Bacterial disease
Tomato Bacterial Spot
A bacterial disease that causes small dark spots on tomato leaves and raised, scabby spots on the fruit.
Symptoms
- Small, dark, water-soaked spots on leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo
- Leaves yellowing and dropping
- Small raised, scabby spots on green fruit
What causes it
The bacteria come in on infected seed or transplants and spread by splashing water in warm, wet weather.
What you can do
- Start with certified, disease-free seed and transplants.
- Water the soil, not the leaves, and water in the morning so any splashes dry quickly.
- Remove and bin badly infected plants and debris.
- Do not grow the same crop in the same spot next year; rotate beds for two to three years.
- Copper sprays can slow the spread; follow the label.
Not sure it's bacterial spot?
Photograph one affected leaf and Plantulus will suggest the most likely problem, with a confidence score. It's free and needs no sign-up.
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General guidance only, not a diagnosis. Check product labels and local rules before using any treatment, and ask a horticultural specialist if a valuable plant is struggling. See the disclaimer.