Any tomato experts here?
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: S.W. Oregon
Any tomato experts here?
I have had a real problem with my tomato plants for the last couple of years. I grow all our vegetables organically but this past summer I even sprayed some of the tomatoes regularly to see if that helped. It did not. Someone told me it might not be a disease problem, but a nematode problem? I have a large property, so I do not plant tomatoes in the same spot each year. Last summer I even planted some in places where no vegetables had been grown before. Of 25 plants of 4 or 5 varieties, at least 15 were so sick as to be useless. But there were also a few plants that were perfectly healthy, sometimes growing right beside a very sick one.
I posted pictures at the below link. Anyone that wants to take a look and offer suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can provide more info. or answer any questions if that helps.
BTW photo 372 shows one of the healthy plants right between two sick ones.
Thanks!
http://community.webshots.com/user/shepard97504
Edited By FTE
I posted pictures at the below link. Anyone that wants to take a look and offer suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can provide more info. or answer any questions if that helps.
BTW photo 372 shows one of the healthy plants right between two sick ones.
Thanks!
http://community.webshots.com/user/shepard97504
Edited By FTE
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
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Go to your local county agent or agriculture agent-- look under governemnt in the phone book. They are there for that specific need- yes it is free advice. Your problem has me baffled as it should effected all of them in most cases.
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Two things... one check the Farmer's Almanac for what it says is going to be the best time to plant for the particular type of tomatoes you are growing. While you are in Oregon and should have MUCH better soil than we experience in the middle of the desert, you might want to think about throwing down some real rich topsoil mixed with some type of fertilizer - we used a fish based fertilizer when I was in Maine, produced beautiful results in our Roma's and Beefsteak Tomatoes to the surprise of all the neighbors who said it simply wasn't a long enough season to get vine-ripened product. We had only 13 plants, produced enough tomatoes to keep the local shelter and general store completely over-stocked, canned over 13 quartz, and ate fresh one's until we couldn't handle it anymore. We were in Maine, had no sick plants and my plants had actually grown over 6' tall. Completely collapsed the wire tomato cages under their extreme weight.
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Elder User
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From: S.W. Oregon
I actually have some of those 6 foot tall healthy plants. They will grow right beside a diseased plant of the same variety. We get lots of tomatoes from the few healthy plants. I just don't like having to take up space with 20 -30 plants just to get 4 or 5 really healthy ones.
Did the link work for you? Was anyone able to look at the pictures in the link?
Did the link work for you? Was anyone able to look at the pictures in the link?
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It might be the way they are spaced out. I grew mine in a raised bed that was nearly two feet tall, nothing but topsoil in it... I spaced them about 18" apart and ALL of my plants grew healthy. Even mixed varieties. The Beefsteaks were the one's that surprised everyone because growing large tomatoes in a short season was something no one thought would work. The soil in Maine was VERY rich though, a nice dark soil.
You can also try putting a half of a banana in the soil next to the sick plants. Sometimes when they are looking sick and not producing, it's a potassium deficiency. A half of a banana buried in the dirt next to the roots of the plant will spike those potassium levels and the plant should come back around.
You can also try putting a half of a banana in the soil next to the sick plants. Sometimes when they are looking sick and not producing, it's a potassium deficiency. A half of a banana buried in the dirt next to the roots of the plant will spike those potassium levels and the plant should come back around.
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Elder User
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From: S.W. Oregon
Originally Posted by beano
i f i had a picture of the tomato i could probably tell you what was wrong. but i cant get anything of yours to work. currently studying horticulture so i might be able to help
It works now!
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I just viewed the pictures, I am no expert by any means, but I would definitely try the banana trick. We had some rose plants that were particularly ill looking and planted the half banana's near the roots on each sick plant and they started producing again. Give it a shot with your tomatoes...
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Blight? I'm especially thinking that because of the condition of the fruit. Email the OSU Dept of Agricultural Sciences, and someone should be able to help. What do we pay our tax dollars for?
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ok here is what i found. still checking on the nematode.
too much vegatative growth first off.
low ph? have you checked it? it can vary from one spot to the next
too much nitrogen will do that.
also they could be lacking phosphorous.
too much vegatative growth first off.
low ph? have you checked it? it can vary from one spot to the next
too much nitrogen will do that.
also they could be lacking phosphorous.
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Elder User
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From: S.W. Oregon
I have had the soil tested and the nutrients, including micronutrients are ok. Also all other vegetables grow really well.
What do you mean by too much vegetative growth? The sick plants actually have their leaves burn and die. The few healthy plants with lots of great tomatoes are the ones with lots of lush green growth. The plants are just healthy overall and have healthy tomatoes.
What do you mean by too much vegetative growth? The sick plants actually have their leaves burn and die. The few healthy plants with lots of great tomatoes are the ones with lots of lush green growth. The plants are just healthy overall and have healthy tomatoes.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: South Carolina
Looks like you've got what we had a couple of years ago. Looks like a disease spread by thrips. Once the plant gets it it's gone. I don't remember the name of the disease. Control of thrips should prevent it.
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From: Jerseyville,IL
Make sure you don't water them very much until they start to put on fruit. If you give them a lot of water they won't root down. They'll use up all the nutrients at the top of the soil then too if you don't keep them fertilized. Also the excess moisture of watering them too much also starts disease. Just water them very little at the start, When they start putting on fruit, put the water to them, the roots will be down in the soil good, and they won't require as much fertilized either.
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From: S.W. Oregon
Originally Posted by Leeland1
Looks like you've got what we had a couple of years ago. Looks like a disease spread by thrips. Once the plant gets it it's gone. I don't remember the name of the disease. Control of thrips should prevent it.
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From: S.W. Oregon
Originally Posted by 2002sport
Make sure you don't water them very much until they start to put on fruit. If you give them a lot of water they won't root down. They'll use up all the nutrients at the top of the soil then too if you don't keep them fertilized. Also the excess moisture of watering them too much also starts disease. Just water them very little at the start, When they start putting on fruit, put the water to them, the roots will be down in the soil good, and they won't require as much fertilized either.
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