Tomato Dirt Newsletter
Volume 14, Number 14

Dear Tomato Dirt reader,

Welcome back to Tomato Dirt! A couple times a month, we’ll send you this newsletter packed with tips about growing tomatoes and using them.

80+ Free Tutorials to Help You ID Garden Pests and Diseases

Slugs … deer … beetles. Or is it tomato rot or blight that’s attacking your crops?

Identifying the problem is the first step in finding an earth-friendly way to reduce — or even eliminate — the damage caused by garden pests and diseases.

Our friends at Gardener’s Supply have created a directory of garden pests to help you identify your gardener’s invaders.

And GS expert gardeners also has a helpful list of diseases to look out for, including more than 80 quick tutorials to show you what to do when your plants are under attack.

Hop on over to the directory of garden pests or the listing of 80+ quick tutorials to discover your garden’s problems. And bookmark those pages for later!

NEW! Check for tomato growing tips each day on our Facebook page

Here’s the dirt: Tomato Dirt’s long-standing Facebook page was recently hacked. For your safety and privacy, we closed it. But never fear! We’ve started a new page with good security.

You’re invited to like the page and get plenty of tomato growing tips. And please share the new page with other gardeners you know!

Hop on over to Facebook and click “Like” right now, while you’re thinking about it.

FEATURE: How To Handle 3 Kinds of Problems on Tomato Fruit

Image: Tomato Dirt

You’ve done due diligence in getting your tomato crop off to an outstanding start. The plants are healthy … blossoms appear … fruit emerges and ripens.

But now as you’re ready to pick, challengescreep up on the tomato fruit itself. Here are 3 common tomato problems and what to do about them.

1. Blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is a common tomato problem associated with growing conditions. It affects tomato fruit. Stems and leaves show no symptoms. The bottom side of the tomato (either a green or ripened one) develops a sunken, leathery dark brown or black spot. Gardeners most often notice BER when fruit is 1/3 to 1/2 its full size. It is caused by …

2. Tomato fruit worms. These insects attack tomatoes and other plants. The fruitworm (in its larva form) attacks a tomato by tunneling.It consumes the tomato’s interior and leaves a cavity filled with fluid and droppings. The best way to deal with these critters is to …

3. Mealy tomatoes. A mealy tomato has distinct visual and textural characteristics that are so different from the fresh, firm tomato you expect. Its interior is dry and crumbly. Keep reading ...

Best Tips for Growing Tomatoes: Bestseller in 89 Countries

THE tomato-growing Bible and best-seller in 89 countries:

You’ll be able to diagnose pest and disease problems using step by step priceless information, illustrated with 260 full color photos.

Get the book and you’ll also get 6 free bonuses, including the Family Tomato Cookbook and a database of 1300 varieties of tomatoes. More details here.

Tomato Growing Tip: What To Do With Mealy Tomatoes

Image: Tomato Dirt

Get more tips for growing tomatoes on our Tomato Growing Tips Pinterest board.

Get Ready To Preserve Your Crop

Canners and dehydrators let you store and use tomatoes all year long.

Plus, they make great gifts. Check out other handy kitchen gear like scales, drying racks, pickling crocks, tomato presses, kitchen snips … even cheese making kits and other DIY kits from our good friends at Garden Supply.

They’ve also got plenty of tutorials you can use to DIY dried flowers … storing apples … making pepper jelly or tomato chutney or your own Bloody Mary mix.

Browse the dozens of different kitchen and gardening gadgets offered to Tomato Dirt readers from our friends at Gardener’s Supply. Have fun!

More Tomato Problems and What To Do About Them