What happened to my tomatoes? :(

[Bramble_killer]

I've been hardening the tomatoes outside for a week and they are due to be planted in tomorrow. As I was sorting them this morning, noticed something funny with the leaves, can someone tell me what happened please?

And what I need to do? Completely heartbroken

[jackie j]

Looks like they may have been schorched, Not too sure but some one will be along shortly to tell you.

[SarzWix]

Could be a calcium, or a magnesium deficiency? Might be worth sprinkling a teaspoon of epsom salts (garden centre, or chemists) round the base of the plants which would help with magnesium. Calcium deficiency comes from uneven watering (letting them get too dry) as the plant can only take up calcium in water.

[zazen999]

According to hessayon:

Brown Mould patches.

purplish brown mould patches appear on the underside of the foliage - the upperside bears yellowish patches. lower leaves are attacked first.
treatment: remove some of the lower leaves no systematic sprays are available
prevention: ventilate the greenhouse, esp at night.

Did they appear overnight or do you think it could just have spread overnight?

I'd remove the leaves, and give them as Sarz says an epsom salts feed and/or a seaweed feed.

[gojiberry]

Looks to be leaf damage rather than a disease. Did you harden them off in full sun and did you water at all during the day. Just thinking of JJ's comment of scorching. If they are all the same then just carry on and hope they will survive. If there are any not affected them separate them out.

Ian

[Bramble_killer]

Thank you thank you all

will get some epsom salts on the way home from work and then try that.

zazen: no idea when they appeared, I just checked on them this morning as they were due to be planted out tomorrow. I'll remove some of the worst affected leaves

gojiberry: no watering during the day. I give them water (if needed) in the evenings about 7-9pm and then fleece them if the night is cold. Only the ones outside (well, I only had time to check them this morning) were affected. The ones in the greenhouse looked fine so have some spares to harden off.

[womble]

Don't panic!

Stick them out, I assure you they will be fine.


If they're not, my name is Flummery.

[Flummery]

Hi Flum! Just what I was going to say! Actually I wondered if it was wind burn - but I would still let them get on with it.

[womble]

Busted

I think it's some kind of deficiency, but I am certain that getting them into the ground will sort them out.

ahem....... should sort them out, always leave yourself an exit.