One stunted tomato, others seem fine

10 years ago

I am a new gardener, just starting out in a community garden. I planted 5 tomato plants and several peppers. Four of the tomatoes are doing really well, and growing much faster than I anticipated. However one seems to be quite stunted. It is a "Porter improved Hybrid" Bonnie plant. It hardly seems to have grown at in all in the weeks since I transplanted it. I have also noticed some yellowing of some of the leaves. It has had the same amount of water, sun, fertilizer etc as the other plants. We have had an unusually rainy June in my area. Is this plant a goner? Does it need more or less fertilizer? Should I trim away the yellow leaves? Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks!

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Comments (4)

edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
10 years ago
If it were mine and I was convinced that it wasn't growing correctly, I might dig it up and check out the roots. Maybe it's root bound or something and you could trim/loosen the roots and replant it.
seysonn
10 years ago
It could be that its the genetic characteristic of that particular variety. Not all tomato plants grow at the same rate and size. Another thought: is it determinant?
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RappRapp
Original Author
10 years ago
It is an indeterminate, and it says that it should grow to 5-8 feet eventually. Interesting idea with the root bound, I will try to dig it up this weekend and see if that is the issue. Thanks!
sue_ct
10 years ago
You didn't plant it in a peat pot did you? If it looked healthy otherwise I would leave it since you might set it back more by digging it up and tear the tender roots it has developed so far. If you planted it in a peat pot definitely dig it up and remove it. You will get a lot of different opinions on this and I don't think there is a "right" or wrong. Its not a closeup photo but it just looks smaller to me but fairly healthy. Did you plant it deeper or was it smaller to start with?