Hello, I've got some mysteriously puny tomato plants, and I can't seem to solve the problem. Here are the facts. I'm in central Florida, where winters are mild and these plants have seen no temperatures below 42 degrees, with mostly sunny days in the 70's. I've got a total of 4 Romas, 2 Early Girls, and 1 Better Boy. The problem is with 2 of the Romas (in one large planter) and the Early Girls (in one large planter). I'll call these the sick plants. All planted about the same time, in the same off-the-shelf, higher grade potting soil. All in full, all-day sun. Two soil Ph testers show all soil between 6 and 7. Have used 1/2 strength Miracle Grow tomato fert once on each, except for the healthy ones which have also gotten it full strength every other week. The sick plants thrived originally, but started to yellow and haven't grown in about three weeks. I tried a Kocide application (on ALL plants) to control what looks like fungus or mold on leaves, waited a few days, then applied a pyrethrum-based insecticide (which I've had very good success with in the past on the Florida insect attacks that will start in a couple of months). Also applied iron treatment one week ago. No improvement in past week, just continued yellowing. Pictures below. Diagnosis? Suggestions? Sick Early Girl Sick Roma Healthy Roma Healthy Better Boy Container garden, showing location of plants. Sick Early Girls are in first barrel (from left), sick Romas in 2nd barrel, health Romas in next 2 rear boxes, healthy Better Boy in 3rd rear box.
Hi Florida Joe, welcome to the Stew. How about posting an intro of yourself in the Welcome to GardenStew forum so we can all get to know you. I haven't really tried growing tomatoes since my family won't eat them. But two thoughts come to mind about yours. If you bought the plants, were the roots possibly pot bound and can't spread out in the soil? Since the only sick ones are in those barrels, what was in those barrels before you planted in them. Maybe something in the wood has leached into the soil. I am sure others have more scientic ideas than mine, hope someone will come along who can be more help.
Hi there Joe lovely to have you here with us. :-D I think Toni may have hit on the problem by asking what used to be in the barrels as it could certainly be the cause of the problems you're having. Or, did you line them with plastic and, if so, did you punch enough drainage holes in it to let water drain away freely? I think I'd try to transplant some of the sick plants into other containers and see how they do. Maybe cut back on the half strength miracle grow too and only give it every other week. Let us know how things work out for you won't you?
They've only been given the 1/2 strength fert one time. I've thought long and hard about what those barrels could possibly be doing, but I can't come up with anything. The barrels used to contain fig trees which outgrew them and have been re-planted. I can't recall ever treating those trees with any sort of chemical other than occasional fertilizer watered in (and that would have been just a regular strength 20-20-20). They are old oak whiskey barrels sold as planters I bought a couple of years ago at Lowes. They are not lined, and drain quite well.
It's strange that only the plants in the barrels show the problem, so question that must be asked is what is the soil used? Could it be contaminated with something? Might be a good idea to replace the soil with new, do the same thing with tomatoes as it sounds like all else has failed that you've tried. Problem appears to be fusarium wilt and a fungicide won't help that! Other tomatoes/plants look GREAT!! A hint: when planting new tomatoes in these barrels, try planting several cloves of garlic in with them: the garlic wards off many viruses and diseases associated with tomatoes.
Ah... fusarium wilt. Well that helps explain things. The soil in the barrels is just-opened Jungle Growth for Vegetables and Flowers from Lowes. One of the healthy tomatoes has exactly the same soil, the other ones have older soil that's been in the planter for at least 18 months, but is the same brand.
