or partial replacement of contaminated soil. This will prevent further spread of the infection to other plants.

Disease prevention

It is better to prevent the onset of a disease than to treat it later. Preventive measures should begin with seed preparation. It is better to give preference to varieties that are resistant to blackleg.

The best option here is Lena tomato seedlings. Plants are unpretentious in care, give a good harvest and are resistant to this disease.

Before sowing seeds, they are treated with potassium permanganate. To do this, the bag with them is placed in the solution for half an hour. After that, they are thoroughly washed and dried. It is also necessary to disinfect the container in which tomato seedlings will be planted.This is done using the same potassium permanganate.

If soil from a garden bed is used for planting seed material, then it is preheated. To do this, it is placed in an old vessel and put in the oven for a short time. The procedure is carried out outside the living quarters, since when pierced, the soil emits an unpleasant odor. After that, it is shed with potassium permanganate. For planting, the prepared soil can be used after a few days.

Proper watering will prevent the occurrence of a black leg. Do not flood the bushes, as this will lead to the development of a fungal infection. Warm water is also recommended for irrigation.

Also, periodic loosening of the soil will help in solving this issue, which will ensure normal air access to the root system. To prevent the top layer from drying out, it is covered with a small amount of sand, which holds moisture well.All affected plants must be removed and disposed of immediately. Before landing in the hole add the "Barrier".

Fighting the blackleg using folk methods

To protect the plant from the black leg, you must follow some rules and use certain folk remedies:

• When irrigating, it is better to use a spray bottle and a watering can. This will prevent waterlogging of the soil, which is a common cause of the disease.
• Periodically, tomato seedlings lend themselves to diving, which will ensure the normal development of the root system.
• It is also worth considering that an excess of nitrogen fertilizer causes significant damage to the plant and can cause it to fall.
• It is not recommended to use humus for fertilizer, as it contains a fungus. As a result, the black leg on the seedlings is only a matter of time.
• If you water the seedlings with a solution of onion peel, this will prevent the onset of the disease.

If you follow these simple rules, you can protect plants from disease and ensure a high yield of tomatoes.

What drugs should be used

If the black leg of the tomato seedlings still appeared, then drugs that are highly effective are used to fight:

• Fundazol. An effective drug in the fight against the disease. The only drawback is the toxicity of the drug. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it to treat plants that are grown at home, especially if there are children or animals in it.
• Previkur. Less toxic. Therefore, it is used to process tomatoes, both in the garden and at home.

Important: If the seeds are treated with Fitosporin or Fitolavin before planting, this will reduce the risk of disease.

Now you know how to save tomato seedlings and how to prevent disease. By following simple rules and recommendations, you can ensure high yields of tomatoes, despite all the risks.

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