Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
swesley_gw

Unknown Tomato Problem with Photos

swesley
13 years ago

Noticed a dozen or so green tomatoes with grayish brown blotchy areas around the outside edge. It seems to be under the skin leaving the skin almost translucent. May be only on brandywine and pink caspians. Have asked around locally but no luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1299627}}

Comments (3)

  • torquill
    13 years ago

    Well, the good news is that it's probably not a disease. Since you didn't mention any symptoms on the plant, I'll assume the plants look good and healthy; if I'm wrong, please step in to correct me. :)

    With the assumption of otherwise healthy plants, the only thing that fits that picture is the physiological condition known as grey wall. I rarely see it, but this would be a really classic example... my bet is that the fruit is dry and crunchy inside, perhaps with dark patches where the vascular tissue runs between the seed locules. I can't find any really good pictures online, but the Seminis/Petoseed/Monsanto book on tomato diseases has a picture very similar to yours.

    Nobody knows quite what causes it. Almost everyone agrees that it's caused by plant stress, but the list of factors is as long as my arm: high nitrogen, low potassium, high soil moisture, low soil moisture, high humidity, temperature fluctuations, high light levels, low light levels, small root system... and to top it off, some resources cite that some bacteria, fungi, and possibly TMV may be involved. It's the "kitchen sink" disease for tomatoes. Some varieties are more susceptible than others, but it varies from year to year.

    The only advice I can offer is to check your growing conditions: feed them moderately (or not much at all, if you amended heavily this season); give them consistent water, with a few deep waterings per week preferable to watering every day; and if you can't find anything else, maybe try a tonic like Superthrive or compost tea or some such to see whether it balances things. Then pray for sane weather, with reasonable temperatures, lower humidity, and enough (but not blazing) sun.

    Best of luck.

    --Alison

  • jean001
    13 years ago

    Hmm. Never seen gray wall "in person." But the images on the internet don't match.

  • torquill
    13 years ago

    As I said, I can't find any good pictures on the net. The Seminis book shows green tomatoes that have gone pale greenish grey, with that same translucent quality, and indistinct dark patches under the skin. Finding dark vascular tissue inside the fruit would be the clincher... but really, there isn't much else that affects green fruit from the inside out, on an otherwise healthy plant.

    --Alison