Black explained that while insects and diseases often get the blame for tomato damage, many issues are physiological disorders caused by environmental conditions, such as inconsistent watering or temperature swings. Understanding the difference can help gardeners make better decisions about what to keep, what to discard, and how to improve future harvests.
One of the first topics centered on harvesting tomatoes at the “breaker stage,” when the fruit first begins changing color. At that point, tomatoes have already developed the sugars and acidity needed for flavor and can safely finish ripening indoors. Picking fruit earlier not only protects it from deer, raccoons, and other garden pests, but also encourages the plant to continue producing more tomatoes throughout the season.
The conversation also covered several common tomato diseases. Anthracnose, a fungal disease that develops on bruised fruit, creates water-soaked lesions and expanding rings that indicate the tomato should be discarded. Powdery mildew, another fungal issue, primarily affects leaves rather than fruit. Gardeners should remove infected foliage and avoid composting diseased material to reduce the spread of spores. Early blight and late blight were also highlighted as fungal diseases that can weaken plants if left unmanaged, making regular garden inspections and prompt pruning important throughout the growing season.
Not every unusual-looking tomato signals disease. Black explained that catfacing, a misshapen fruit caused by cold weather during flower development, is simply a physiological disorder. Although the tomato may appear unattractive, unaffected portions remain perfectly edible after trimming away the damaged area. Fruit cracking falls into the same category, developing when tomatoes absorb water faster than the fruit can expand. These cosmetic issues are especially common among heirloom varieties, which often sacrifice appearance in favor of exceptional flavor.
Garden pests were another topic of discussion, including the tomato hornworm. While the large caterpillars can strip a tomato plant of its leaves in a short period of time, they eventually develop into moths that serve as valuable pollinators. Rather than destroying them outright, gardeners may choose to relocate the caterpillars away from tomatoes and other nightshade crops such as peppers, potatoes, and eggplants.
As the conversation turned toward tomato varieties, Black encouraged gardeners to explore the wide diversity available through local farmers’ markets. From slicing tomatoes to sauce varieties and colorful heirlooms, each type offers different textures, flavors, and uses. Choosing varieties based on how they will be used in the kitchen can make next year’s garden even more rewarding.
The episode concluded with an important reminder that gardening is a continual learning process. Every season presents new opportunities to observe how weather and growing practices affect plant health. Rather than becoming discouraged by occasional setbacks, gardeners can use those experiences to build stronger harvests in future years.
Black also highlighted an upcoming Farmer Mental Health First Aid workshop at Sauk Valley Community College. The free event is designed to help participants recognize signs of mental health challenges, learn how to start supportive conversations, and connect people with available community resources. The program includes a complimentary meal and is open to anyone interested in supporting the agricultural community.
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