16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes
Thank you both for the information. Erratic watering wasn't the issue, though. I was constantly checking that, and they never had a chance to get dry. I put the bone meal in because someone said there wasn't enough calcium; I hoped that would remedy that.
Dave, if I can't get all the maggots out, are my tomatoes a loss? Do I have to get rid of the plants? Are they somehow contaminated because of the flies? They DO have some nice new tomatoes on them
No the only threat is that the grubs will munch on the roots. But there are no food contamination issues.
As to the watering - over-watering is as much as issue as under-watering. Consistent slightly moist is the goal and that is almost impossible to accomplish in containers unless they are 30+ gallons in size.
Bone meal as a source of calcium, if indeed low calcium levels in the soil was the cause (which it isn't), takes many months to decompose to a form usable by the plants which is why it is a waste of time in containers. In ground gardens mix it in in the fall for effect the following year.
Dave
A lot of early, cold tolerant tomatoes are determinate.
Oregon Spring - 4" tom
Glacier - best flavor out of these 4
Taxi - yellow
Legend (not grown this one) 5" tom
If that's your climate they'd grow well, but I don't think these take the heat of the south very well.
Here is a link that might be useful: extra early tomatoes
I planted some Legends in my outdoor garden for the first time this year in an attempt to head off 'early blight' problems which have now become a regular annual occurrence in my area. So far so good ... my Legends are the 'healthiest' of any variety I planted outdoors. It looks like my first Legend fruits are starting to ripen at about a 3.5 inch diameter size.
Algoflash, for tomatoes or flowering veg works great,here's mine at one month old. But be very careful if you switch to some high-powered blooming stuff, like I just did, and now I'm worried that I may've over done it with my hose end sprayer and the 2-45-28 Kool Bloom guess I'll know in a few day....not looking good! Should have let them alone. Bummed in Bama
Agree with BubbaEarly that Algoflash Tomato Formula works unbelievably well. Formula is 4-6-8 plus a long list of micronutrients. But IMHO it's too expensive for general use, so I don't switch to the Algoflash until the first blossoms start to set.
So I could use some enlightenment on this subject. My tomato plants are almost 2 month old not seedlings. I have I abused them? After they popped all the bloom everywhere and small tomatoes appeared, I added Kool Bloom (2-45-28) to them...soil, and foliar feed them with Sea Magic mix fish emulsion. Now a day later find the dark coloring on my stems, mainly where the small stems come off the main stalk, and the small stems are splitting at the joint of the main stalk.I'm not a very experienced grower,but I don't think the splitting is from poor support and the color looks alot like the mixture of seaweed and fish emulsion...anyone give me some insight. I guess time will tell. If they all die I will be so disappointed, I have really over babied them,need to just be patient.I planted these kinda late May 25th so looking forward to tasty tomatoes.I have more I planted the middle of June that don't have this condition,so I think I'll just leave them alone and stick to water!
I know this is not about leaf spots but was the closest I could find. I have 7 week old tomatoes most about 4-5 ft. tall. I have lots of bloom.Two days ago I added Kool Bloom to them (2-45-28) Yesterday I noticed lots of new growth on the tops, the tops going all curly and winding all over.Today I notice dark spots and long black streaks on my stalks, mainly where the small stalks grow from the main stalk and on the main stalk too and the smaller stall are splitting from the main stalk.Leafs are a little soft and droopy on the tops, I'm afraid I may have O D them.I guess I'll just have to wait and see,but if anyone can give me some insight to me ,maybe before I go out and find them dead, (man that hurts to think)I could use some encouragement!!
So focused on the added Kool Bloom that I didn't mention that I also spayed them down with Sea Magic mixed with Alaska fish emulsion.The white stuff on the leaves is where I dusted them down with Viper (like Sevin dust), then that evening it rained.I never watered or put anything on them in the heat of the day. Very early morning or late afternoon.
Well JT, they are surely nice looking and look as if they will taste good. I bet you have already eaten some!
I planted Black Krim this year, but don't think I will plant them again. They taste really good but mine is not a great producer. I also think they have about three times the seeds but smaller.
David
I'd agree with what Carolyn said, Dave wasn't putting you down. And what he said is very true. He also wished you good luck and to have fun in learning experience.
Not sure why you (IMO) overreacted about all this. Don't let this heat get the best of you.
Cheers,
Djole
I was working with some tomatoes and accidently broke off a healthy looking branch from a Celebrity tomato. I thought what the heck, I dug a hole and planted the tomato branch and watered it well. I had no idea if it would root or not but it did and is now bearing fruit! A couple of tomatoes plants died so I cut a few more branches from a healthy plant and they "took" as well--no coddling or anything, except to water every day we didn't have rain.
If it were leaves wilting on one side of the main stem and not on the other I'd consider Verticillium. But you're talking about a side stem, not from the main stem, so I'm not so sure it would be Verticillium.
In any case if it is Vert, sometimes the plants will grow out of it, sometimes not. And it's a systemic disease found in the soil, not a foliage disease.
How many plants are you growing and how many have the symptom you describe?
Carolyn
Mystery solved! (Sort of)
I looked very closely at a dying leaf, tore in apart, and found a small (~2 mm) black caterpillar inside--between the upper and lower surfaces. Dead plant tissue was past the caterpillar.
Found more on other leaves. Don't know what they are, but will use stuff that kills caterpillars.
bggarric-
Welcome to tomato growing! Your orange one will be ripening soon!
You said you trimmed plant - some fruit can get sunscald if removed leaves reveal them to too much sunlight. You could create some light shade for it until it grows new leaves to cover fruit. Perhaps, a lightweight curtain (fabric shower curtains work great), rope, clothespins, etc. Don't touch the plant itself though. Might look a bit funky, but in your climate should grow quickly.
You asked what to do budget friendly - just keep watering, lightly fertilizing, and watch for insects that might be crawling & chewing. I prefer to tie stems even in cages like yours to keep plant supported and spread a bit to fill the cage. Also helps as it grows taller than cage and flops over to keep growing. If tied doesn't crack stems. Use what you have to make strips of soft material (old tshirts, nylon pantyhose).
~~Enjoy your 1st season of tomato growing~~
Agree, not leaf miners....they leave trails that twist and turn like a wild tiny river in your leaves (their tunnels). Remove leaves only if diseased as they provide needed shade as your toms start to ripen. A few bug holes or hail holes in leaves just add to the charm of a plant in July.
Splitting is always a problem. Especially with heat extremes. It caused by inconsistent soil moisture levels - wet soil followed by dry and then by wet, etc. So the best bet is to adjust your watering pattern as much as possible and pick the fruit at blush (aka break stage) before watering.
Some varieties are more prone to splitting than others so what variety are you growing? Are your plants well mulched? How and how often do you water? Have you been pruning the plants at all? Can you shade the plants in any way from the late afternoon sun?
More info please.
Dave
I am so sorry! I didnt mean to imply that I thought someone gave me misinformation about the heat damage, more just as additional information that some or all of it still could be from heat damage, and I wasnt clear how to tell that from the other alternatives, so I put it out there for consideration. I am deeply grateful for the learning and guidance I've gotten on here. I'd have killed everything months ago if it werent for these forums!
Okay, went out there and cut off every part with damage showing whatsoever, but it was a pretty dramatic "hair cut" in some cases. I had a bottle of Serenade organic spray on hand and went to town with that, spraying all the surfaces. I'll head out to a garden store tonight after work and see what else I can pick up.
Fingers crossed! Ugh, I'm so discouraged that between the rabbits and this now, more than half of my garden has been decimated. I hope I can save at least some of the tomato plants!
I'm so discouraged that between the rabbits and this now, more than half of my garden has been decimated.
I know it can get discouraging when our expectations exceed our success but don't let it get you down as it is all a part of gardening. But so is optimism each year.
Just think of all you have learned and so can fix or prevent for next year. No matter how many years we have been gardening we are all still learning each year.
Rabbits can be fenced out and while we can't control the weather we can prevent or at least discourage many of the common diseases by using fungicides early on. Especially when the weather patterns indicate they will be a problem. Way back in late February-early March when the unusual and weird weather patterns began in much of the country we were warned that fungus problems would likely be an issue this season. And sure enough they have been for many of us.
So chin up! You aren't alone. And we all hope next year will be better. :)
Dave
Just picked my first heirloom slicer today, 1.6 pound Gold Medal. I think my strategy of wrapping floating row covers around fruits is working against whatever critters I have. Of course this wouldn't work for a large number of plants but for the 13 that I have it doesn't take very long. Plus I can see through the cover so I know when the tomatoes are ripe.
Yes RABBITS DO EAT TOMATOES!! The rabbits in my neighborhood are eatting mine. I have watched them. If it weren't for my dog running to far off I'd let him get those nasty little beasts!!! So yes they do eat tomatoes.