Today is Part Two of a seven part series on Tomato Quirks. If you missed yesterday’s article on catfacing, please check it out: Tomato Quirks Part 1 – Catfacing. Each day will bring a new article on some peculiar things you may find on your tomatoes or tomato plants. The Tomato Quirks series will end on Tuesday, August 11th.
You go out to your garden, begin checking out your tomatoes plants, and picking some great looking tomatoes. Then all of a sudden you notice that the main stem of your plants are covered in little tiny bumps. Don’t worry too much, those bumps are not a big threat in most cases.
What Are These Bumps On My Tomato Plant?
If you look closely at a tomato stem, you will notice hundreds, if not thousands, of little tiny hairs. These hairs will turn into roots when buried underground. That is why it is advantageous to plant tomatoes deep. By planting your tomatoes deep, those hairs will grow into roots, creating a stronger and healthier root system.
When these hairs are above ground, they will form tiny bumps (often called Tomato Stem Primordia) on the stems of the plant. The Tomato Stem Primordia are the earliest stage of development of the roots. The bumps are caused by high humidity, predominantly wet weather, or overwatering. The bumps themselves are not harmful to your tomato plants, and are usually deemed as normal.
Watch Plants Closely If You Find Bumps On The Stems
Bumps on the stems can also be a sign of root problems, so keep a close check on your plants. This is usually not the case, but it doesn’t hurt to watch for any signs of wilting, browning leaves, or that the plant’s growth is hampered.
Part Three of Tomato Quirks will discuss green shouldered tomatoes. Be sure not to miss it by subscribing to our RSS feed or by bookmarking us.
Tomato Quirks Part 1 – Catfacing
Tomato Quirks Part 3 – Green Shoulders
Tomato Quirks Part 4 – Sunscald
Tomato Quirks Part 5 – Splits & Holes
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