Tomato troubles (with pic)

[dan1979]

Have about ten plants from four varieties. Because there isn't much sunlight indoors I've been putting them in an open mini-greenhouse during the day (bringing them indoors at night) so they get plenty of sun but are sheltered. Outside temperature has been hovering around 12 this week.

After a few days of doing this leaves are starting to wilt and die. The stems look healthy and the roots I checked look fine. They've been well watered (from below) and fresh compost was used (which is doing fine for other things like courgettes).

Here is a pic of one of the worst affected, the middle newer leaves seem fine:



Only one doesn't seem to be affected, a harbinger which was sowed a few weeks earlier than the rest, it's a far smaller more compact plant though they've all been raised in the same way.

Thinking maybe it was too much sun too soon I gave them some shade but it didn't make any difference. I've now brought them back inside for them to hopefully recover, one of them has buckled over itself somehow and needed a splint!

I've looked at my Hessayoun (sp?) book but it doesn't seem to be any specific disease.

I thought tomatoes liked it hot and sunny so I didn't think putting them out in only modest temperatures would harm them, but maybe one of the experts can enlighten me as to why this might have happened?

[matthew2riches]

It looks like they have got too hot somewhere along the lines of what you have been doing.

Try leaving them somewhere cooler for a couple of days (still with good light) and always keep out of direct sun while young.

If this fails you may have to think about resowing.

[dan1979]

Thanks, that's what I'm hoping/assuming just a bit puzzled because tomatoes like it hot and I didn't have any problems like this last year.

I guess the plastic is magnifying the direct sun rays too much or despite being wide open the temperature is still getting too high.

Don't think I will have any trouble keeping them cool, snow is on its way

[gojiberry]

Looking at the browning either the sun has cooked them or its blight. However I would not think its blight as it is to early in the season. The sun can be strong even at this time of the year especially under glass, the temp in my greenhouse got up to 32deg the other day and that was with the door open. They may survive but are going to be very much weakened, so I would keep them going but also sow some more and later on see which are the stronger plants.

[Flummery]

Mine have had very similar treatement - in a cold greenhouse in the day and in at night. They seem ok (searching for wood to touch) and I can't think what yours are suffering from. Might it be worth potting one or two into fresh pots with new compost?

[dan1979]

Looks like they're goners, kept them on a windowsill for a few days but even the ones that didn't look too bad before now look beyond help.

The only survivor seems to be one harbinger which had been sowed a couple of weeks ahead of them.


oh well, live and learn.

[Cutecumber]

How much have you been watering? Mine are suffering from a condition caused when they can't get rid of all the water they absorb. That, together with being out in slightly chilly conditions might have done for them.

[dan1979]

It happened before the weather got cold, it was at the time of 18 degree-ish temps.

They were last watered from the bottom so I wouldn't think that would be a problem.

[si'sraisedbed]

Looks like leaf burn to me. The same happened to mine, the leaves were touching the window in the kitchen.I think I got to them in time as they have now been potted up and are doing fine.

[Cutecumber]

Are the dead bit crispy or are they soft are wilting?

[Pumpkin Becki]

If you do have some left, try potting them on so they are buried up to the bottom set of leaves. This will stop the stem getting too leggy and bending over.

[dan1979]

Most of the leaves just rolled up and wilted though there were some crisp edges like the one in the photo.

I stuck them out in the garden today, out of direct light - will see what they look like tonight but I don't hold out much hope, I guess potting them on can't hurt.