The Simple Tomato Gardening Tip You Need To Help Stop Blight Before It Starts

Nothing rattles a gardener faster than spotting the first signs of blight on a tomato. The brown spots creep in, leaves start to yellow, and before you know it, the plant looks like it's waving a white flag. Tomato blight is one of the most common diseases and problems with garden tomatoes. It comes in two ugly flavors: early and late. Early blight tends to hit older or stressed plants first, showing up as dark spots with pale rings on leaves and stems. It spreads slowly but can sap your plant's strength over time. Late blight is the speedy troublemaker, leaving water-soaked patches on leaves and oily, hardened spots on the fruit before you even realize it's there. Recognizing it early is key to saving your crop.

Blight spores love a little moisture. When rain or morning dew splashes soil with spores onto low-hanging leaves, it's basically a welcome mat for disease. The simplest way to get ahead of this problem is to stake the tomato plants. This method keeps plants upright, reducing leaf contact with the soil and cutting off the easiest path for blight. It's a classic "work smarter, not harder" move: less disease risk and cleaner plants. Instead of chasing a cure after blight shows up, you're cutting off the easiest way for it to gain ground. As an extra payoff, supporting your tomatoes this way doesn't just fend off the fungus; it also sets the stage for growing the best tomatoes in your garden, with easier access and a productive harvest.

Getting tomatoes up off the ground changes the whole environment around them. Vertical growth improves airflow, lets leaves dry faster after rain, and prevents branches from collapsing into damp, shady pockets. Healthier leaves means more energy for fruit, so your plants aren't just standing tall; they're standing strong.

Staking tomatoes doesn't have to be tricky. Start with a single stake placed a couple of inches from the base of the plant. Choose something sturdy (wood, metal, or strong plastic) that will stay upright all season. Push it firmly into the soil — 6 to 12 inches deep, depending on your tomatoes' size — and begin gently securing the stem once the plant reaches about 10 to 12 inches tall. Soft fabric scraps, garden twine, or any stretchy, kind-to-the-stem material works perfectly. Tie the plant every 8 inches or so, keeping it upright without pinching. 

For larger or more vigorous varieties, add a second stake on the opposite side of the plant, and tie the trunk to both stakes as it grows. This gives plants solid support, lets air circulate, and makes harvesting a breeze instead of a wrestling match with vines. It's simple, affordable, and one of the handiest hacks to remember when growing tomatoes. Give your plants a backbone — literally — so you can spend the summer picking ripe fruit instead of chasing disease.