Gardening

[Stevie R]

Sunflowers are starting to bloom..

[Turtle]

Does anyone know how to help tomato plants that are losing leaves due to some type of fungus? We had a lot of rain earlier this month, and the leaves starting near the soil got spotted, then yellow, then withered and fell off. I pulled off all poorly looking leaves, but now I'm left with bare stalks half way up and plants with fruit and flowers on top! I am in Canada, but a tomato plant is the same in Accy too, I would think.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Does anyone know how to help tomato plants that are losing leaves due to some type of fungus? We had a lot of rain earlier this month, and the leaves starting near the soil got spotted, then yellow, then withered and fell off. I pulled off all poorly looking leaves, but now I'm left with bare stalks half way up and plants with fruit and flowers on top! I am in Canada, but a tomato plant is the same in Accy too, I would think.

Some tomato growers swear by removing lower leaves whether they've gone yellow or not, if the problem is serious then I would look it up in plant diseases, might be something missing in the feed, I always spray mine with a solution of Epsom salts when the flowers have set whether they need it or not.

[david1]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Some tomato growers swear by removing lower leaves whether they've gone yellow or not, if the problem is serious then I would look it up in plant diseases, might be something missing in the feed, I always spray mine with a solution of Epsom salts when the flowers have set whether they need it or not.

Retlaw is correct , they do remove the lower leaves .
When watering , do not overfeed them . Just put in as described on the packet of feed . Try to keep water off the lower leaves when watering . If they are in a greenhouse give them plenty of ventilation .

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Some tomato growers swear by removing lower leaves whether they've gone yellow or not, if the problem is serious then I would look it up in plant diseases, might be something missing in the feed, I always spray mine with a solution of Epsom salts when the flowers have set whether they need it or not.

Thank you Retlaw. I'll try that next year. I don't feed after planting as I add lots of composted manure to the beds. Last summer's crop was great - we had a hot, dry summer. This year, I'm not optimistic!

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by david1

Retlaw is correct , they do remove the lower leaves .
When watering , do not overfeed them . Just put in as described on the packet of feed . Try to keep water off the lower leaves when watering . If they are in a greenhouse give them plenty of ventilation .

Thank you david1. They're not in a green house, but I think lack of airflow may have contributed to my problems. I only have a tiny patch of ground, and there are other plants (ferns mostly) that surround it on two sides. Next year I'll take care of that, and take off the lower leaves.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Turtle

Thank you david1. They're not in a green house, but I think lack of airflow may have contributed to my problems. I only have a tiny patch of ground, and there are other plants (ferns mostly) that surround it on two sides. Next year I'll take care of that, and take off the lower leaves.

You should never plant tomato's in the same place in succesive years, they are prone to many of the diseases which attack potato's.
Also no matter what you dug into the soil tomato's need to be fed at least once a week after the flowers have set, the yellowing of leaves sounds like a magnesium deficiency. Its not to late to spray with a solution of epsom salts, that will make up some of the magnesium deficiency, cherry type tomato's are very prone to leaf yellowing

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

You should never plant tomato's in the same place in succesive years, they are prone to many of the diseases which attack potato's.
Also no matter what you dug into the soil tomato's need to be fed at least once a week after the flowers have set, the yellowing of leaves sounds like a magnesium deficiency. Its not to late to spray with a solution of epsom salts, that will make up some of the magnesium deficiency, cherry type tomato's are very prone to leaf yellowing

Thank you Retlaw - I'll see what I can do to save them. And I'll rest the plot next year.

[shillelagh]

my tomatoes and the pumpkins .... the tomatoes the ones on the left have been grown outside since beginning of may .. the ones on right have been outside a week - otherwise they were on the bedroom windowsill .. the pumpkin in the tub was the one that I grew on the bedroom windowsill .... and the one in the ground is the one that suddenly appeared after something (snails or slugs) had eat the others and that one ..

[david1]

Your tomatoes need watering Jen ..

[shillelagh]

yeah I know ... will water them after 9pm .....

[shillelagh]

and the midges are out and biting ... theyre all watered ...

[maxthecollie]

Midges watered as well?

[Mick]

things are growing well

[shillelagh]

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Midges watered as well?

I don't think they appreciated being zapped wi the hosepipe .....