HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

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Photo of vascular discoloration typical of both Verticillium and Fusarium
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Verticillium and Fusarium Wilt Diseases in Tomatoes

August 14th, 2023
By Help Desk Team
Do your tomato plants suffer from lack of vigor, yellowing leaves, and poor fruit production? These symptoms are associated with many different problems, including lack of soil nutrients, excess salts in the soil or irrigation water, poor drainage or waterlogged soil, or a variety of plant diseases.
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Photo of Spotted wilt virus on tomatoes
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Tomato Diseases in the Home Garden

July 31st, 2023
By Help Desk Team
As tomato growers, we might consider any ailing tomato to have a disease. That would end up making this blog post really, really long.
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Photo of damage to tomato caused by either rats or squirrels
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Who is Eating My Tomatoes?

July 18th, 2023
By Help Desk Team
It's July and the tomatoes in your garden are finally starting to ripen. One afternoon you notice the first ripe one is nearly ready to be picked.
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Photo of blossom end rot
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Blossom End Rot

July 4th, 2023
By Help Desk Team
Have you noticed tomatoes that have round, water-soaked spots on the bottom? Blossom end rot (BER) is a frustrating problem that can be quite common in vegetable gardens, as it can affect tomatoes, peppers, and squash. You might notice it after a few very hot days.
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Photo of person harvesting grapes
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Grapes for the Home Garden

June 19th, 2023
By Help Desk Team
According to someone who knows such things, grapes are one of the most widely cultivated fruit crops in the world. Worldwide, there are over 10,000 different varieties, and whether one's interest is ambience, erosion control, raisins, jelly, table munchies, or wine, grapes nicely fit the bill.
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