Target Spot On Tomato Fruit – Tips On Treating Target Spot On Tomatoes

Also known as early blight, target spot of tomato is a fungal disease that attacks a diverse assortment of plants, including papaya, peppers, snap beans, potatoes, cantaloupe, and squash as well as passionflower and certain ornamentals. Target spot on tomato fruit is difficult to control because the spores, which survive on plant refuse in the soil, are carried over from season to season. Read on to learn how to treat target spot on tomatoes.

Recognizing Target Spot of Tomato

Target spot on tomato fruit is difficult to recognize in the early stages, as the disease resembles several other fungal diseases of tomatoes. However, as diseased tomatoes ripen and turn from green to red, the fruit displays circular spots with concentric, target-like rings and a velvety black, fungal lesion in the center. The “targets” become pitted and larger as the tomato matures.

How to Treat Target Spot on Tomatoes

Target spot tomato treatment requires a multi-pronged approach. The following tips for treating target spot on tomatoes should help:

• Remove old plant debris at the end of the growing season; otherwise, the spores will travel from debris to newly planted tomatoes in the following growing season, thus beginning the disease anew. Dispose of the debris properly and don’t place it on your compost pile unless you’re sure your compost gets hot enough to kill the spores.
• Rotate crops and don’t plant tomatoes in areas where other disease-prone plants have been located in the past year– primarily eggplant, peppers, potatoes or, of course – tomatoes. Rutgers University Extension recommends a three year rotation cycle to reduce soil-borne fungi.
• Pay careful attention to air circulation, as target spot of tomato thrives in humid conditions. Grow the plants in full sunlight. Be sure the plants aren’t crowded and that each tomato has plenty of air circulation. Cage or stake tomato plants to keep the plants above the soil.
• Water tomato plants in the morning so the leaves have time to dry. Water at the base of the plant or use a soaker hose or drip system to keep the leaves dry. Apply a mulch to keep the fruit from coming in direct contact with the soil. Limit mulch to 3 inches (8 cm.) or less if your plants are bothered by slugs or snails.

You can also apply fungal spray as a preventive measure early in the season or as soon as the disease is noticed.