Too much heat? We had the hottest July in record, which really affected growth and fruit set. Maybe the addition of so much compost lowered the soil pH too much?

I agree this is the hottest and earliest onset of heat we have had in recent memory. Maybe that's it? I got mine in late but I did get some fruits. Brown crunchy leaves always make me think Tomato Russet Mites.

I grow in pots...but am having the mediocre/good year I had last year. Wish I had an answer for you. You already asked the right questions....so it is a mystery. If the brown leaves are on the bottom....that is kinda normal.

Worst year ever!

Same thing happened to me. Plants grew quickly to 6 ft
and then just stopped and started turning brown and
crispy.

What few tomatoes I got were without much flavor too.

I talked to my nurseryman and he had the same problem. He said it was blight.

We have had early heat and much higher humidity than
normal this summer. Usually humidity is in the teens
and 20s, but this year it's seldom below 35% with even
higher numbers at night when it hits 80-90%.

Don't know what's going on, but I sure don't like it!

At least here in Orange County, the temps have been perfect for tomatoes,
cept a hot spell back in march or April as I recall, (or maybe not)!.

At any rate I've had my best tomato year in the 10 years I've grown them,
but yes the high humidity has made some "challenges".
Here in Yorba Linda, we've seen "Night after Night",
a humidity of 100% and it takes a while for it to "Burn off" the next AM.

So this year, (first year ever) I have been spraying with a copper spray,
(and knock on wood), I've "Kept the Beast at Bay".
Had I not sprayed, I'm sure whatever "Beasts" cater to the high humidity,
would have done in my tomatoes~~~~So far so Good.

Sorry you were not as fortunate!!!

Gary