Can a Tomato Plant Keep Growing If it Gets Blight?

Tomatoes are one of the most loved plants in every gardener's backyard. They can grow from a tiny seed into a huge plant that produces tons of juicy, red tomatoes. However, growing tomatoes can be quite challenging at times, especially when they are affected by blight. Blight is a fungal disease, and it can occur at any stage of the plant's growth.

If your tomato plant has blight, you might be wondering if it can keep growing or if it will die soon. The answer is that it depends on how severe the blight is and how quickly you take action to control its spread.

Understanding Blight

Blight is a common fungal disease that affects plants. It can affect various parts of the plant, including the leaves, stems, and fruit. Blight can be caused by several types of fungi, including early blight, late blight, and septoria leaf spot.

Early blight affects the older leaves of the plant, causing yellowing and eventually death. Late blight, on the other hand, affects both young and old leaves, leading to severe wilting and death of the plant. Septoria leaf spot affects the leaves in the lower part of the plant, leading to yellowish spots that later turn brown, leading to defoliation.

The Effects of Blight on Tomato Plants

When a tomato plant is affected by blight, it can have severe effects on its growth and productivity. The leaves of the plant start to turn yellow, then brown, and eventually, they fall off. This can lead to defoliation, leaving the plant exposed to the sun, which can scorch the fruit.

As the disease progresses, the stem of the plant can start to turn brown and become soft. This can lead to the collapse of the plant, and if not treated, it can eventually kill the plant.

Controlling Blight in Tomato Plants

If your tomato plant has blight, it's important to take immediate action to control its spread. Here are some ways to manage blight in tomato plants:

Prune the affected leaves and stems. This can help to slow down the spread of the disease.

Use a fungicide to kill the fungi causing blight. There are various fungicides available in the market that are effective in controlling blight in tomato plants.

Avoid overhead watering. This can spread the spores of the fungi, leading to the fast spread of the disease.

Plant blight-resistant tomato varieties. These are tomatoes that are specifically bred to resist blight.

Can a Tomato Plant Keep Growing After Blight?

Now back to the question. If your tomato plant gets blight, can it keep growing? The answer is simply yes, but the growth might be stunted, and the yield might be reduced.

If you take immediate action to control the spread of the disease, your plant has a good chance of surviving and producing fruit. However, if the blight is not treated promptly, it can lead to severe damage, which can reduce the plant's productivity.

It's important to note that after the plant has been affected by blight, it's advisable not to save the seeds. The seeds might carry the fungus responsible for the disease, leading to future infections.

In Conclusion

Tomato plants can keep growing even after being affected by blight, but it depends on how severe the disease is and how quickly you take action to control its spread. Pruning the affected parts of the plant, using fungicides, avoiding overhead watering, and planting resistant varieties are some of the ways to control the spread of blight in tomato plants.