Help! Tomato can't stand upright

17 years ago

Hi,

This is my first year growing tomatoes. I live in Washington, DC, and have two tomato plants (better bush and better boy) growing in separate containers. Things were going well until this past week when I noticed signs of early blight on the leaves (yellowing leaves and then some had the yellow big circles with dark circles inside) on both plants--they grow fairly close together. I have been pruning the sick leaves off the plant, mainly in the middle of both plants. Last night I sprayed Daconil for the first time and think I got both plants covered well. Tonight the better bush has lost its strength to stay upright and is propped up against my deck railing. Is this a reaction to the Daconil, or something more sinister like another disease? I don't have a photo posted here but could try to put one on tomorrow. The rest of the plant looks fine and there are about 8-10 tomatoes in varying stages of development on the plant. The better boy appears to be fine.

I just watered the tomatoes again and added a little fish emulsion to the water, thinking maybe it needed some nutrients. (I used Miracle Grow last week and have used that sparingly, only 3 x during the whole growing season).

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I am so sad, the plant looked great until today.

Lindsay

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

jenny_in_se_pa
17 years ago
If you can post a photo, that definitely will help. I have found that because I get no overhead sun, determinant tomato plants like the bush types, often have to stretch towards the sun. So even when mature, they tend to be more leggy (and thus a bit weaker-stemmed) than container plants with overhead sun, which end up stockier. And with fruit, I've found that it helps to give them a little staking support at some point.
newindc
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, Jenny. I'll try to post a photo later. I think this may be due to overwatering. Last night I checked the bottom of the container and there was some water in the little saucer underneath the container. I water once or twice a day, usually a half gallon or a gallon at a time and the plant is in a 6 gallon container. I didn't think that was too much water given the heat and humidity we've had recently. Anyway, I've picked off the ailing leaves with any sign of yellow or blight and I'm hoping that the plant will come through okay if it dries out. By the way, I see no signs of disease or discoloration on the stems or any part of the plant, just the leaves, so I'm hoping the Daconil will help. I know it won't cure the EB, but will hopefully stop its spread.
Thanks!
Related Professionals
Harrison Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mitchellville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wakefield Landscape Contractors · Bedford Landscape Contractors · Gainesville Landscape Contractors · Melrose Park Landscape Contractors · North Chicago Landscape Contractors · North Richland Hills Landscape Contractors · Paso Robles Landscape Contractors · Amesbury Siding & Exteriors · Baltimore Siding & Exteriors · Cedar Rapids Siding & Exteriors · Johns Creek Siding & Exteriors · Clearfield Siding & Exteriors · North Adams Siding & Exteriors