Lil' Dave wrote:
Planted a very late garden. Only a couple of tomato plants "took". The
first tomato fruits are about half grown. These two have developed a black
ring on the fruit about one inch from the stem. What is this, and is it a
concern?


Tomato anthracnose
http://pep.wsu.edu/hortsense/
copy/paste


Biology
Tomato anthracnose is a fungal disease primarily seen on ripe fruit. It
may sometimes affect leaves. Leaf symptoms are most common on older
leaves, which show small, dark spots surrounded by a yellow halo. Fruits
may be infected while green, but symptoms are seen on ripe fruit.
Infected fruits initially show circular, sunken, water-soaked spots. The
spots enlarge to about 1/2" in diameter and become darker. They often
show concentric ring markings around a tan center. Dark specks may be
present on the tan area. During damp weather, masses of salmon-colored
spores may develop on the surface of the lesion. The fungus frequently
overwinters on diseased plant debris and can also infect other crop and
weed species. Wet soils favor disease development.

Management Options
Select Non-chemical Management Options as Your First Choice!!

* Avoid overhead irrigation.
* Control weeds in and around the garden.
* Plant in well-drained soils.
* Remove plant debris from the garden. Destroy or discard (do not
compost) diseased plant materials.
* Rotate crops on a three- to four-year cycle to avoid fungus
surviving in the soil. Do not plant tomatoes in the same location each
year.

Revision Date:4/1/2005
Apply according to label directions.

* Bonide Fung-onil Multi-Purpose Fungicide R-T-U
* ferti-lome Broad Spectrum Lawn & Garden Fungicide
* ferti-lome Liquid Fungicide
* Gardentech R-T-U Fungicide Disease Control
* Hi-Yield Maneb Garden Fungicide
* Ortho Garden Disease Control Conc
* Ortho Multi-Purpose Fungicide Daconil 2787 Conc
* Sevin Brand RP2 Home & Garden Carbaryl Insecticide
* This list may not include all products registered for this use.