• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Growing
    • Gardening
    • Our Garden ’23
    • Our Garden ’22
    • Our Garden ’21
    • Our Garden ’20
    • Our Garden ’19
    • Our Garden ’18
    • Our Garden ’17
    • Our Garden ’16
    • Our Garden ’15
    • Our Garden ’14
    • Our Garden ’13
    • Our Garden ’12
  • Building
  • Simplifying
  • Preserving
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

Northern Homestead logo

July 13, 2017

Tomato Root Rot

Tomato Root RotGrowing tomatoes is fun, and we grow lots every year. However, it gets difficult when plants develop diseases; the growing season is pretty much over if that disease is deadly. Tomato root rot is one of them.

What is tomato root rot

Tomato root rot is just what the name says, the roots of the tomato plant rot. Usually it is not noticeable before it is too late and the plant dies. A very sad situation. I am sure there are fancy names for the rotting, I’m a simple gardener so I do not need to know if the rotting is a fungus or a bacteria. But if you are into it, here is a good link on tomato problems and diagnostic.

What causes tomato root rot

What causes tomato root rot

Tomato root rot occurs when the roots of a tomato plant are constantly wet. Some plants like that, some dislike it, but tomatoes can’t stand it.

Ironically, great gardeners and fancy drip systems get that problem, more lazy gardeners do not know what tomato root rot is.

Also, areas where it is hot and humid (like Florida) have a problem with tomato root rot.

How to prevent tomato root rot

Soil. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and love a light soil with good drainage and lots of compost. If you grow them in a pot or grow bag perlite, sphagnum peat moss and compost are the ideal components for tomato soil (also known as Mel’s Mix from the Square Foot Garden book). But whatever soil you have in the garden, it will be great for tomatoes IF you add lots of compost. If you want to be on the sure side, have your soil tested.

Tomatoes like a soil pH level of 6.0-6.5. To lower the pH use coffee grounds, tea bags, compost, or composted manure. To raise your soil pH level, use wood ash from your fireplace or crushed egg shells. Mix these with your soil.

Water. Tomato plants need to be able to dry in between watering. Careful, I am not talking about irregular watering, which will lead to cracked tomatoes. But watering in intervals, give them a good drink, and let the plants root dry in between.

If you live in a wet area with lots of rain, give your tomatoes protection. A roof, a south-facing wall, or just a plastic bag over the plant in heavy rains can help. In Germany, they sell extra tomato covers for that.

Drip systems are good, but need to be adjusted to the needs of the plant. Constant moisture can lead to problems.

Keep the soil moist but not constantly wet; we mulch our plants with wood chips. Even plants in grow bags or raised beds are mulched with wood chips. The wood takes up excess moisture and gives it back as needed during dry periods.

Tomato variety. Some tomato varieties are more resistant to root rot than others. If you can’t avoid constant wet soil, you might want to look for tomato varieties that are marked as resistant to disease. We prefer heirloom varieties from local growers. After all, they have stood the test of time and are still around.

What to do if you got root rot
Keeping the tomato plants pruned, so that no leaves touch the soil can be helpful so the ground around the roots has more airflow. 

What to do if you got root rot

Tomato root rot is fatal and contagious. Remove the infected plant immediately, careful not to infect others. Do not plant a new plant in the same spot right away, the soil is infected too. If it happened in a pot or greenhouse remove the soil that was infected, making sure you got rid of the disease. Disinfect your tools and pots. Tomato root rot is not something you want to take lightly.

We invite you to subscribe to Northern Homestead and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest for the latest update.

More Growing Tomatoes Posts You Might Enjoy:

When and How to Start Tomato Seeds Indoors

When and How to Start Tomato Seeds Indoors

To prune or not to prune tomato plants is an option. Not all tomatoes need pruning, except for the bottom leafs and at the end of the growing season.

To Prune or Not to Prune Tomato Plants

Learn how to support vine and bush type tomatoes in the greenhouse and in the garden. We share our favorite methods that have worked great for many years.

How to Support Tomato Plants

How to Grow Tomatoes Indoors

Complete Guide on How To Grow Tomatoes Indoors

Common tomato leaf diseases

Common tomato leaf diseases

How to start tomatoes from seeds using a no fail method that involves less work. This method has worked for us for many years.

How to Start Tomatoes from Seeds

Bull's Heart Heirloom Tomato Variety

Bull’s Heart Heirloom Tomato Variety

It is always a very exciting day when tomato plants can go into the ground! Here a complete guide on how to transplant tomato plants into the ground.

Transplanting Tomato Plants into the Ground

Growing Tomatoes Summer Update

Growing Tomatoes Summer Update

Heirloom tomato varieties we grow in a northern garden in Alberta, Canada. Many have become our favorites in taste and production.

Heirloom Tomato Varieties We Grow In a Northern Garden

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alli says

    June 25, 2014 at

    I often heard my dad talk about tomato root rot when I was growing up. He’s a serious gardener and I don’t remember not having fresh tomatoes each summer, so I guess he was quick to take action. Thanks for breaking it all down for me. I haven’t had much success growing tomatoes (don’t tell dad) in my sandy soil. I probably need to get a soil sample done. Actually, I know how to do a soil sample because that was my demonstration at 4-H one year when I was in middle school. 🙂

    Reply
    • Anna says

      June 25, 2014 at

      Oh good for you. I have never done a soil sample test, never had too. We have amazing soil here.

      Reply
  2. Shirley Wood says

    June 25, 2014 at

    We grow tomatoes, casually, every year. They are probably the most popular garden plant for casual vegetable gardeners like us. I’ll be on the lookout for the root rot problems that you have told us about. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      June 25, 2014 at

      Yes, if you read about all the diseases that tomatoes can have, it makes one wonder how it still is the favorite crop to grow. And it is. Usually tomatoes are very easy and grow like weeds. But it is good to know about the problems they can have.

      Reply
  3. Renee @ Renew Your Space says

    June 25, 2014 at

    Really good to know – We’re interested in starting out with heirloom tomatoes so this is something to look for once we get established.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      June 25, 2014 at

      Have fun, tomatoes do not normally cos problems, but they do sometimes.

      Reply
  4. Kristen from The Road to Domestication says

    June 25, 2014 at

    Oh my goodness…now I have to go home and check my tomato roots…mercy!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      June 25, 2014 at

      I sure did not want to scare anyone. Most likely they are just fine.

      Reply
  5. Kathleen Predmore says

    June 25, 2014 at

    I’m having trouble with rust on my tomatoes and it’s spreading to everything. I’ve heard of using baking soda but cany remember what else was used with it. Can you help.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      June 25, 2014 at

      I am sorry Kathleen for your problem. Here is a EHow post about rust on plants, hope it helps: Rust Disease on Tomato Plants

      Reply
  6. Amanda Smith says

    June 26, 2014 at

    That is sad indeed! We have never had this happen. But blossom end rot, we have some of that every year. I am off to read you’re article about it next. I’d love to stop that from happening.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      June 26, 2014 at

      Hope it helps, gardening is so much more fun if things are growing healthy!

      Reply
  7. Sheri Cline - WA. State Zone 8b says

    July 14, 2017 at

    This is where the Ollas are used.
    Ollas (pronounced “oy-yahs”) are unglazed clay/terra-cotta pots with a bottle or tapered shape that are buried in the ground with the top/neck exposed above the soil surface and filled with water for sub-surface irrigation of plants.
    Because water seeps through the walls of an unglazed olla, these vessels can be used to irrigate plants. The olla is buried in the ground next to the seed or transplanted plant start roots that are to be irrigated, with the neck of the olla extending above the soil. The olla is filled with water and plants/crops planted adjacent to it, create a suction force which attracts water molecules to the plant roots. The suction force is created by soil moisture tension and/or plant roots themselves. The plant roots grow around the pots and only “pull” moisture when needed, never wasting a single drop. Little water is lost to evaporation that collects on stems and leaves of plants. The top is covered with a rock or plate to stop evaporation. In areas of freeze the ollas are removed from the soil, dried and stored for the winter to stop cracking.

    Reply
  8. Gemma says

    July 17, 2020 at

    How to protect the other tomatoes from root rot.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      July 18, 2020 at

      Just don’t water as much, that’s the most important factor. Also, you can add some good compost around the plants, to give them a bust.

      Reply
  9. Mary Ann says

    March 21, 2021 at

    After much effort of starting my seeds indoors, my garden was a big fail in 2020..
    The squash had root rot, and powdery mildew.. I had to start my pole beans over because the seedlings grew very tall but had no stem structure.. after replanting they did ok.. but no real production..
    I decided to buy plants at Home Depot, hoping they would take off, but it was a thirty dollar waste..
    One squash plant seemed to have some strange fungus or disease..
    I had a square garden bed with a cattle panel, for the veg to climb, and had a mosquito net over top to keep away the squash bugs, it helped but was still finding and squashing the bugs..
    Could it be that I watered them to much ( daily) or that I ruined the seeds by starting them incorrectly?
    I have a black thumb.. but would love to grow my own food.
    Than you

    Reply
    • Anna says

      March 28, 2021 at

      Sorry for your not-so-great expiriance. Happy to hear you want to keep growing. Yes, it does sound like too much water. It is better to water deep (also thoroughly) once or twice a week, than a little bit daily. Gardening is like raiding a bike, you learn by doing.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Primary Sidebar

Welcome, nice to meet you!

Jakob und Anna winter 2Northern Homestead is a blog about growing year round 🌱🍅🍁❄️, preserving, and preparing plant food in cold climate. Learn more ...

Find It Fast

Building

We share how we build things and use alternative energies. Building a greenhouse is almost a must in a northern climate to overcome cold and frost.

Growing

Growing your own food year round using organic methods. Here you will find many proven gardening tips and ideas.

Raising

Preserving

Recipes

Simplifying

Project simple living

Categories

Newsletter Signup

Popular Posts

  • Sowing Carrots in Cornstarch Sowing Carrots in Cornstarch Experiment under Growing, Planting
  • How to Build a GeoDome Greenhouse How To Build A Geodesic Dome Greenhouse (DIY GeoDo... under GeoDome Greenhouse, Greenhouse
  • To till or not to till the garden To Till or Not to Till the Garden for Better Soil under Gardening, Growing, Soil Preparation
https://www.facebook.com/northernhomestead
https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernHomestead/
https://ca.pinterest.com/NorthHomestead
https://www.instagram.com/northernhomestead/

Copyright© 2025 · Northern Homestead

Receive the newest updates to your email!

Sign up to stay tuned and to be notified about new releases and posts directly in your inbox.

[email protected]
John
Smith