Question
I have nice looking tomato plants but the tomatoes are not ripening well at all.  They are an orange, reddish color, and spotted looking.  Not good at all.  I suspect they have some kind of disease. but have no idea what.  any ideas?

Answer
It is not uncommon for the initial tomatoes to have some spotting and take quite a while to ripen. This is caused by temperature fluctuations and heavy rains. I never take action until the first harvest of red tomatoes ripens. Depending on the weather, this can take several weeks to a month. Once the plants fully acclimate, the problem usually disappears.

However, if the problem persists beyond the first harvest, the plants may have contracted a bacterial virus called spotted wilt. This disease affects the fruit and not the foliage. You can treat the plants with a fungicide, but these are best if used right away before the disease spreads.

Some precautionary measures for next year include purchasing only disease-resistant hybrids. A list of these varieties can be found in vegetable catalogs or on-line at sites such as Park Seed or Burpee. I would also rotate the tomatoes every year to another section of the garden to prevent soilborne diseases from resurfacing. Finally, be sure to amend your soil with organic matter such as peat, compost, and aged manure, and mulch the plants with shredded leaves or dried grass clippings to retain moisture and keep the soil at a consistent temperature.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike