Tomato Stems Stripped Near Root – Garden Centre Says Not Cutworms

Question

A bunch of our tomato plants keep getting killed by something that strips the outer stem from the plant. I’ve dug up the plants and have not found any cutworms upto 1 foot. Please help because it’s still damaging our plants in late August. Carpenter ants? Chipmunks? Rabbits? Mice? Toilet paper rolls around the base help until whatever it is gets into the roll.

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Answer 1

This is a type of rot form overly moist soils. Make sure that the soil dries, at least, down to 2 inches between watering to avoid this. You may, also, need a fungicide to keep this from spreading upwards, and killing your plant.

Here are some articles that will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-moisture-in-plants.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm