How to Treat Soil for Leaf Spot

Leaf spot is a fungal infection that attacks tomato plants. It starts on leaves near the ground and moves upward, but it rarely attacks the tomatoes themselves. Initial leaf-spot symptoms include round yellow spots on the underside of the leaves. The spots then show up on the leaf tops and turn black or brown. The leaves eventually turn yellow and fall off. Although the fungal spores are principally transmitted from plant to plant via water and moisture, there are some actions you can take to treat the soil and prevent leaf-spot infections.

Shovel
Soaker hose
Weed-prevention fabric or black plastic
Tiller or turning fork

Instructions

- 1
  Shovel the soil into piles and create raised beds to grow your tomatoes. This improves the drainage of the soil and keeps moisture away from the bottom leaves of the plants.
- 2
  Water the soil, not the tomato plants. Water transmits the fungal spores from plant to plant. Watering the soil keeps water from splashing from one leaf to another. Do not water the plants from the top. A soaker hose can be used for trickle irrigation.
- 3
  Cover the soil under the tomato plants with landscape weed-prevention fabric or black plastic. Cut and flatten construction-grade lawn bags for this purpose. This helps prevent the lower leaves of the tomato plants from contact with moisture in the soil.
- 4
  Turn the soil at the end of the growing season. Remove as much of the tomato plant matter as you can. Do not put it into any compost pile that will eventually be used for your tomatoes. Till the soil well and incorporate all organic matter. Ensure any leftover tomato leaves or stems are buried underground to prevent the overwintering of the leaf spot fungus spores.

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