I planted my tomato plants in our Back to Eden wood chip garden. The tomato plant leaves have started to turn black/brown around the edges. Could it be that my soil is too acidic? I am using all cedar wood chips. We have had two light frosts, but I don't think that is what caused the brown. Thanks for your help! ( photo / image / picture from firedup4jesus20's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from firedup4jesus20's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from firedup4jesus20's Garden )
Firedup, it would really help to know where you are! If I give advice for Texas, it won't work for you in Wisconsin. Your plants look "frost-nipped" and will likely recover, although they will be set back a bit. I don't think acidic soil is the problem. Tomatoes like soil acidity between 6.5 and 7.5. The cedar chips would have to be 6" to 8" deep, and decomposing at a fast rate to change the acidity of the soil to be above the tomato's tolerance. Keep them watered (damp but not swampy), protect them if there is a freeze/frost warning by turning large pots over them, and you will have nice tomatoes eventually.
What color are the backs of the leaves? are they purple? Has it been cool to cold there? It really looks like a phosphorus deficiency which could be from cool to cold weather.
I live in the middle of Oklahoma. We have been having very strange weather here. It has frosted my plants two mornings in a row and then gone on the be in 80's in the afternoon. Very, very drastic differences in temp. I thought they might have a phosphorus deficiency. The back of the leaves are not purple though. Is there any way to test the soil? (besides taking in a sample) How would I help replenish the phosphorus? Thanks for your help!
My bet is that it is frost. If you are going to get any more cold nights, I would cover them to protect them. Tomatoes are a warm weather crop.
F-U...If you are using freshly chipped wood chips or even straw--that could be your problem; or at least a contributing factor, as new wood chips leech nitrogen out of the soil; and in this case, away from your toms. If you are not convinced by this, you could always remove the chips totally awayfrom anywhere close to a tom plant or two and leave the chips around the rest and see what happens. If your toms are indeed suffering from a shortage, you could give them a modest amount of nitrogen in one form or another. Chips are oké to use, but I would recommend not using them until they have begun to compost a bit. I hope that you can get a handle on your toms in these early stages of their development. Good luck. Please keep us posted.
Okay thanks for your help. The wood chips are from last year, but that is still very fresh. That may be part of the problem. The tomatoes were this way before the frost, but are much worse now. So it could be a combination.
I am in NE Texas and a few of mine have the same problem. Cool nights and hot days can do this and or unseasonably cool weather with a lot of rain. If you are using cedar chips alone I would recommend adding some native soil or good compost. The cedar doesn't break down fast enough for tomatoes. And no matter what you use the plants must have a way to get food from it. Cedar alone has little available food that the tomato needs unless you are adding it. . The soil or compost will help feed them. If you have leftover coffee or coffee grounds you can add that for nitrogen. Some type of fertilizer is also helpful. Or just add some livestock manure to your garden.
Mart is absolutely right--some composted cow,sheep, or horse manure could help your tomatoes. The nice thing about composted manures is that the plant uses what it needs but is never over-fertilized. Just make sure the manure is aged/composted so it doesn't burn your plants.
