i-am-helen / Getty Images
Tomatoes are one of themost popular cropsgrown by home gardeners.
They also are commonly affected by pests and diseases triggered by fungal or bacteria infections.
If your tomato leaves have white spots on them, it can signify that yourtomato plantis stressed and struggling.
i-am-helen / Getty Images
Powdery Mildew
Tomato plants do not like when water sits on their leaves.
It is one of the most widespread and easily recognized plant diseases.
Its appearance is usually worse than the damage caused.
To treat powdery mildew, remove the affected leaves andprune your tomato plantto improve air circulation.
Want more gardening tips?
Dilute one capful in a watering can and apply to the leaves once a week.
To determine the exact deficiency in the soil, it’s best toconduct a soil test.
This fungal disease can affect tomato leaves, as well as stems and fruits.
One of the first symptoms of blight are shriveling leaves that have a white fungal growth on their undersides.
It is more commonly found on tomato plants grown outdoors; greenhouse tomato plants are less frequently affected.
However, picking off the leaves won’t get rid of the problem.
Sun scald in tomato plants can appear as white or brown spots on the leaves.
The best way to treat sun scald is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
double-check to not overdo it.
If there’s extreme heat ahead in the forecast, put up a shade cloth to protect the plants.
These pests prefer to feed on new growth and can stress the host plant.
How to Fix a Whitefly Infestation
There are a number of ways to control whiteflies.
If left untreated, affected plants can die.
For more extensive problems, spray the tomato leaves with neem oil, which won’t affectbeneficial bees.
To prevent them from spreading to other areas of the plant, apply neem oil.
If the problem persists, you may want to resort to usinginsecticides.
The best way to control leafminer damage to your tomato plant is to catch it early.
First, test the water you are watering the plant with to ensure it is low in ions.
Then, apply a relatively large amount of water to help dissolve the salt buildup in the soil.
It can spread easily, including on contaminated clothes and tools.
Monitor the rest of your plants to ensure it hasn’t spread.
It can be difficult to diagnose an infection as being bacterial or fungal without proper testing.
However, bacterial leaf spot symptoms typically present with oozing spots or cuts.
Tomato fruits are generally still edible even if they have white spots.
Symptoms will only appear on the tomato fruits once they begin to ripen.
